This is so far and away out of the scope of what government should be involved in, in makes me sick. That's what I think.
posted by babbleman at 12:17 P.M. EST on Mon Jul 23, 2007 #
you think? it's an economic incentive which will hopefully equal tax $ for the county. the loan is secured by key bank, not the county, and it will not really cost the count anything.
posted by upso at 12:36 P.M. EST on Mon Jul 23, 2007 #
the loan is secured by key bank, not the county, and it will not really cost the count anything.
Not according to the article - the county had to secure a $250,000 certificate of deposit.
"The county expects a return of $2,511 for the year on its certificate of deposit. Yet if the county had invested at the more typical interest rate of 4.157 percent, the return would be $10,392, according to the Lucas County Treasurer’s Office. The cost to taxpayers is essentially $7,881."
Personally, I think its ridiculous. If a person needs to take out a loan to buy art, maybe they should think twice about acquiring that art. Just what we need to be doing - encouraging people to take on more debt.
Here's a fun quote from the article:
“The problem that we have in Toledo is not that we don’t have enough artists. It’s just that we don’t have enough people buying the art,” he said
Perhaps if there were more JOBS in Toledo, then people might have more money to spend on non-essential things like art work. If you're having trouble putting food on the table and keeping a roof over your heads, of course you aren't going to be spending money on artwork. I'm sure many Toledoans would love to have original artwork in their homes, but you have to prioritize your expenditures.
When the bankruptcy filing rate is skyrocketing in the area, why in the world would they be setting up a program encouraging people to increase debt loads for non-essential items? Crazy and asinine are the first 2 words that come to my mind when I think about it.
posted by mom2 at 01:08 P.M. EST on Mon Jul 23, 2007 #
You mean I can get Dogs Playing Poker for the low low price of $5/mo?!
posted by TheTalentedMrC at 01:16 P.M. EST on Mon Jul 23, 2007 #
I thought this was an "old" news story, but the Blade story is dated July 23. Ben Konop announced this on his blog back on June 25 with a posting titled Art Assist for Lucas County.
From the July 23 Blade story:
" “The problem that we have in Toledo is not that we don’t have enough artists. It’s just that we don’t have enough people buying the art,” he said Mr. Zaleski, the gallery and studios building owner, said there’s another intrinsic problem with Toledo: It is not Chicago, New York City, Berlin, Paris, or another art world capital. Some artists who have had trouble selling work in Mr. Zaleski’s galleries have traveled to Chicago and sold their pieces for double or triple the original price tag. When the artwork was on sale in Toledo, people seemed to place a lower value on it, he said."
I must be missing something because why would an artist live in or sell art in a market that's not interested in art? If an artist can make more money in a more "artsy" city, then why continue to live in Toledo and complain?
Also from the Blade story:
"Yet the 22-year-old sells only a handful of his pieces a year. To pay studio rent and his other living expenses, Mr. Masternak, a native Toledoan, works the third shift on an assembly line in Dunbridge, Ohio, making adult diapers. His shift begins at 11 p.m. and he doesn’t get home until close to 8 a.m. Exhausted, he said he falls asleep immediately. “It can get kind of tough,” Mr. Masternak said."
As if this 22-year-old's situation is unique among artists. 22? What a whiner. That wussy attitude won't fly in a gritty town like Toledo. I've met artists in their 50's and 60's who are still working at a non-art-related job in order to support their art. Some have to wait until they retire before they work full-time on their art. Not every 22-year-old artist makes their living off their art.
What about writers? Only a tiny percentage of writers make their living as a writer. Many writers have to work other jobs and keep at their craft for 10 to 20 years or more before "making it" and most never get published enough to live off their writing.
I wish Toledo was a more "artsy" town, but the fact is, it's not. That's just the way it is even though Toledo has a top-notch art museum. It takes more than one museum.
