tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3472465465808694449.post6746089317384910459..comments2023-03-26T03:01:15.980-05:00Comments on ChaoticBlackSheep's Rants & Raves: GripeChaoticBlackSheephttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17438714747056045144noreply@blogger.comBlogger4125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3472465465808694449.post-50043371826783513802009-02-07T08:23:00.000-06:002009-02-07T08:23:00.000-06:00I am kind of torn on this topic. I donate a lot o...I am kind of torn on this topic. I donate a lot of my artwork and time to a lot of groups, some of which only exist through the dedication of volunteers and otherwise would not be around to offer opportunities and exposure to artists, communities and various causes. And I don't think that artists should shut themselves off from everyone else while not supporting other groups and endeavors.<BR/><BR/>But it feeds into itself. Artists are hit up for a lot. The more that we give of our artwork and our time, the more that people hit us up. We can devalue our own work by freely giving it to various causes because it feeds into the idea that we don't need to make money off of our work, that our art is a hobby and not a genuine career.<BR/><BR/>I think that artists should (and many do) work to engage those around them, both artists and nonartists alike. I love plein air events for this because they engage people who otherwise may never set foot in a gallery or museum. This holds true of art fairs as well. But then I feel the need to question why so many people simply do not feel welcome in galleries and in museums, such that they will not go even if interested in art. I find this pattern to be disconcerting.<BR/><BR/>There are a lot of opportunities to engage people all over the world online and blogging can be a means of connecting, but the Internet is quickly becoming inundated with people expressing their ideas in this manner that I don't know just what kind of readership is out there and whether or not others will find said information in the sea of everything available.<BR/><BR/>Blogging communities can help this a lot because they can organize groups with similar interests, but otherwise there is a wealth of information out there that is spread by word of mouth, and with so much of it to spread I don't know how far-reaching that becomes.ChaoticBlackSheephttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17438714747056045144noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3472465465808694449.post-67636228337255652492009-02-06T13:03:00.000-06:002009-02-06T13:03:00.000-06:00I still hace a couple charities I donate to throug...I still hace a couple charities I donate to through the arts/my work, but had recently been asked to donate a peice to be auctioned off at a banquet, and refused. I refused because I would have to BUY a ticket to the banquet, and the gallery in which this all would take place has completely ignored me. Screw that.<BR/>I DO feel it is my social responsibility as an artist to engage those around me in the arts when I can. You do that very well in your blog- a great deal of people reading this might never think about some of these perspectives. In fact there are a lot of local artists doing this through blogs, and I find that encouraging and educational... also very interesting.Colinhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01169919367804280109noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3472465465808694449.post-32229847986099681292009-02-05T19:00:00.000-06:002009-02-05T19:00:00.000-06:00In many ways, this discussion seems kind of irrele...In many ways, this discussion seems kind of irrelevant considering how many people are struggling financially. But I think that it offers an opportunity to reassess and to work together towards the common good.<BR/><BR/>I also think that it is even more critical that we assert the importance of art during tough times. Art is a great means of catharsis. It is an excellent healing mechanism. It allows us to connect with others and to express what we are going through. It helps us to stay sane. We need to nourish our mental and emotional well-being, especially in tough times.ChaoticBlackSheephttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17438714747056045144noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3472465465808694449.post-89049798823848348032009-02-05T17:47:00.000-06:002009-02-05T17:47:00.000-06:00Jeane Vogel kind of touched on this topic in her P...Jeane Vogel kind of touched on this topic in her Peace Corps for Artists? post awhile back.<BR/>http://jeanevogel.blogspot.com/2009/01/peace-corps-for-artists.htmlChaoticBlackSheephttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17438714747056045144noreply@blogger.com