Starving The Artists

It has been a short while since one of these groups has graced the Dallas/Fort Worth area, so brace yourselves for their next media onslaught. I’m referring to the charlatans that call themselves the “Starving Artists”. You’ve probably seen their commercials advertising the event at a hotel in your area. The ad promises a great selection of hand-painted canvases at amazingly low prices. This is actually a deception in more ways than one.

First, you will not find anything in their stacks of canvases other than prints. Granted some of these have been “embellished” by hand with small strategically placed dabs of paint. Still, these are all still technically mass-produced prints.

Secondly, the only starving artists involved are either the poor artists that produced the original painting and sold their image along with their rights to some publishing house, or an aspiring student artist hired at below minimum wage to daub those dabs onto prints.

The damage these merchants do to artists and subsequently to our culture is a devaluation of art and the artist. Their tactics deceive the public into thinking that art should be cheap and that artists should be poor. The only good thing coming from this is that people with a love for art but no budget for art can obtain some art. That is certainly understandable given the current state of the economy. But, I must add that saving your pennies for one genuine original piece of art is much more rewarding than filling your walls with cheap knock-offs.

Artists deserve to make as good a living as anyone else. They are the teachers, guides, and prophets of our culture. Their expressions should be honored.

It is true. A genuine artist will produce fine art regardless of whether he or she ever sees a dime for their efforts, and sadly many do starve or otherwise suffer for this passion. That does not excuse those who perpetuate a cut-rate mentality towards art by making a commodity of their beautiful work.

If you would indeed like to acquire exquisite artwork, but not pay what some galleries feel they must charge, I would like to suggest a couple of alternatives to putting money into the pockets of yet another faceless corporation instead of actually feeding the artists.

Many new and emerging artists find opportunities to exhibit their work as well as draw support (if you will forgive the play on words) from their community art center. These exhibits are generally open to the public and well publicized in your local media. These exhibits not only provide the artists much needed exposure, but also afford the public the chance to meet and get to know the artists. This is a very real and meaningful way to grow in understanding and appreciation for the art, and generally speaking since these artist are in the early stages of their careers the prices for their work is much more affordable. However, if it does not sink to the level of starving the artist, keep in mind that these will tend to be original paintings as opposed to mass produced prints.

Another alternative way to purchase original artwork at reasonable prices is to become acquainted with local charity functions. Many local charities put on art auctions as fund raisers for their causes. These charities often call upon artists to donate their work for these auctions. Artists generally donate their work because they believe in the cause, they are usually very generous, and because it is a way to share their work with the world. However, this is yet another way to starve the artist. The artist gets no remuneration for their valuable work, despite the excellent value afforded to the buyer and the benefit to the charity. The artist, under current tax code, cannot even write off the donation for its full value, but must only cite material costs as a deduction. Consequently, many artists get to a point where they can simply not afford to donate to a charity regardless of how much they believe in the cause.

The solution that I would like to propose to charities, artists and art collectors alike is a collaboration for whatever the cause might be. Charities should be willing to host exhibits where artist are invited to showcase their work, but also share in the revenue. The events could still be held as an auction with the individual artists setting a minimum limit on their work.

If you really love art, or maybe even an artist the next time you receive notice of a charity art auction, contact the chairperson and ask, "What are you doing for the artists involved?" Then if the answer sounds like someone has forgotten to feed the artist, make a suggestion similar to the one above. Remind them that no one wants to starve.

Ken O'Toole is a abstract expressionist painter working in the Dallas Fort Worth area.

Delivered From Delusion

Realizing that some of you might have a hard time telling when I am being serious or not, I thought it might be appropriate to place a big smiley face along side the articles that are meant for fun and entertainment.
This article, in particular, would NOT have such an emoticon present.

This subject is so important that I have wrestled with the proper way to present it for some time. I know it to be important, not merely by its nature, but by the obstacles and distractions that have been laid in my path to dissuade and delay me writing this.