Government gives tax abatements to businesses. The new Westgate redevelopment received some taxpayer dollars. Of course, the payback to Toledo from a new Westgate will be worth a lot more than what Toledo gave Westgate. It was an investment that expects a grand return.
The Toledo Zoo is partly supported by taxpayer dollars, but it also provides a decent return on that investment. For every one dollar of taxpayer money the zoo receives, five or six dollars are returned back to the local economy.
I'm thinking this art assist program is along those same lines that over the long term, however long that is, the ROI to the local economy is worth more than the taxpayer money that's used to support the program.
I realize this is wishful thinking, but maybe the art assist program exposes more local residents to art. Maybe it helps some artists remain in the area instead of leaving. Maybe eventually, this program will not be needed as a the local arts community grows, possibly even encouraging artists to move to the Toledo area.
Technology and art seem to go together. That is, computer or scientific nerd types like living and working in areas that also have a thriving arts scene. Maybe it's a left and right brain balance thing.
Steve Jobs said about the early days of his Apple company that he didn't employ the brightest computer scientists in the world. He said he employed artists who just also happened to be the brightest computer scientists in the world.
Over the years, I've noticed computer types here and elsewhere who in their spare time are painters or sculpters or poets or simply fans of the arts. I've seen hard core massively intelligent computer programmers take a break at their workplace by banging out some classic tunes on a grand piano.
In my opinion, with the university and a fine art museum, the Toledo arts scene and arts community should much bigger and better than it is for a city this size. I blame the problem on what's described in the title of this Feb 12, 2006 Blade story titled UT-art museum collaboration falls short of objectives. From that story:
"This passage leads from the Toledo Museum of Art to the home of the University of Toledo's art department - a link between one of the most renowned art museums in the country and an art program that is not ranked, let alone ranked among the best art schools in America."
"In Ohio, U.S. News & World Report in 1997 rated Ohio State at 29th in the country for its master's of fine arts program and fifth in ceramics. The report did not list the University of Toledo for one very conspicuous reason. The school does not offer a Master of Fine Arts."
Western Michigan, Bowling Green, Ohio University and maybe some other MAC schools offer Master of Fine Arts degrees. UT's lack of a MFA program is an unfortunate blunder for the local area.
A graduating high school arts student may ignore UT because of UT's lack of an MFA. Or maybe the student does undergrad work at UT but leaves to pursue a MFA at another school. And upon graduating from that other school, that student may not return to Toledo. At another school in another city, that student may end up wanting to stay there because of that city's arts community and jobs that allow a student to use his or her art skills.
I think a decent, affordable MFA program at UT, plus Toledo's Art Museum, plus Toledo's affordable living standard, plus Toledo's population size which would mean a better chance at finding work or starting a biz or finding a thriving arts community, would have been a big plus to this area economically and culturally. Sometimes new, small, non-art-related businesses like to locate in artsy, eclectic areas.
From a February 2006 posting that pointed to this comment:
"Here is a 2005 Top 25 arts cities listing ..."
Category 2: Mid-Sized Cities
(Populations of 100,000 to 499,000)
1. New Orleans, La.
2. Albuquerque, N.M.
3. Scottsdale, Ariz.
4. Las Vegas, Nev.
5. Honolulu, Hawaii
6. Atlanta, Ga.
7. Savannah, Ga.
8. Ann Arbor, Mich.
9. Miami, Fla.
10. Pittsburgh, Pa.
11. Tucson, Ariz.
12. Colorado Springs, Colo.
13. Cleveland, Ohio
14. Minneapolis, Minn.
15. Kansas City, Mo.
16. St. Louis, Mo.
17. St. Petersburg, Fla.
18. Providence, R.I.
19. Alexandria, Va.
20. Tampa, Fla.
21. Cincinnati, Ohio
22. Tacoma, Wash.
23. Buffalo, N.Y.
24. Athens, Ga.
25. Salem, Ore.
Buffalo, Pittsburgh, and Cleveland, but no Toledo.
