Category: Art vs. Mediocrity
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The Fine Art of Sales (or, leading a horse to water)
“I don’t care if I sell my work. I just give it away…” Overhearing this statement is like listening to the apartment below me being remodeled, on a Saturday morning, to accompany my slight second-hand cigarette smoke induced headache. I am, at this moment, enjoying the whir of the circular saw. The day is heating…
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Branded: The Rise of the Artrepeneur
In 1991, when I entered Art College, students used hand-held devices called books and wrote research papers on electric typewriters. Artists didn’t have personal websites; our imagined lives after school were murky, undefined careers that involved belonging to a stable of artists with a reputable gallery. In this age of innocence there was no sense…
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Art Meets Reality (Television), or, A Supreme Victory for Capitalism!
I would like to postulate that the artists who attended the Bravo auditions are motivated most simply by a desire to be liked. Fame and worldly success are not peripheral or shallow ambitions in this culture. The pursuit of capitalist values is typically rewarded with more of the above. In fact, from the gold rush…
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Artists need studios – will they fight to keep their spaces and communities?
As an emerging artist, my studio is the core of my creative development. In August of 2007 the “Chocolate Factory” building where my studio was located, and another building belonging to Central Services, LLC, were sold. I could not afford to pay a 30% increase in rent or find another space and so I must…
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Tales of ArtWalkRavenswood: Rocking the Boat
An Update Once upon a time, before the official arts tour now known as “Ravenswood Art Walk” began, artists managed their own open studio events and created group shows in designated buildings and shared spaces in the Ravenswood and Addison Industrial Corridors. As early as 1987 there was a self-organized tour of existing art studios…
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The Fine Art of Self-Promotion
A deluge of “promotional” artist newsletters, possibly spawned by the 2009 Artist’s and Graphic Designer’s Market Guide, have recently inundated my in-box. A few important tips for artists and creative professionals: Research your mailing list. Introduce yourself and explain why you thought I should be on you mailing list in 2 – 3 sentences. Make…
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How to Turn Your Art Out
The Chicago Department of Cultural Affairs regularly hosts and coordinates panel discussions, workshops and events for Chicago artists. The event written about here was a panel discussion called, “How to turn your art into a successful career.” A podcast of the discussion should be available on the CAR website soon. For the most part, the…
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It’s called acceptance…
So, what was the outcome of that well-intentioned, 11th hour meeting of Ravenswood artists? Will they go with the flow and leave Ravenswood with a shrug and a smile? Will ArtWalkRavenswood correct that type-o in their dusty mission statement? It is likely that mediocrity has won this one. Comfortable for too long, never fully united…
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Meeting for Ravenswood Artists, October 13th
ArtWalkRavenswood Directors, Arlene Rakoncay (former Executive Director of the Chicago Artists’ Coalition) and Judith Roth (founder of AWR and past president of The Chicago Women’s Caucus for Art), will lead an introductory informational meeting regarding Ravenswood-based Artists’ Issues. The first meeting in the series will be held on Monday, October 13th (yes, Columbus Day), at…
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From “Humble Beginnings” to Quiet Obsolescence
In 2006, when the art walk gained its first group of organized volunteers, some important initiatives were undertaken: • As a volunteer in 2006, I proposed the idea of a survey of creative residents that would culminate in a catalog or archive of Chicago artists working in Ravenswood. Ruth Duckworth, internationally renowned sculptor, was one…
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October is Chicago Artist’s Month
I know that October is a long way away. It’s only June, Summer is just beginning, so why would I want to even think about October? I guess you could call it the Hillary Clinton syndrome. I just can’t let it go. This year will be the 13th October Artist’s Month organized by the city.…
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The Chicago Creative Expo is back!
The 5th annual Creative Chicago Expo brings together all the top resources, services, and spaces for Chicago’s art community, with workshops for individuals and organizations, artist live/work spaces. Well, its over now – but you can listen to podcasts of all the workshops at: www.chicagoartistsresource.org
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Open Letter to ArtWalkRavenswood
In 2006 and 2007, Ravenswood artists participated in two of the most successful and well attended Tours of Arts and Industry in the six-year history of that event. It is now the start of February 2008 and the artists in Ravenswood have not yet heard from ArtWalkRavenswood. We have had no report on the success…
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How to Succeed in Life & What-Not
Looking for a job is tough, and, as resources dwindle it is difficult not to panic. Things you may not have noticed about yourself are made resoundingly clear when you parade around town as a prospective employee. You don’t have ANY shirts orpants that fit and that DIY haircut isn’t fooling anybody.Having gone on my first…