The stock market's rise since the crash has helped, but most middle class people are still uneasy about the future, and there is a rising sense that America peaked in the 1970s and has been on a long downhill slide since 1980. This fear about the future subconsciously affects purchases of art and other luxuries.
The value of my own IRA investments in the stock market has risen to about what it was before the crash some three years ago, but I am uncertain enough about the future of photography and art shows that I won't even consider replacing my van that is closing in on 180,000 miles. I don't feel enough trust in the stock market or the retail photography market that I am willing to take on any debt right now.
We all need to strategize ways to make our work more salable; I know that doing what I have always done is no longer working. I have partly turned to smaller and much less expensive framed work that is more "giftable." I have also started something I swore I would never do: creating a line of boxed notecards (at a time when nobody sends cards LOL!)--it gives some people a chance to buy some beautiful work at a price they can afford; in this economy, they can't or won't buy anything more.
Art shows also face major changes, as fewer artists can afford to travel long distances for shows. That means that the shows will have a smaller and more local talent pool from which to choose. This will result in more regional shows with less turnover of artists, which may make the public less likely to attend. The high booth fees we now face are also a deterrent; they were barely tolerable in good times and are devastating to many artists in bad times.
All that said: good luck to everyone in 2011!
Lee Rentz Photography
http://leerentz.photoshelter.com/
lee@leerentz.com
http://artshowphoto.com/support.htm
PLEASE READ....PLEASE TRIM POSTS!!! Keep quoted material short.
Repeat or create accurate subject lines.
If you want to advertise services related to art shows or photography, either in a forum post or on the resource web site, please contact the forum owner for permission.
Resource web site at
http://ArtShowPhoto.com
0 comments:
Post a Comment