Ryan may enjoy my use of the word "neanderthal" in my shutdown message when I put an end to my ToledoArts.com Web site back in the summer of 2004.
posted by jr at 01:33 P.M. EST on Mon Jul 23, 2007 #
A nice, local art show is this Sunday, July 29.
"Art on the Mall celebrates its 15th year in the heart of the University of Toledo's main campus. This juried show and sale of arts and crafts, which runs from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. July 29 on Centennial Mall, will feature more than 100 artists, most of whom are affiliated with UT. Children's activities and live jazz music also will be offered."
posted by jr at 01:42 P.M. EST on Mon Jul 23, 2007 #
upso - you've asked a good question that I think deserves an answer - what is the ROI that the County is getting for this 'program?'
The sales taxes on the total loan amount of $25,000 is 6.75% and that equals $1,687.50 - of that, Lucas County gets 1.25% which equals $312.50.
Is $25,000, spread over all the galleries and artists in the county, enough to create a new job?
The 'cost' to the county is the difference between the available interest rate versus the accepted interest rate on the $250,000 certificate of deposit that is the 'collateral' for the loans. According to the Blade article, the cost to the county is $7881. Will the $25,000 spent locally generate more than $7881 in return?
I don't know, but you'd think that someone would have asked and answered these questions PRIOR to creating the program - and would be sharing them with us all...
(for the record, I've done two posts on this on my blog, here and here where I've objected to this for several reasons.)
posted by MaggieThurber at 03:30 P.M. EST on Mon Jul 23, 2007 #
For the record (since I voiced my objection to this program above)...
I like art. It would be nice if Toledo could have a thriving art community - usually, cities that do have a thriving art community tend to also have some other interesting aspects that go along with it.
(Though one wonders about the chicken/egg aspect of it - does the thriving art community cause the other stuff to develop? Or does having the other stuff in place already cause the art community to develop?)
I just think that...right now...there are better uses of public time/money than this project. Why encourage people to take out loans for art when bankruptcy filings are at record highs? Why focus time on this project, when local folks are having a hard time finding jobs and putting food on the table?
If the overall local economy was doing better - not even great, but at least showing signs of life - I wouldn't have a problem with trying to spark some interest in the local art community too. But (IMO) we're not in that place yet.
posted by mom2 at 04:04 P.M. EST on Mon Jul 23, 2007 #
A February 2005 Toledo Talk posting titled Strategic Toledo Arts plan.
And if that doesn't work, 'ol reliable is out there: tobacco sin tax.
Whenever a funding problem exists, look to the smokers. Lucas County could try to follow the 2006 Cuyahoga County plan of passing a new sin tax on tobacco to fund the arts. In 2004, Cuyahoga County voters rejected a new property tax to fund the arts. But a tax on tobacco to support the arts is fine.
posted by jr at 04:11 P.M. EST on Mon Jul 23, 2007 #
BTW - the results (so far) on the Blade website poll:
"Would a low-interest loan encourage you to purchase local artwork?"
794 votes cast
Yes - 8.2%
No - 88.5%
Not sure (lol) - 3.3%
Perhaps someone should have investigated whether or not there was any local interest in such a program beforehand.
posted by mom2 at 04:13 P.M. EST on Mon Jul 23, 2007 #
Whew...where to start?
1. Toledo has a thriving art scene. The city just lacks people with enough disposable income to financially support it in the manner we might prefer. If it comes down to paying the mortgage or buying the work of local artists, most people opt for keeping the bank happy.
2. I am an artist, albeit with my words. Can I get some of that there government green, preferably in small bills?
3. (answering own question) Since I cannot, I guess I have to turn to the market to support my writing. Today I had to (pauses to cringe) write a post sponsored by BP. While in the short run I might offend a few readers with paid posts (some have emailed me in the past to say they would never read again since I went commercial), the upshot is I can afford to underwrite my writing, both online and as-yet-unpublished, AND I don't have to work a crappy midnight shift at a factory. Oh wait - I guess I am not a real artist since I SOLD OUT TO THE MAN.
