Fair Trade Art

Hello out there to anyone who's interested I have decided it's time to get back in touch. Today I would like to address the subject of supporting artists that you may know and care about. How many times have you heard someone say "I really love your work but I just can't afford it." I think the buying public should all take a look at their priorities before they jump to the conclusion that they can't afford to support an artist that they feel has something worthwhile to say, or something visually stimulating to contribute to society. A lot of what people purchase in their daily lives is not only unecessary but can actually contribute to the degradation of their health fast food and high end coffee beverages just to name two.

Art can be a very positive force in someones mental health and certainly does nothing to degrade their physical wellbeing. Fast food etc. gives the consumer a very short term return on their money while art can bring a lifetime of enjoyment. Short term the cost may be higher for art but as I previoulsy stated the return can last a lifetime. If the consumers feel that the fast food industry is contributing a great deal to our intellectual as well as our nutrional states, then I suggest they continue on their merry way however if society as a whole has any sense I think it's time they started looking at what they are in support of.

You may have noticed I have not said anything about the monetary value of art only what it's genuine benefits are. If the only reason the consumer purchases artwork is for monetary gain then they are already ripping themselves off not everything on this planet can be measured by money, in fact the things that really count have nothing to do with money whatsoever.

If the buying public would only take a small portion of their daily lives to absorb what an artist may be pointing out to them, I am sure at the very least that there would be a social stimulus created by the discussion that would take place in there own minds or in conversation with others about the work. People are bombarded on a daily basis with images to such an extent that there is a tendancy to block out a great deal of what they perceive before them. This numbing of our senses can largely be blamed on commercialism. But I ask one thing of the public and that is to at all costs not look at art through the same eyes as they do advertisements. Stop, ponder what the artist is exploring through their work this is one time when joe public does get something for nothing. Now I would ask the observer to ask themselves does this artist deserve my support? If the anwer is yes then give the artist his or her due everyone is quick to talk about fair trade coffee etc. but I have yet to hear anyone speak up about fair trade art. Artists shouldn't have to starve to make a living!