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Ronald Walker

9 Years Ago

Art Is A Big Deal.

Strange to me as it may be on an "art" site but we have had a number of debates over the years as to the question "Is art important?", "Why do some people pay so much for art?" I would have thought that most "artist" would of have a grasp on that and realized that selling art and prints is not the primary reason art is created by people. It is a seriously effective way to communicate with others, it has an immediacy that is hard to debate and it transcends language barriers. Here is the current story that has caused me to post this thread....In the Sacramento area a person had put out a variety of flag type symbols in their yard. The symbols show what looks like a Israeli flag with a Swastika in the center. The neighborhood that this house is in is up in arms about this. The police came out to look and stated there is nothing they can do because of free speech. Now as of this morning it seems like a state senator is weighing in on the issue. Symbols and images have a great deal of power, we as a creature get somewhere between 80-90 percent of our information about the world through visual means. ART IS A BIG DEAL!

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Cynthia Decker

9 Years Ago

People need to see it, though. Hence the concern with marketing and selling. You can stand in an empty room and shout all you want, but until you get someone to hear you, you're not communicating anything.

If that guy had put those flags up in his guest room, there would be no kerfuffle at all.

As an artist, I want to be seen. I want to get my work - my communications - in front of people that want to see them. In order to keep creating work, I need to sell some of it. So, I need an audience, and I need some people to like what I'm saying enough to make it part of their OWN communication.

That means showing, sharing (marketing), and selling.

I would still do what I do if it didn't pay, but it wouldn't be the same if no one else ever saw it. I don't want to stand in an empty room and talk to myself.

 

Ronald Walker

9 Years Ago

Cynthia, 100% correct! I agree with that. Any form of communication must function as communication, which means it must be experienced by others.

 

Edward Fielding

9 Years Ago

I agree. Art can be powerful. New ideas scare a lot of people.

 

Sarabjit Singh

9 Years Ago

As the saying goes 'A picture is worth a thousand words' along with that I agree with Cynthia.

 

Ronald Walker

9 Years Ago

Bueller....Bueller....BuellerSell Art Online

 

Drew

9 Years Ago

I think Ron writes at least ten thousand words for every picture he produces.....,heheheh

 

Ronald Walker

9 Years Ago

Drew, Drew, Drew it could be true true true. Right now this is a nice distraction from grading. Hate doing that!

 

Drew

9 Years Ago

Yaggotta gift of gab Ron:)

 

Ronald Walker

9 Years Ago

I do tend to be a rather social creature. Guess that is why I teach.

 

Drew

9 Years Ago

I find that art is a big deal to artist.

 

Robert Kernodle

9 Years Ago

Art might communicate nothing - it might merely set the stage where people create their own inner messages that have nothing to do with what the artist intends to communicate.

Art is more important to those who make art than to those who do not make art.

People who pay big bucks for art are a limited group who have more and more artists competing for their limited attention (dollars) everyday.

Artists, art schools and civic organizations make a big deal out of art. Most other people do not. For many people, everything is a commodity that either meets a need/want or not. If it feels good, looks good, tastes good, sounds good, etc., then it is worth buying. Otherwise, no go for buying it.



 

Ronald Walker

9 Years Ago

The story here is how whipped up people are about symbols being displayed who are not artist.

 

David Bridburg

9 Years Ago

Ron,

Is it easier to write an F as a grade or an A?

I would submit that F is easier on the hand, so just give all those little adoring faces F grades.
For your own sake.

I might even sign Ron's name to this post

 

Ronald Walker

9 Years Ago

Dave, wish it was that simple, we have a skill grade of 1,2,3 or 4, 4 being best. We can put +'s or -'s if we wish. We also give an effort grade of O,S, or N to each student. Some years we have 33 classes and up to 900 students per week. This is an easy year for me because I have one school and only 12 classes. I see each class up to 3 times a week but the grades are not bad. Each year it changes so I guess I have better enjoy it while it last!

 

Melissa Herrin

9 Years Ago

People are so visual. We like to look at anything and everything. Some things strike a chord in us and we want it to remind us of a certain time and place. To others it matches the couch.

 

David Bridburg

9 Years Ago

900 per week?

It sounds like you have Abbie;s job but in person. And you get to grade.

can you ban a student for a week or two?

900 per week....sheesh!!

Dave

 

Greg Jackson

9 Years Ago

"900 per week".

I know it's elementary school you teach, Ron. How's your student ratio and schedule?

Our local high school teachers typical schedule (last I heard): 6 period day, avg of 30 students per class, 5 days a week. Plus a homeroom/study hall tucked in there somewhere maybe, plus supervisory duty possibly in the lunchroom, hallway, parking lot or bus duty where the kids get on/off the bus. That's the norm, then you throw-in extra curricular activities after hours and weekends if coaching a team of some sort. Oh, and I almost forgot the mind-numbing faculty meetings after or before school.

 

Ronald Walker

9 Years Ago

Greg less this year, some years more. 30 to 34 per class, seven classes per day three schools, on a cart going from room to room with a budget of 400 per year. This year one school, one day with only five classes, 500 dollar budget and a room! Things are looking up around here!!!

 

Edward Fielding

9 Years Ago

Maybe this should be modified to "Some art is a big deal"

There is a lot of art that is "no big deal".