4. While well-intentioned, this idea would best be pursued by cities/government entities in better financial health, not those that are cash-starved. Most of us would like to see a better return on the tax dollars we spend for basic services before we would like to see the government subsidizing art.
5. Who gets to determine which art is worthy of being subsidized, and which is not? Just because a piece is in a gallery does not make it particularly remarkable; I have seen plenty of amateurish drivel in galleries. Sounds like only the Lucas County art galleries are in the mix; are we just supposed to trust the local "experts?"
posted by historymike at 04:56 P.M. EST on Mon Jul 23, 2007 #
"The city just lacks people with enough disposable income to financially support it in the manner we might prefer."
I disagree when you consider how much money was blown up earlier this month in backyard fireworks in Toledo. Hell, we had another round of insurgent attacks this pass weekend in our hood.
But everyone's different. I buy artwork. Someone else sets off explosives. I wonder which is greater in the Toledo area: the number of fireworks stores or art galleries? How much money do these big, backyard fireworks displays cost?
For several days around the 4th of July around our west Toledo home, the fireworks noise near and far is constant, starting late in the afternoon and going well past Midnight. Then I think, the local economy cannot be that bad. These big fireworks displays must cost at least a few hundred dollars. I'm guessing several families chip in for each arsenal.
I think what the Toledo area lacks is enough people who are interested in art. What do you attend more: plays or movies? I've been to the movie theaters once in the past three years, but I've seen a lot of plays in the Lake Erie West region during that time. I prefer live theatre over a movie theater, and it's probably a safe bet that I'm in the minority on this. I may have to go to the movies, however, for the new Simpsons movie.
In recent years, I've bought a handful of pieces of artwork for my Dad as Christmas gifts. Last year, most of the gifts from my wife and I for our family members consisted of artwork bought at shows in the region. So we start our Christmas shopping in June or earlier.
Obviously, the gifts are unique. It's not like someone can bop down to the local mall and find the same gift. I'm not a shopper in the traditional sense. I hate going to the "normal" stores at any time of the year let alone in December. But I enjoy X-mas shopping at art shows in the summer or fall.
How do you know what kind of art to get someone for a gift? Well, browse an art show, and you'll be surprised what's there. You might see something and think, "That's definitely so-and-so." Every piece of artwork I've bought for my Dad is nature-related because that's him.
And if you don't know what to get someone, surprise the person. That individual probably won't be expecting a piece of art. And if the artwork doesn't work out as a gift, then next year you can go back to giving a gift card from a bookstore or Best Buy.
Some artwork is meant for the yard. Some artwork is functional like clothing or purses or musical instruments. My favorite artist at the recent Ann Arbor Art Fair was Archie Smith from North Carolina with his handmade psalteries and Mountain Dulcimers. If I was a long-time dulcimer player with a thousand dollars falling out of my sandals, I would have bought one of Archie's instruments. Not every artist can make prints of his or her artwork.
The art fair at UT is this Sunday. Levis Commons has a nice art fair at the end of August. I think they're free to attend. For beginners, use the art fair as a scouting mission. Don't plan on buying anything. Just go and see what's out there. Try it once.
