Ruminating the Arts

Let's talk art or the arts. I've often pondered the reason only 3% of the American public enters art galleries and buys art. I'm not sure the answer. It may have a lot to do with the initial outlay for most gallery art. The American public gleefully pays for music downloads and Cd's. I think universally every human acknowledges pleasure in music and with a modest outlay of $11-$19 we are glad to support the "musical arts". Lately, the cost of a ticket for a live performance has gone crazy for some musical artists. I'm not privy to what's going on there but $300-$700 for a seat seams obscene to me. Musicians have three ways to gain a following and generate an income: CD's, radio, and concerts. Music is still a very challenging profession. It can take years to get anywhere or no where. Whatever the genre, quality seems to rise to the top but business savvy and luck probably hold as much importance. While radio is free and constantly brings music to our ears anywhere, any time, exploring fine art is a bit different. While entering a gallery and observing art is free, there is always the intimidation factor for the uninitiated. Perhaps people feel that the art will be forced on them. I think it more likely that they might be asked their opinion and feel like they would be embarrassed to give it. It could be tough standing next to a million dollar Picasso and saying, "What? That looks like shi ..llings to me." I think we are afraid of giving our opinions if we think someone might laugh. I must confess when I was in a gallery, not long ago, and I saw all these black squiggles on paper I did the same thing. The dealer asked me, "Aren't these just magnificent." I just couldn't say what I thought. They were interesting, granted. I liked the curvaceous lines of charcoal and the deep black. It was more around the asking price I couldn't handle. Kind of like the $350 concert seats up in the nose bleed. "You want $5000 for squiggles on paper? - Not my $5000."

It's a funny business, Art. It would be great if, like music, 100% of us were involved in purchasing it. Successful painters might be as numerous as doctors or maybe teachers or garage mechanics.

By the way, the painting is soon going up for auction on eBay. It's a very recent work and is sized 18x24. I sold another tulip painting yesterday in a smaller size.

Maybe another time we will talk about dance, architecture, and theatre.