Remember he’s simply using chalk and a sidewalk! *1
Beever is living proof that although science can be predicted through graphs, numbers, and intuition, the direction of art in a society cannot. Unfortunately, the only direction art in America has taken is down. This is because society as a whole pressures individuals to pursue jobs that generate large amounts of income. Our social addiction to making money and consumption in business have led us to fail in creating a job market for innovative new artists.
My passion is the recognition, proper nurture, and creation of art of all kinds. In order to properly illustrate the dilemma that is plaguing our society and leading to the eventual death of the common man’s art in America, we must first understand the problem and its causes. Secondly, we seek to identify the underlying ideals of this problem in order to isolate its importance to our society. Finally, I propose to you a simple, yet theoretically effective solution.
Let’s set the scene. A critic’s initial objection to the existence of this problem may be that cases like Beever’s are rare. Aside from rarity, Beever was able to pursue his passion as a career and gain fame, thus proving that this problem is non-existent. In response, these critics are right that Beever’s case is rare- he was one of the very few lucky artists presented in a national hip-hop art showcase as part of an underground movement in the UK. He was later commissioned by large corporations in light of the movement. Talent-wise however, Beever’s case is as common as the cold. This is not to downplay Beever’s talent; each artist’s talents are unique, but their talents are also equally commendable. Digital art is another area of remarkable progress, much like sidewalk chalk, that has been consistently shunned by professional artists. Take Daniel Conway for example. This piece of art was done completely on a computer and took nearly one hundred hours to complete. Note the incredible amount of detail on the waves.
Digital art has been long ignored simply because it is not a traditional form of art. *2
Daniel Conway has managed to gain recognition as an artist and works on commission while holding a day job, which is not uncommon for artists in the UK such as Conway and Beever. Perhaps one of the most important aspects of gaining this artistic recognition has been the attitudes of the UK youth and their appreciation of art.
It is important to note that there are countless American artists who are equally talented and their art just as breathtaking, but unrecognized. Hubs such as deviant art.com and elfwood.com hold beautiful examples of the home grown artistic talents of America’s youth. From photography to traditional art to computer manipulations, writing, and digital art, these websites are the art appreciators dream come true.
On Deviantart, a member has the option of opening up a prints account, which allows them to sell their art online. When I first heard about it, it sounded like a great opportunity to earn money and publicity for my work. I was very excited when I sold my first beautiful 8x12 inch glossy wall print for fifteen dollars… and a little less excited when I realized that I had just made a grand eighty-five cents profit from it. Even after selling fifty prints, I’d be making a meager forty-two dollars and fifty cents. I suddenly saw the term “starving artist” in a whole new light. My experience represents the artist’s first challenge: lack of funding.
Remember how Daniel Conway spent nearly one hundred hours painting one picture? Not surprisingly, he’s not alone. The amount of intricate work required for these paintings cannot be rushed. Lucky for you and I, we can purchase one hundred hours of Daniel Conway’s time on a beautiful glossy 4x6 inch print for only ten dollars. Daniel’s fame has allowed him to demand such a price for a 4x6, which most artists would sell for two dollars or less with profit margins of only a few cents. Here is the artist’s second challenge: time.
Even if an artist was given the opportunity to create commissioned artwork as a side job, is it possible to set aside one hundred inspired hours from a busy forty-hour work week? The answer is “with difficulty”, to say the very least. Logically, then, an artist should pursue art as his or her main career. Once again, selling one hundred hours for even one hundred dollars will not pay the rent. For this reason, many artists abandon their careers as artists when they enter high school or join activities that limit their spare time dramatically. I did so, and was very unhappy to watch my very talented younger sister follow suit. It is not at all uncommon for one of the amazingly talented artists on these websites to be fourteen or fifteen years old. If they excel so rapidly in such a short period of time, what are the possibilities if we allowed them to continue developing their art?
Lilith is only fifteen, and yet this piece of art displays not only her painting abilities, but her ability to create pixel art and graphic design as well. *3
As I mentioned before, numbers cannot predict the outcome. At this point in time, it may have crossed your mind that Art is a career field and there are many successful colleges that cater to the market. While it is true that many artists in our society sell their art for ridiculous prices at auctions (easily in the thousands), we must emphasize that these artists are generally traditional, and a very small portion of society. Only art from the common man and from the youth can truly define our society and broaden its artistic horizons. Were careers in art more accessible to the general public, I feel that our society would experience a Renaissance- that is, a period of great resurgence and enlightenment in the areas of art, literature, and learning. Thus, I present to you a proposed rerun of history: Project ReRenaissance, or Project ReRen.
