I am sure a lot of us out there in the arts profession are groveling about our future plans after this liminal space we like to call college.\u00c2\u00a0 As funding for the arts continues to decrease, so do positions in our desired fields.<\/p>\n
While this economic crisis is new to our generation, it is familiar to older generations who have battled with budgets and recessions on various occasions.\u00c2\u00a0 Reflecting and delving into the stories of art related professions provide insight for the next emerging class into how we are going to take on this economic climate, and win.<\/p>\n
The theme for this week\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s blog stemmed from a visit to my past employer, SPACES Gallery, over Winter break.\u00c2\u00a0 SPACES is a contemporary art gallery in downtown Cleveland, Ohio.\u00c2\u00a0 Yes, I know boo Ohio!\u00c2\u00a0 Well before you start the diss the state we love to hate, listen first to a message of one of SPACES\u00e2\u20ac\u2122 exhibits titled Art Work.<\/em><\/p>\n I entered the gallery and was impressed by the audio and visual additions to the exhibits.\u00c2\u00a0 I wandered from wall to wall attempting to soak in all the information the gallery exhibits were striving to illuminate.\u00c2\u00a0 I sat and watched a video about nature for a few moments, but even with the visual aid, my attention span was short and I found myself wandering again.<\/p>\n After fifteen minutes or so of gallivanting around the corners wondering what would surprise me next, I finally came across my subject for today\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s discussion.\u00c2\u00a0 It didn\u00e2\u20ac\u2122t literally speak to me like the other audio videos or try to entertain me like some of the other exhibits; it was simply a compilation of 40 pages of newspaper articles adhered to the wall, waiting to be read.\u00c2\u00a0 Seeing two large walls lined with articles was daunting, but I was intrigued by what the words had to say so I started reading, one by one.<\/p>\n For those of you out there who don\u00e2\u20ac\u2122t \u00e2\u20ac\u02dcunderstand\u00e2\u20ac\u2122 art, I am strongly convinced you will understand this exhibit\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s message.\u00c2\u00a0 For instead of looking and interpreting your own opinion for this work of art, this display of words literally provides one for you.\u00c2\u00a0 All you need to do is take the time to read!<\/p>\n Below the heading, Art Work<\/em>, follows the bi-line, \u00e2\u20ac\u0153A National Conversation About ART, LABOR, and ECONOMICS.\u00e2\u20ac\u009d<\/p>\n Captivating.<\/p>\n The articles consist of personal statements, historical knowledge discussing events as far back as the 1930\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s up until the present.\u00c2\u00a0 If you read through the entire exhibit you begin to understand art movements dating as far back as the 1930\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s in relation to the economic climate.\u00c2\u00a0 Another interesting aspect I found helpful was delving into what the exhibit titles, \u00e2\u20ac\u0153Personal Economy,\u00e2\u20ac\u009d which outlines anonymous personal accounts of creative arts people telling their story of working in the art profession.\u00c2\u00a0 Its always nice to see how people similar to you have made a living.\u00c2\u00a0 It reminds you it\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s possible and that you are truly not crazy.<\/p>\n