.....

Grading - in my school district giving a poor grade means the teacher will have to deal with the wrath of the parent whose kid is going to go to a Ivy League school even if it kills them.

 

Greg Jackson

9 Years Ago

That's a tough schedule, Ron. Hang in there and make it to retirement if possible.


Okay, back to the regularly scheduled programming :)

 

Roy Erickson

9 Years Ago

art is a big deal to the artist
art is a big deal status symbol for those that pay big bucks
art is a big deal in decorating an office or home - some with big bucks pay them - some have big bucks because they seek out new work or from local art shows/festivals
art can be a message - political - religious - or cultural

 

Jason Christopher

9 Years Ago

When we look back in time, over 1000s of years past, it is the art that speaks words most resoundingly and clearly..

 

Ricardo De Almeida

9 Years Ago

Global fine art auction market reaches $16.1 billion (2014)

More Information: http://artdaily.com/news/76027/artnet-releases-2014-Annual-Auction-Results--Global-fine-art-auction-market-reaches--16-1-billion#.VPBs8Vjd81g[/url]
Copyright © artdaily.org

 

Ronald Walker

9 Years Ago

Jason well put!, Roy why are people so upset with what is just an abstract design?

 

David Bridburg

9 Years Ago

The scribes and scholars of ancient Mesopotamia.

Artists count the harvest. Artists create the propaganda for armies to march.

Artists lead the revolt. Artists undermine authority.

Artists create family values. Artists brake the mold.

Art can be thrown away or valued 3000 years later.

Dave

 

David Lane

9 Years Ago

To the average person art is something in a museum, or to fill a large empty wall. To some it's pretty pictures or themed photos or paintings to set a tone for a busimess or give people something to look at in a waiting room. The average person does not spend 100's of dollars on art or go to museums to see it.

 

Timon Timotius

9 Years Ago

Agree with Decker

 

Ronald Walker

9 Years Ago

David, true but they are affected by it on a daily basis. On the walls,on the ground, we wear it, we drive it, we live in it and whether or not you think about it it affects the average person on a daily basis.

 

Ronald Walker

9 Years Ago

FYI, for anyone interested, Bill has created an escape area for the cat in question.Sell Art Online

 

Robert Kernodle

9 Years Ago

When we look back in time, over 1000s of years past, it is the art that speaks words most resoundingly and clearly..

... not so sure about that, Jason C.

I'm thinking it is war that speaks actions most resoundingly and clearly -- the art of war, maybe.

 

Ana Belle

9 Years Ago

it IS a big deal. a really big deal. at least to me. art, to me, supplies the thoughts that straighten things out within myself. it's the only way through it. it balances my internal chaos. art simply balances. so it's really important to me. i create art for my own benefit. not thinking about any other reason. i share it to the world out of compassion. if people likes it, good. if not, fine. art is life, to me. without it, life is dead.

 

Edward Fielding

9 Years Ago

Big Deal - ancient art created in the middle east has been the target of the Taliban and now ISIS. These groups feel so threatened by art created thousands of years ago that they feel the need to destroy it.

http://nypost.com/2015/02/26/isis-destroys-ancient-iraqi-artifacts/

 

Lisa Kaiser

9 Years Ago

I can see why people say art is boring because it really can be boring. Most people are interested in celebrities, politics, sports, cars, fashion and houses. I don't think art has the larger audience.

 

Ronald Walker

9 Years Ago

Gosh and here I thought that celebrities, cars and houses were boring. Art to me is never boring! FYI, currently despite the biggies trying to get the offending designs removed they are still up, still upsetting many people who are bored by art to be going hysterical.

 

Ronald Walker

9 Years Ago

Since art is only a big deal to artist thought I would post an update in the story. The uninterested masses tore down everything despite the fact the police could do nothing. This person has now posted a sign stating more of his beliefs. Since we are no longer just dealing with abstract symbols my interest has ebbed.

 

Kevin Callahan

9 Years Ago

ART IS A BIG DEAL! Just look at mine if you don't believe me. No, seriously, go LOOK AT MINE. See? See what I mean? Ron is sooo right. (tongue in cheek)

I attended a lecture last week by the artist Samuel Bak, who says art unseen does not communicate.

 

Ronald Walker

9 Years Ago

I have always thought that art unseen serves the purpose for the artist as therapy but not much more.

 

Kevin Callahan

9 Years Ago

Then I must be well adjusted.

 

Elizabeth Bathory

9 Years Ago

It is great therapy. It helps and also serves as a mechanism of completion of substance from the brain that is a drive that needs to be satisfied. I think really, its almost biological .It seems to be built into most. Importance,yes it is important, not only to the people that enjoy it but also serves that biological urge inside to create. Some people use that urge to satisfy the wrong actions that they perceive to be related to creating and it turns out badly but art serves a purpose for all mankind not only to the viewer but for the creators.

@Kevin, I think most artist, the greats included used art as an unseen language. Each work incorporates a hidden thought or meaning or statement by the artist and most of the time
only the artist will ever know what it truly means..Most artist that create these statements or secret meanings or language love to sit back and see what others comment their thoughts about what the artist is expressing.. and then laugh to themselves. I think da vinci and others did just that..Hidden language and meanings still not known to this day ..only my two cents though.lol

 

This discussion is closed.