The goal is to create a method that allows for the common artist to generate income and pursue art as a career, rather than being forced into high-income occupations such as doctors or lawyers. The proposed vehicle is society and it’s appreciation of fads. During the Renaissance, wealthy families had family artists. The family clothed, sheltered, and fed the artist who worked at his leisure painting family portraits as well as whatever else he desired. While I’m not suggesting that we turn aspiring artists into domesticated pets, it is important to note the underlying concept in this situation; the wealthy support the talented.
The Renaissance was a time of artistic rebirth.*4
Especially in America, where there is often a great disparity between upper and lower class incomes, we watch celebrities spend thousands of dollars on frivolous items such as makeup and shoes. If we could mobilize social interest in artists through a magazine and a website, it would be possible to create a fad out of discovering and sponsoring new artists. Much like a company is sponsored, artists would also be sponsored. It would also put our economic resources to good use. Additionally, artists would receive publicity and a multitude of potential jobs, as artists are needed for almost every entrepreneurial endeavor imaginable. Perhaps most importantly, however, it would raise cultural appreciation for art, which would then increase the worth, investment in, and purchase of art. Prices naturally increase as demand does. As an effect, not only would my wall print sell easily for more than fifteen dollars, but many more people would buy it. Here we see that we would not only be relying on the wealthy, but the middle class, who can easily afford smaller prints. When purchased by a considerably greater number of people, even a two dollar print could raise a lot of money. Thus my profit would increase considerably. Additionally, with such power suddenly thrust into the hands of artists, new guilds or unions would probably form in order to ensure that I received more than eighty-five cents for every fifteen dollars of art that I sold.
Is it possible? Si, se puede! The best argument to support this is the music industry. Music itself is an art, and the large amount of money made in the business every year is very similar to what printed art could achieve. Art has the ability to move and intrigue people, and I feel that the artistic sculptures that go for thousands of dollars today isolate the general public rather than appealing to them. The art found on many of these websites, much like music, caters directly to its creators; the common man.
All in all, project ReRen will serve to allow artists in general to increase their profits, thus encouraging them to continue creating art. It will reallocate funds from the wealthy upper class and channel them to support self-expression and art in our society. I feel that through this project my passion has finally become functional and philanthropic.
Initially, I noted that I would provide a theoretically effective solution, but the practicality of a solution is actually of utmost import. What steps can be taken in order to ensure that my vision becomes a reality? Through analysis of my current education, short term goals, and long terms goals, I believe I can develop an assessment of Project ReRen’s immediate feasibility.
Firstly, what type of an education would best cater to the launch of Project ReRen? A business major would be very helpful, as a large part of Project ReRen’s success depends on my ability to create a company (called Project ReRen) that can successfully create an art magazine, maintain a website, rally support, and give the movement an identity. In fact, even though Project ReRen would be a non-profit organization, its set-up can be referred to as a business plan. Non-profit organizations are allowed to put 40% of their earnings towards their companies, including improvements, office space, and wages. The proper allocation of these funds would once again suggest the need for an education in business. A second major that would be helpful in this area is of course an art major. An art major would allow for me to properly identify the merit in art as well give me an insider’s understanding of the professional artistic field. I would also be given the opportunity to network and make strong connections with like-minded individuals. This is very important, because regardless of how brilliant an idea is, it requires a certain amount of funding and manpower to transform it into a reality. Lastly, a communication major would be a very applicable. The ability to sell yourself as well as your idea is paramount in raising enough money to get the movement started. Even as the movement becomes prominent, marketing, publicity, and public relations are the fuel for Project ReRen’s growth.
