The Rosenfeld Gallery

The sorrowful plight of serious artists in his country not being able to make a decent living from their chosen life’s work is a function of community values. The transcendent value of the creative arts is rarely recognized or appreciated by people in general. Therefore, I nominate Rodney Dangerfield as the Patron Saint of Artists. Just like Rodney, artists get no respect, no respect at all. Ok. So the under informed public do not appreciate the artists in their midst, but what about museums?

Are not art museums that exist to display and protect the most valued art work evidence of a high level of respect for the artists that produced these cultural treasures? Isn’t this the loftiest form of respect? In a way, yes, but treasuring works of art is not the same as respecting the artists themselves. How many artists do you think are on the boards of major art museums? Virtually none! Probably a few artists that have attained a certain level of celebrity and material success sit on boards as figureheads. Museums today are big businesses and need boards with savvy business leaders for guidance and wealthy patrons to make and solicit substantial donations. Sure, but financial considerations are only one aspect of museum operations. What about artistic policy? The board selects the director and oversees decisions regarding curators, acquisitions and other matters calling for aesthetic value judgements. Surely there is room on these boards for a few practicing artists whose input would be invaluable. If artists were truly respected members of society they would be appointed to boards of all sorts of cultural and social institutions.

Poor Rodney, If he were alive today and knew he was being beatified, he would turn over in his grave.

What a Shame

America has a shameful little secret. In this country that prides itself in being at the forefront of world culture there is virtually no such thing as a professional artist, someone who makes their living through their creative output. Oh, sure there are a few. The cultural icons, superstars that have the high profile museum shows and grace the glossy covers of the prestigious, New York based art magazines. There is a tipping point where these personalities become known primarily for their celebrity rather than their art. However, the number of these high earners is statistically insignificant. Almost all the rest have to supplement their incomes by other means in order to support a decent life. Style. Most artists do not earn as much as the people that deliver their mail, take out their trash or unstop their toilets.

Artists utilize many strategies for getting by. The best off all is the wise hereditary gambit: selecting wealthy parents. As alluring as this approach is, it is mostly adopted by gallery owners, not artists.

The marriage strategy is very popular. Even though our society is becoming less sexist, wedding someone with a steady job is still mostly a feminine prerogative. One full time, male painter recently told me that where ever you find someone doing what they want, someone else is paying the price. He was referring to his hardworking, understanding wife.

The most common job for artists is teaching. This seems a great solution. There is much to be said for a steady pay check, health care and pension plans. However, this largess often comes at a great cost. Instead of seeing teaching as a roundabout but welcome form of subsidization of the arts, many art teachers get involved with their task and at the end of the day have been drained by their students. I have found over the years that the artists that teach tend to mature creatively more slowly than full time artists. It is difficult to sustain creative momentum painting mostly during long weekends and summers.

Many artists are able to find art related jobs; framing, delivering art, working as gallery assistants or doing installation work for museums. Other options are dog walker, waitress, taxi driver, translator, book editor, blood donor, carpenter… the list is endless.

The last time I met a painter paying his own health insurance, college tuition for two children, maintaining mortgage payments and driving a late model car, he was two days late painting my kitchen.

SSSh!