I hope you will read this to the end. I know some will and some will not. Regardless of how this affects my reputation, I must make it clear for you all what I believe and why I believe it.

It would be easy to simply keep silent in a time when the most popular voices in our culture belittle and ridicule those of us with faith. I cannot keep silent. My silence would be a disservice to you, and a dishonor to the subject and author of my belief. There are those that would call me deluded and dangerous for my beliefs. I could argue that I am far from either. But, I really don't have to argue my case, because my beliefs are based on more than something I read, heard or saw. They are more than the culmination of the teachings I was exposed to throughout my life. In fact, they are in spite of a large portion of those teachings. My beliefs are based on experience and relationship.

I believe in the Bible as the Word of The Living God, who is the Creator Spirit. God created everything that exists and He spoke all of creation into existence. He created man as another speaking spirit (in His image) and gave man authority over the earth.

I believe because man chose to doubt the Word of God and His goodness, that man became broken in his relationship to the Creator who loved him. I also believe that God loved His creation despite the rejection, because He is LOVE. He and His love are so complete that He spoke from eternity into time and continued speaking to His creation until His Word found purchase and became human.

I believe that human to have been Jesus of Nazareth, who was both man as he was originally created, obedient to the will of God, and God incarnate. He sacrificed Himself as the only acceptable and perfect atonement for the broken relationship between Himself and His creation. As obedient man He died, but as man created as God intended with God's Holy Spirit within him, death could not hold Him. God raised Jesus from the grave and after bearing witness to His disciples ascended to His place in the eternal Godhead.

Because this atonement was made perfectly, any person who chooses to believe in God's Word and His goodness can enter into relationship with Him and as a token of that relationship, He imparts His spirit to live within.

I have not always been able to claim these beliefs, because for many years I misunderstood the dynamic of the relationship. I was taught that a relationship with God looked a certain way. When my relationship didn't match up to that standard I felt like I had been rejected by God, so I began to look for other answers. Answers that caused me to question God's existence, my purpose and the meaning of such a pitiful group of beings called humanity. Frankly, I was at a loss. I studied other world religions, but none made sense or resonated in my inner man like Christianity. So, was there something unforgivable in my past?

I asked, and hoped for forgiveness. God answered that question. Into my spirit He spoke these words. "I HAVE NEVER TURNED MY BACK ON YOU. I HAVE ALWAYS BEEN HERE, BECAUSE I LOVE YOU."

I have not been perfect since then, but His perfect Holy Spirit has been faithful to stay in close relationship with me. Not because of my deeds, but in spite of them, because He loves me.

I am better than I used to be. I am more creative, and my art is my prayer language. I paint to glorify God. I write to honor Him.

If you have ever longed for a relationship that will never end, all you need do is pray this prayer. "Lord Jesus, I believe that You died so that I could have a relationship with God. Please, forgive all the ways that I have missed the mark because of my unbelief and doubt. Please, come into relationship with me."

That's it. If you believe and you call on Jesus, you will be saved from a life without relationship with God.

I am sure that there are those that will never read this blog again, because of this writing. God still loves you. So, do I.

There are those that will say that I am deluded in believing as I do. Delusion according to the dictionary is a persistent false psychotic belief regarding self or something or someone outside of self, which is maintained despite indisputable evidence to the contrary. Looking at nature and all of creation, I can honestly say that one must be deluded not to recognize the handiwork of God.

Those popular atheistic voices might scoff and say, "There is no proof of God. You cannot see Him. Man is merely a bio-mechanical organism and all these thoughts and emotions you are talking about are just so many neural-chemical reactions. Love is only a random firing of your synapses." To those, I only say that you have eyes, but you choose not to see. You have limited your vision to what is in front of you. Love is not a chemical; He is the creator. The only proof I need of God is what I already have; His spirit within me. And He wants you to know that as limited as you are, He knows no limits. That is how He loves you even though you doubt and reject Him.

Ken O'Toole is a published author and abstract expressionist artist living in the Dallas / Fort Worth area.