My current major is Plan II, and I’m pursuing pre-med with it. I feel that although business, art, and communication majors would be very helpful, the skills acquired in each of these fields are somewhat intuitive. Also, Plan II allows me the flexibility to take courses in each of these areas without being bound to one or another. Thus, I can essentially design my own major and take classes that I feel will contribute most directly to Project ReRen’s success. This is perhaps the most attractive idea about Plan II: it is perfect for the idealist. I am also pursuing pre-med as a fallback. If all does not go well, I know I can enter the medical field. It is important to note that I do not feel as if Project ReRen is my career by any means. Project ReRen is a philanthropic ambition I have for my community, not a means of income. Since I do not plan on going to college and collecting an M.R.S. degree, I do believe being involved in a track such as pre-med is important. The medical field will not only allow me to have a career, but it will also give me the financial freedom required to get a movement such as this started, or be able to personally invest in it when funds are low.
While I may have to wait a certain amount of time before I can dedicate enough time or money to the birth of Project ReRen, there are a multitude of short term goals that I can begin to achieve in order to make the project’s founding easier. The first and foremost relates to my previous observations. I need to take a variety of classes that will allow me to make more educated decisions. It is not feasible to lay out a thirty-year business plan at this moment in time, for I know I have a lot to learn. It is my goal to take the following courses during my undergraduate experience: Macroeconomics (ECO304L), so as to become more familiar with the inner workings of the economy; Fundamentals of Advertising (ADV305), so as to get a general understanding of advertising techniques; Global Entrepreneurship (IB372), to allow Project ReRen to spread to the rest of the western world and beyond; and Introduction to Visual Arts (ARH301), to give me a feel for the professional world of art. I realize that these course will not be enough to fully prepare me for such a large step, but I also plan to take advantage of the people around me in these classes. Many of them will be majoring in their respective areas, and may have some interest in a project like Project ReRen. My second short term goal is to build a small council of people who I can depend on. These people will be passionate enough about my vision to make it their own, and skilled in a diverse range of fields. Together, we can begin to build a foundation and a solid business plan. I know that after this my next goal will be to begin spreading the word. I can do this to a certain extent without involving too many external powers. This will require a website and very basic publication by means of face book, postings around universities, etc. I admit that I am not very knowledgeable about the ins and outs of patent law, and I realize a patent may be necessary. It is my goal to look into this and discuss the steps to creating a business with a certified corporate or patent lawyer.
Having established this foundation, we can move to my long term goals. After promoting the project locally, I hope to take this promotion to celebrities and large organizations for some major recruiting. This will most likely occur after graduation, when I can make a solid time commitment. My goals at this time will be to do major fundraising and begin to assemble a crew for the Project ReRen magazine, as well as organize a list of individuals willing to sponsor artists. This is when the plan will actually be put into action. Artists will be able to put small portfolios on the website and people will be given the opportunity to sponsor them, buy their artwork, or simply donate to them. The website will set up weekly and monthly challenges that artists will respond to in a variety of mediums. Winners will be voted upon and awarded money raised from website hits, as well as published in the bi-monthly Project ReRen magazine. From here, Project ReRen will encourage an expanding job market for these artists and make every effort to arrange job opportunities for winning artists. This can be achieved through positive public relations and corporate support. As artists gain popularity and begin to publish their own art books, Project ReRen will continue to bring publicity and the opportunity to make money to any and all artists.
From a very young age, I have strove to create meaning and beauty out of the simplest things in life from words, to moments, to photos, to a few lead marks on a paper. Art has no boundaries and as a society we can redefine them if we only allow ourselves to. Although I’ve taken a backseat by creating Project ReRen and as of now I don’t see myself pursuing traditional art as a career, it will always be something I spend a great deal of time doing. Additionally, once Project ReRen is up and running, I’ll be a very proud artist. Through words, images, and feelings I will have managed to craft a venue for the advancement of art. I dedicate this project to it’s inspiration, my younger sister Fatima. If I can give her the opportunity to see her dreams of being an artist come true, I will consider my goal achieved.
I very strongly believe that Project ReRen is a real possibility. I have translated it from an idealistic dream to a feasible plan of action, and my passion for art as well as my belief in the art of the common man will drive me to see this project through. All I ask is your faith, too.
Word Count: 2,933
-----------------------------
*1: http://users.skynet.be/J.Beever/
*2: http://arcipello.deviantart.com/
*3: http://azninsanity.deviantart.com
*4: http://hoylelamps.com
1 comment:
This a great article, well written! awesome illustrations too! bravo :)
Post a Comment