I am releasing this term into the collective consciousness:
Indie Capitalist.
It is somewhere in the pro "buy handmade" circuit, capitalism in the self-starter/belief in what you are doing for the good of others/ but i don't want to suffer or go hungry -survival sense, a little anti government thrown in.
----------------------since that day-----------------------------------------------
This topic has created a heated debate with over 41 entries to the thread.
Here is a follow-up.
Capitalism really scares some people...and it is in a way, the demise of our culture and economy.
However, the individual needs to stay empowered, without greed, and while being aware of their surroundings and the well-being of others.
Artists are entitled to a decent living just like anyone...it is just that some choose to make art full-time and sell it while others choose to teach and get grants, and Many Many aspects in between.
Both perpetuate artistic stereotypes in a sense anyway.
One is not better than the other.
Just because some artists sell their work does not make them uninformed about economy.
Nor does choosing Not to sell your art make that artist more intelligent than those who do.
Here is a little list of some dance-offs that I think should happen:
Koons vs. Kinkade, Warhol vs. Kostabi, Wiener vs. Duchamp, Holzer vs. Kruger
ALL of these artists have sold their work.
TO WHOM does not matter.
And I will use Me as another example:
Quasi famous City Silhouettes based upon replication and editions. Accessible, affordable, appreciated by a lot of people....sold a whole bunch - based upon Landscape. This series began as a way to question pop art and to secretly turn conceptual art toward anyone willing to look at it and enjoy.
Over time, I have revisited more austere and minimalist work with this:
Scripted Landscape
Sold at MOCA Fresh Auction
All proceeds to benefit the museum.
And now I am here:
Strata
I guess the point I am making is that consumerism and aesthetics play a vital role economically AND via discussion of the artists role in society.
Sometimes they DO go hand-in-hand.
There is a divide aesthetically between the audience interpretations of the work that I am doing.
One that questions discourse vs. decoration and one that simply discusses discourse. Now there is both.
We are conditioned as artists to "not care about money" "not care if our art sells" etc.
But if it Does, that does not necessarily mean that the artist is "selling out" or is ignorant or non-caring about their greater role.
Art Should turn things on their head and make people question.
I love the Every-Day.
And every day should be about making art - Period.
