On Mon, Jan 3, 2011 at 6:33 PM, William Conger <[email protected]>wrote:
> I don't understand why Berg thinks artists don't need to deal with real > world > conditions. A successful artist in today's artworld has many expenses > similar > to those incurred in operating a commercial business. That usually means > assistants and, frequently, a studio manager to keep records and maintain > the > day to day practical issues. Also, the cost of artmaking materials can be > very > daunting, far above what many people realize. The fickle reality of the > artworld adds to the risk. Few artists can maintain their success beyond a > decade simply because the art market thrives on novelty and blue/blue chip, > meaning a revolving door of the hot emerging artists and the handful of > "old > master" artists. Being an artist in a society that does almost nothing to > support the arts and cares nothing for endeavors done for their own sake > can be > very hard going in terms of making a living. If Berg is so worried about > the > corrosive effects of being an artist in our materialist, market society, he > should endow an arts foundation, do something materially positive for art > and > artists and stop demeaning "ambitious" artists. > wc > > - Art is not a pastime but a priesthood. Jean Cocteau