posted by jr at 06:56 P.M. EST on Mon Jul 23, 2007 #
I agree that it's silly for people to have to take out loans to buy a piece of art. If you can't afford it without a loan, you can't afford it. There's a lot of excellent local art that's not priced sky high. My gripes with the Crosby Garden's & Ann Arbor art shows, is that they've become so cost prohibitive it's crazy (some artists have giant egos). I used to enjoy going to those art shows, when they were comprised mostly of local artists (Ohio & Michigan). But now there are mainly artists that travel from clear across the country to exhibit at the shows - travel costs are reflected in the high price tags, I'm sure. (Those shows used to be for local artists originally). Another problem with those shows, is the entry fee has gotten so crazy expensive. My mom used to exhibit at the Crosby art show for years, until it got so expensive to exhibit (and they are juried shows, so not everybody can exhibit - you have to get approved, so it's quality art). My mom simply stopped exhibiting. I'm not sure of what hoops you have to jump through to get your work displayed in local galleries, but I doubt the man on the street can just march his canvases in & expect them to be hung. Most galleries are grossly overpriced anyway, sometimes, more ego than talent. I did read the article in the Blade today about this - and noticed the huge murals being painted that will be at the Cherry St. Mission outdoors (by the diaper guy I think). What struck me immediately, was how amateurish his work was (how did he get chosen to paint these murals - based on what the photo in the Blade showed, he's not professional enough, perspective is way off, messy brushwork, figures not in proportion, etc.) I don't want to diminish this guys efforts, he shows promise & I hope he succeeds. But it's just not quality enough to be hugely seen on the outside of the Cherry St. Mission. Looks like an unskilled artist did it.
I've painted several decent oils - realistic, impressionist - anybody want to take out a loan to buy them? (heh, heh).
posted by starling02 at 07:14 P.M. EST on Mon Jul 23, 2007 #
Toledo does have some excellent artists that survive on their art - Mr.Atomic (did all the murals & art at Gumbos), Leslie Adams - one of the best portrait artists I've seen, Ted Planten used to, Walter Chapman, etc. and many, many more
posted by starling02 at 07:16 P.M. EST on Mon Jul 23, 2007 #
thanks for the input everyone. really insightful!
posted by upso at 08:54 P.M. EST on Mon Jul 23, 2007 #
I hope I didn't offend the guy who's painting the Cherry St. Mission murals - it's probably more that I could think of so many other great mural ideas, than a painting of a couple of young white guys. In Mexicantown in Detroit, there's are wonderful murals - just amazing, bright, colorful, lots of imagination, just grabs you. I'd have preferred to see something more like that I guess. Or composite of Toledo's history & people famous to it, or just a cool, downtown scene with lots of interesting people in it (instead of just two young white guys - boring).
posted by starling02 at 10:08 P.M. EST on Mon Jul 23, 2007 #
historymike: While in the short run I might offend a few readers with paid posts (some have emailed me in the past to say they would never read again since I went commercial), the upshot is I can afford to underwrite my writing, both online and as-yet-unpublished, AND I don't have to work a crappy midnight shift at a factory. Oh wait - I guess I am not a real artist since I SOLD OUT TO THE MAN.
If it comforts you, here's a quote from Patton Oswalt, on his work on the sitcom King of Queens:
Nothing better than to see the typo-heavy envy of 41 year-old shut-ins (or well-fed, pampered 13 year-olds) in stark close up. There’s nothing more worthless than “indie credibility”, especially from people who scream, “Sell out!”, mainly to drown out the buzzing truth that they’ve got nothing anyone wants to buy off of them in the first place.
posted by TheTalentedMrC at 04:58 A.M. EST on Tue Jul 24, 2007 #
Go Patton Oswalt!!
posted by billy at 06:14 A.M. EST on Tue Jul 24, 2007 #
Along the lines of art...my friend's son was telling me about a petition to develop a public place for graffiti art, which he does...anyone else heard anything about this?
posted by MaggieThurber at 07:24 A.M. EST on Tue Jul 24, 2007 #
I personally have no problem with the county supporting local artists as long as their art is kept within good taste.
I wish they would require artists to also do public projects with the money as well.
