Wrote an article for the April issue of Art Calendar, posted on their home page currently. It’s about archival process, something all artists should keep in mind, since this protects your clients’ investment in you, and ensures that they’ll keep investing, which ensures you’ll have money for groceries.
But there also those who create works that are meant to deteriate over time, which is an entirely different approach and often a cool one.  Well that’s a different article.Â
I blogged about this last week, but it’s too important to not cover in Friday Tips. So for all of you who are looking for fairer treatment with art auctions and tax write-offs, I urge you to go online and sign this petition:
Why? This artist deduction bill (S.548) would give artists the right to deduct the fair market value of their work when donating it to a charity. About time.
Artists are often asked to donate work to charitable causes for fundraising purposes. But when the work is auctioned, it’s the buyer who gets the benefit of deducting their contribution above the market value. The artist can only deduct the amount of the material costs (paint, canvas, clay, etc.). Give me a freaking break.
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This bill will help change this injustice. Please click on the link and type in your zip code. A letter of support will be sent to your senators and congressmen. Once you’re done with that, forward the link to friends and family. We need to get this thing passed.
Note: I had to have my web dude turn off the Comments Link because we were getting about 350 spams per day, and he couldn’t seem to screen them. It was very time-consuming to weed through and find your comments. If ever he can get rid of spam altogether, we’ll turn on Comments again.
Bonne ChanceÂ
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Took some kids from Lee’s Summit High on a field trip this week. Visited the Arts Incubator downtown, where Jeff Becker–one of the founders–explained how the organization works in providing studio space for emerging artists, then career guidance. Quite astounding really.
Also went to Block and Sprint Center, then to good old Tom Bloyd’s glass shop, where he gave the kids instruction.Â
I have fond memories of Lee’s Summit HS. It’s where they sent me after I got expelled from other schools.Â
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Spoke yesterday at the Rotary of Downtown Wichita, which I gather is the oldest in KS. Good crowd, nearly 200. Addressed them at the Broadview Hotel.
Why Wichita?  It’s part of my region, active arts community, scores of potential clients. I’ve done a fair bit of business there, and expect to do a great deal more. A lot of exceptional talent to work with in that region.
Cupcakes, Needlepoint, 32 x 36, Jennifer Boe, H&R Block Collection
Jennifer Boe, a fiber artist in whom I believe passionately, has a show at Arlington Arts in May. This of course is just across the river from DC, and a wonderful break for her. Her work’s being covered by BUST Magazine for the show. I placed one of her pieces with Block, another with KU Med, and she has a work in the Nerman Museum as well.
What does Jennifer do? Junk food in needlepoint. Well that’s only a part of her focus, but one of my favorite parts. She’s naturally more diverse than that.
I received this email yesterday. For all of you who are looking for fairer treatment with art auctions and tax write-offs, you might want to go online and sign this petition:
Please forward this link below to all of your artist and
art loving friends –
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This artist deduction bill (S.548) would give artists
the right to deduct the fair market value of their work when donating it to a charity. We artists are always asked to donate work to charitable causes for fundraising purposes but when our work is auctioned, the buyer gets the benefit of being allowed to deduct their contribution above the market value, whereas the contributing artists and artisans can only deduct the amount of the material costs of creating their work (the cost of paint, canvas, clay, paper…).
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This bill is non-partisan and fair. Please click on the link above
and type in your zip code; a letter of support will be sent to your senators and congressmen.
I met an exceptional young man a year ago, Tomas Young, who’d come back from Iraq in a wheelchair, with a view of the war that is necessarily informed by his experience. He wanted his view, which I consider an enlightened one, heard. His documentary, Body of War, was recently released and is now playing in KC at the Tivoli. Soon it will be released nationally. Phil Donahue spearheaded the project, Eddie Vedder of Pearl Jam wrote the music, and now it’s getting praised from one end of the country to the other.
I can’t urge you enough to go see this film.
Backlit Barn, Oil, Louis Copt
Louie’s opening is tonight, 6-9. Expect a good crowd. Already stocked up on cheap wine. Above is one of my favorite pieces from the show, which is passionately varied.Â
Met with one of the VPs at Ovation on Tues. Great woman. She likes my Reality TV concept, which we’ll discuss further at a later date. They’re based in Santa Monica.  Very good vibe in this co. Would enjoy working with them.
What’s the concept? Well I can’t discuss it much yet, but it involves working with underprivileged artists from various cities. Also from impoverished rural areas.
Ovation TV is a satellite channel dedicated to the arts. They have about 25 million subscribers, and are rapidly growing.
Meetings yesterday with an institutional client in Encino. Could be an incredible gig providing career-enhancing commissions for artists in the LA area. I’m not at liberty to discuss it, but will if the project moves forward, and if the client’s cool with that. I’d love to put my theories about the American Renaissance into practice out here.