apartment therapy changing the world, one room at a time

frankly i found this to be a BS article. it talks down to one's appreciation and awareness of art rather than encouraging people to spend time, look around, figure out who's who and what they really like and then buy something of quality at the same time. art is more than a pretty picture to hang over the couch or something to fill in an empty space with.

i know i'll get slammed for this, but so be it. i cannot for the life of me figure out why so many are far more concerned with the authenticity of everything design, whether it's a table, chair, light, etc. but when it comes to art, taking the high road is second to taking the low road.

I didn't like the article either. What is wrong with just buying what you like? The few paintings I've purchased my be worth nothing in twenty years - or now, for that matter - but why does it matter? If someone is going judge me because the things on my walls aren't high brow enough, then they shouldn't be in my home.

I found the article fascinating. I make paintings for a living and much as I'd like to think the paintings should sell themselves, I know they don't. Thank god for bright passionate well-informed gallery workers and art consultants who can be just the reassuring influence necessary to make the sale.

the article... is a bit silly. perhaps the photography gallery in which i work is now that much more different than the other chelsea galleries they describe in the article-- no pricelist? i think the gallery assistant probably was an intern that had no idea where it was and was fibbing.

Perhaps this stems from the history of photography and it's "struggle" to be accepted as an art form on the same level as painting and sculpture, but from what I know about our gallery and the other photography galleries we consider our colleague-- we don't just want a customer who comes in to buy and leave (occasionally, yes-- that's pretty great.) We ENJOY the process of educating a client. If they come in because one image (nowadays seen online) tugs at their heart and they leave with the print (or not) at least we know they are leaving with a list of other photographers/artists (that we may or may not represent) that we think they should check out, maybe some recommended blogs to visit-- we want them to be engaged with the art and feel it as passionately as we do. I think that's the cure to "art anxiety"-- taking the time to talk, listen, and learn how to see art (which is why I am having a hard time with this whole buying art online business at high prices...)

Re: Jen Bekman. I was in joe's on 13th street and saw that jen bekman had a project there called, jen's at joe's? (or something to that effect) i like the art that she features maybe 1% of the time-- but she is undoubtedly at getting the work out there! I'm not sure about how she is at making her audience educated about photography though. I subscribe to her 20x200 and her recent accompanying texts were almost too personal and detracted from the featured artwork. Has anybody bought anything from 20x200 yet? I was really intrigued by the hand guy...

sorry i forgot an adjective:
but she is undoubtedly "great" at getting the work out there!

Hey Saya,

I think it's great that non-millionaires are looking to buy original works for their homes, and that there are so many new venues for doing it.

Have you seen this post on AT New York?

http://www.apartmenttherapy.com/ny/artwork/original-art-for-99-043543