For instance, I own a boat. Toledo has made strides to better incorporate the waterways into the community. However I've noticed the wall at international park next to the Willis B. Boyer is still covered in graffiti. Now this doesn't help the image of the city nor do I doubt it is inviting to possible visitors of the Boyer. Why doesn't the county make these artists paint a mural on the wall over the graffiti? I don't think it'll help the Boyer's visitations problems but it can't hurt and it could improve the image of the area.
posted by MikeyA at 07:44 A.M. EST on Tue Jul 24, 2007 #
Maggie,
I did not hear about the petition, but I have heard several times that Toledo is the home of many talented Graffiti Artists. I capitalized the name to make them look professional. I would sign that petition.
posted by jdmsbyrd at 12:04 P.M. EST on Tue Jul 24, 2007 #
the graffiti petition was started by a local artist named Jerry Gray. Jerry is also involved with "quest for fire" studios, which throws great art events around the city. you can view the petition here: http://www.ipetitions.com/petition/graf419/
posted by upso at 12:30 P.M. EST on Tue Jul 24, 2007 #
Does this include all arts? Culinary arts?
If I want to reopen Ted's Hamburgers down town on Monroe St can I get some funding?
posted by billy at 12:40 P.M. EST on Tue Jul 24, 2007 #
thanks, jdmsbyrd and upso...
posted by MaggieThurber at 12:53 P.M. EST on Tue Jul 24, 2007 #
This is ridiculous. More Government Gone Wild. It's scary that so many people seem to think this is a good idea.
To look at just one problem...
I personally have no problem with the county supporting local artists as long as their art is kept within good taste.
Who's going to define "good taste"? I suppose that something like this would qualify, since it was supported by the NEA. I can't wait to take out a loan to buy one of those!
Or maybe artists will be told what subjects are appropriate. I'm sure there's a great market for portraits of Carty and the three stooge commissioners: the kid, the Commie, and the obligatory Skeldon.
Does this include all arts? Culinary arts?
If I want to reopen Ted's Hamburgers down town on Monroe St can I get some funding?
How about money to buy a home, which I would undoubtedly transform into a piece of architectural "art"? How about money for a piece of automotive "art"?
What if I consider comic books to be art? How about video games? You know, I think I'm entitled to a country-provided PS3 or Wii to further my appreciation of electronic graphic arts.
What a nightmare.
posted by Hulkster at 01:41 P.M. EST on Tue Jul 24, 2007 #
Who's going to define "good taste"?
Hulkster,
The supreme court has widely ruled that good taste and what is defined as obscene is determined locally. That means we decide what's in good taste.
posted by MikeyA at 02:40 P.M. EST on Tue Jul 24, 2007 #
From the article:
Under the Art Assist program, residents who pass a credit check can receive a one-year loan at 1 percent interest for $500 to $2,500 of the price tag of any artwork, regardless of the artist’s origins, as long as the piece is sold in a Lucas County gallery that carries work by local artists.
Not to be a sourpuss, but let's think about this. Seriously, if you are the kind of person who has to take out a $500 LOAN to buy a piece of artwork because you don't have $500 on-hand for, let's say, "home cultural enhancement," then you probably aren't the kind of person who is going to prioritize hanging something pretty on your wall over feeding your kids, making your car payment, paying the gas bill and replacing last year's beat-up winter coat. In other words, if $500 is so much money to you that you need a LOAN to access that amount, you probably are living on a month-to-month budget and the notion of borrowing money for artwork is ridiculous because I'm going to go out on a limb and guess you have many, many competing priorities for the next $500 you get in your hands.
Conversely, if you are the kind of person who thinks nothing of forking over $2,500 on a piece of art, then you probably are not the kind of person who needs a loan to do it.
I suppose there might be an in-between crowd -- say the guy who wants that $2,500 piece of art, but only has $2,000 on-hand and figures at 1-percent interest, a loan is more savvy than putting $500 on his 14.9-percent interest credit card. But this is the kind of guy who can probably pay off a $500 in the next month or two, and the extra interest is negligible, over such a short term, meaning the paperwork for the loan is more trouble than it's worth compared to just handing over the ol' plastic card.
