I guess what I am asking is, what does that mean to you as an artist? Or even as a person who is not an artist?

As artists we are frequently told by people how they support the arts. And yet the question would be how so?

Oh, we are members of the museum(s) and go to their openings.

Nice, but that is helping artists how? Like how does that support artists other than being a face at an event where the food and drink are free? I get that it is fun to attend museum events, but the reality is… you really are not supporting the artists who are trying their best to be seen. To be recognized. You are supporting museums and artists who are either dead and don’t need your support because they are worth a shit load of money and… okay, fair enough museums do need out support though many are so flush from their endowments that… well, they don’t really need it.

I guess what I am asking is… do you attend local gallery openings of artists that you are unfamiliar with, let alone those you know?

Do you go to artist’s studios to learn more about their art and process? Like when there are open studio events in your city?

Do you buy art? Not art from stores, but like from the artist? Like directly from them or even at an opening where the gallery needs sales to let them do what they do – support the arts. Or heck, even at an art walk or event in your city?

I get that buying or even collecting art can be expensive but the truth is… it doesn’t have to. Many artists have pieces that are rather affordable: prints, smaller pieces, etc. Many are even willing to take payments. But do you buy art? Art you like? Not art that is an investment. Not art in the hopes of making money off it one day because either the artist goes big or dies… and then gets  recognition making their art worth x times more that you bought it for. And not art because it matches the curtains, the rug, or the pillows on the couch?

But art you like and want to look at because it spoke to you. You connected to it in some way.

Oh, just showing up is really a great way to support what an artists is doing.

The reality is, the vast majority of people don’t support the arts.

Well, artists do.

We attend openings of artist friends and even artists we don’t know.

We visit their studios to see what they are doing.

We buy their art…. that we can afford. We often trade for pieces we love – a mutual swap. Because as artists, we don’t necessarily have the funds to buy all the art we see and want.

Why, because not enough people support the arts. Regardless what they say.

Feel free to chime in…. what are your thoughts?