"Stuff vs Art"

With the economy drastically slowing, many artists are calling with nervous voices wondering about sales, or lack of sales, regarding their artwork. I sometimes find that not only am I a gallery owner but also an art therapist of sorts. I talk with my artists about how they can market themselves, I tell them that yes, the economy sucks but their art doesn't - just because it's not selling now doesn't mean their work isn't beautiful and thought provoking and, most of all, meaningful.

All of us at the gallery spend much of the day educating the general public about our artists....not just who they are but how artists must rely on sales to live, support a family, pay taxes, pay health insurances, pay for gas, raise their children and basically live just like everyone else but on a much tighter budget. We mention that if we stop buying art we cut out a valuable segment of our visual environment. I just can't imagine MY life without art or artists....can you?

When I hear people say..."I'm just not going to buy stuff anymore", I hope that people realize that art is not "stuff". Stuff is filler...things...copies...manufactured items made by machines...stuff is usually not touched by human hands except when packaged and placed in boxes for shipping. When looking at your "stuff" do you know who actually created it?

Take a closer look at what surrounds you. Is it "stuff" or is it meaningful? Is it art?