The more I think about this, the more laughable it is. Art is an expendable-income purchase. If my wages were higher, job opportunties greater, health insurance costs lower, education debts alleviated, and my gasoline not taxed so much (or my reliance on it not so great), I'd have more expendable income. So, local officials, help me out on those things and I'll start buying artwork. You betcha. I like pretty things, too. Just not as much as I like to eat and keep my electricity on.
posted by jmleong at 03:09 P.M. EST on Tue Jul 24, 2007 #
Conversely, if you are the kind of person who thinks nothing of forking over $2,500 on a piece of art, then you probably are not the kind of person who needs a loan to do it.
I disagree. Someone who can drop $2,500 for a piece of art probably knows how to manage their money and would recognize the benefit of a 1% loan. If you are going to buy a $2,500 piece with cash on hand, you'd save money by buying the art with a 1% Art Assist loan and put the $2,500 cash in a HISA where you'll earn over %5, FDIC insured.
posted by thenick at 04:03 P.M. EST on Tue Jul 24, 2007 #
I disagree. Someone who can drop $2,500 for a piece of art probably knows how to manage their money and would recognize the benefit of a 1% loan.
I think that's a real point of contention though.
The person you described above doesn't "need" the loan - they'll just (wisely) take out the loan to purchase artwork that they were already going to purchase, but save money by making up the interest somewhere else.
This is a problem for 2 reasons:
1) In the scenario described above, no more art is being sold than likely would have been sold prior to the Art Assist program.
2) Many people would have a real problem with public funds being used to create loopholes for the well-to-do to make out like a bandit while buying art (that they probably would have bought anyhow) at a 1% interest rate.
It all makes you wonder who the real "winners" are in this program.
posted by mom2 at 04:48 P.M. EST on Tue Jul 24, 2007 #
"Under the Art Assist program, residents who pass a credit check can receive a one-year loan at 1 percent interest for $500 to $2,500 of the price tag of any artwork, regardless of the artist’s origins, as long as the piece is sold in a Lucas County gallery that carries work by local artists." ---------
"Regardless of the artist's origins, as long as the piece is sold in a Lucas County gallery...."
......so, does that mean that these loans can be used to buy art created by NON Toledo or Lucas County artists, that just happen to be hanging on Lucas County gallery walls that also must include the works of Lucas County artists? That does NOT help Toledo or Lucas County (or even necessarily Ohio) artists if the art being sold is by a Michigan (or where ever) artist. The degree it will "help" the gallery is negligible - galleries tend to make a commission off of works displayed to be sold (consignment basis). So if a painting done by a Michigan artist is sold for $500., the gallery will only get a small percentage in commission on the sale, and no Local artist has made any money in this joke of a plan.
I highly doubt that Mr. Big Bucks who doesn't flinch at dropping $2,500 on a piece of art is going to even consider this silly loan, regardless of the interest rate - it'd be more of a pain in the ass, time consuming thing for him to have to deal with (paperwork, approval, etc.) rather than just sticking it on a credit card he already has. Mr.Big Bucks probably has an American Express card anyway (or similar) & pays off the balance each month so he doesn't pay interest anyway. No, the people that this program would be geared to would be middle to low income people I think - who aren't likely able to be able to afford another 'loan'. So many people are already in debt up to their necks with payday loans as it is.
I don't think Toledo (or Ohio)has a corner on poor art sales, now or ever. I remember my mom & her artist friends complain about paying high prices to exhibit their work at art shows, and not selling much of anything - all browers. (Although, they did sell a few, compared to the time spent sitting at these shows for days, time is money, etc. my mom just pulled out of them for good.)
It's also not so easy for local artists to get their work displayed in local galleries. It's not all based on talent I'm sure, because I've seen some pretty horrible art in them. I don't know what kind of connections you need, or if artists have to pay a type of rent to display their work there? Walter Chapman has his own gallery I know - there's a reason for that, I'm sure.
posted by starling02 at 05:56 P.M. EST on Tue Jul 24, 2007 #
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