Governor Bevin has fired the director of ky arts council and artists all over the state are incensed, they register displeasure. What we have here is a microcosm of the national earthquake, overwhelming pressure along a fault line no one seemed to notice. We did. Here at ‘owning art’ it’s no surprise to see the public finally heave their well-intentioned cultural overseers over the side, a populist purge overdue.
It’s not about art, is it? It’s about state and federal support for a style of art that doesn’t stir much interest in the larger community, so they dole out this tax-deducted, charity-funded pie for those ‘deserving’ -- and they get to decide. It’s mostly cool because everybody’s got a share, or might get one someday, at least lots of folks try. Dangling that skinny carrot turns out to be a major influence, grant applications under review, and it bends toward a sort of insular, canapé munching, quasi-participation in art, neither making or owning anything significant. What are we going to do?
Guess we’ll just have to look for support in the private sector. Try to make the case, long abandoned, that the product is worthy of its place in the dialogue of daily life, can contribute to the economic well-being of the community in a positive way, and significantly enhances the lives of the people who own it, such as that. Artists, throw down your crutches and find gallery space, organize a coop and start a gallery, put your stuff up in restaurants and salons, and connect to an audience if it’s out there. Time to find out.
It’s not about art, is it? It’s about state and federal support for a style of art that doesn’t stir much interest in the larger community, so they dole out this tax-deducted, charity-funded pie for those ‘deserving’ -- and they get to decide. It’s mostly cool because everybody’s got a share, or might get one someday, at least lots of folks try. Dangling that skinny carrot turns out to be a major influence, grant applications under review, and it bends toward a sort of insular, canapé munching, quasi-participation in art, neither making or owning anything significant. What are we going to do?
Guess we’ll just have to look for support in the private sector. Try to make the case, long abandoned, that the product is worthy of its place in the dialogue of daily life, can contribute to the economic well-being of the community in a positive way, and significantly enhances the lives of the people who own it, such as that. Artists, throw down your crutches and find gallery space, organize a coop and start a gallery, put your stuff up in restaurants and salons, and connect to an audience if it’s out there. Time to find out.
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