in the CQA Quilting News, December 4, 2009
YOU MEAN 72% OF US BUY FROM BIG BOX ART RETAILERS?
excerpt from: Tips to buying art at Metro Arts Expo, by Michael Morain, Des Moines Register, 11-1-09
(with specific reference to quilt art purchases)
Des Moines Arts Festival director Stephen King was speaking to a community group a few years ago when he shared a surprising statistic: 72 percent of the artwork in American homes comes from big-box retailers.
“I got an audible gasp,” he said. “OK, so maybe you happen to like the Batman posters and stretched-fabric wall hangings you found on the sale rack. The art police can’t rip them down”.
Here are 8 things to keep in mind in your search for new artwork:
Consider functional pieces
King quotes Ignatius Widiapradja, Art and Design department, Drake University ”If it’s seriously made by a serious artist, the value tends to stay. If you buy a good quilt for $500 or even $1,000, you won’t regret it for three generations”.
Allegria, Gina Delorenzi
Avoid cute stuff.
“Never buy art because it looks fun or cute. It’s easy to get caught up in the moment, but it usually doesn’t last very long.”
Don’t use art as an investment … unless you’re loaded.
“Unless you are spending a lot of money, never buy art as an investment,” Widiapradja said. “That would be the worst thing to do.”
So how much is a lot? Widiapradja said that most pieces under $2,000 won’t appreciate much in value, and even pricier works won’t re-sell for much more unless the artist is well known.
Be patient.
If you’re interested in a particular piece, ask the artist for a photo of it or a link to the artist’s Web site so you can think about it for awhile. Sometimes deliberation will help you avoid the bad impulse buy.
“You don’t want to plunk down $5,000 and later on say, ‘What was I thinking?’ ” Widiapradja said.
But if you’re still thinking about the piece after a few days, go ahead and give the artist a call.
Shop solo or with a trusted sidekick.
Larger festivals can be overwhelming, especially if you don’t have all day to browse. You may prefer to shop with a trusted friend, someone who knows their taste and can lend some back-up willpower – to buy or not.
Picture the empty wall.
If you have a particular corner of the house in mind, know the dimensions of the available space. Keep an eye out for surprises, too. You’ll find a place for it if you like it.
Give art only to people you know well.
It’s a good idea to avoid giving people big splashy paintings or a sculpture for their front yard unless you’re familiar with their taste. Smaller items, such as jewelry, are a better bet – and keep the receipt, just in case.
If you like it, really really like it, then buy it.
You can find good artwork for a few hundred dollars, and often much less. For the price of a fancy dinner or tickets to a show, you could own a painting or sculpture that you’ll enjoy for much longer than a night on the town.
Read more about buying hand made gifts for the holiday season