If art is to nourish the roots of our culture, society must set the artist free to follow his vision wherever it takes him. We must never forget that art is not a form of propaganda; it is a form of truth. -President John F. Kennedy

 

Having the freedom to create is harder than you think.

It’s not as easy as opening the cage door and saying, ‘Fly! Fly!’

 

Setting the artist free for the sake of culture is an unquestionably noble and inspiring notion, but it’s a difficult concept to put into practice. As many artists will tell you, constraint plays a major role in the daily grind, and societal obligations leave few avenues open to unadulterated creative freedom.

The first hurdle to art production is the economic factor. Artists need to be able to support themselves and their artmaking, but making a living solely on the fruit of their creative labor is difficult.

“Become a plumber,” I was told by a grizzled sculptor in bronze not all that long ago. “Folks always need plumbers.” This coming from an established artist with a long and storied career. Not an encouraging bit of advice, huh?

Sacrificing valuable time in the studio in order to make a living doing something she would rather not be doing is a soul-killer for the artist. And while some might scoff at the artist who can’t make sales and advise her to get a better handle on the market before going into business, I would advise a rereading of Kennedy’s lofty words above. The artist who must conform to the ebb and flow of the market is an artist constrained. If the purpose of art is to nourish culture, how is it possible to do so if the artist is forced to create work that meets the demands of an existing framework of thought – the established preferences of consumers? It’s hard to push the boundaries of culture and thought if you just give people what they already want or what they are comfortable with.

New growth cannot flourish if it is choked off from the sun. The canopy has to be opened. The old, dilapidated growth must be cleared.

So, really, what is to be done?

While it’s easy to assume, from the brief nature of the Kennedy quote, that allowing artists their freedom is a simple matter… it’s not. No, not at all. We could go down a deep, deep rabbit hole discussing the issues surrounding this subject… but to go further into this complicated issue wouldn’t serve the point of this post, instead I’d like to offer a few suggestions for those of you who want to take action.

If you want the arts to flourish, here are three things you can do right now to support the arts and those who’ve dedicated their lives to artistic expression.

1.  Support organizations that nurture the arts.

This will mean different things for different people, depending on location and economic ability, but it could mean volunteering to assist with the local community theater, making a donation to a regional symphony, or even getting in touch with lawmakers to voice your support for the NEA (National Endowment for the Arts), an organization which is under threat from the Trump administration.

2. Invest in art.

Sounds simple enough, doesn’t it? I know, it’s not. Art is expensive, especially original fine art pieces, like oil paintings or bronze sculptures, so making regular purchases doesn’t always seem like a viable option. I would offer two suggestions here.

One is that you reframe the idea of the art purchase. Instead of thinking of a piece as wall decor, something that just makes your place look pretty, think of it in terms of an investment. Think of the artist like you would a business. If you believe in what the artist is doing and see potential, you can see how a purchase is like buying stock. Over time the value of that investment will increase if the artist is worth her salt. Maybe investing in a work of art might feel like an impossible purchase, but think about how you will feel if in ten or twenty years when that same artist is selling equivalent pieces for ten times the original asking price and is a lauded name in the art world. How much will that initial hesitation to buy have cost you in the end? Something to consider.

Another suggestion would be to approach an artist with a clear budget. Maybe what you’ve allotted for a purchase isn’t enough to buy that gorgeous, wall-sized oil painting, but odds are the artist will have smaller pieces available for sale, things like preliminary sketches or studies (which can be incredible works of art in and of themselves) that she would be willing to sell for less. These can be especially exciting finds since most of these small pieces are rarely seen or advertised. They may not be large, or even polished, but they can still give you the same sense of satisfaction if you find something that speaks to you, and provide a future investment payoff to boot. (As a shamless plug, I will mention I have a number of unseen little works that I sell upon request, contact me for more information)

 

3. Invest in an artist.

For those who cannot justify an art purchase, there are other ways to support your favorite artists. This could mean buying a sketchbook and professional grade pencils for a budding talent (access to quality materials and consistent encouragment are two factors that lead to success). Maybe that means offering space for the artist to work or donating a few bucks a month to help with the cost of doing business (check out Patreon, it’s an online platform that easily allows patrons to support creatives from all walks of life).

Another great way to support the artists you believe in is by sharing the love. If you’re active on social media, go ahead and share what you think about the artist’s work and how it makes you feel. Comment on threads, share posts, and forward news to friends you think might be interested. If you don’t feel comfortable doing that or don’t actively participate in social media, then help the artist the old-fashioned way: word-of-mouth. Every little bit helps. Trust me, I know, and I appreciate it.