On Monday, the arts council hung new work at NOMO, primarily a "member's choice" show, or work from our own collections. Included are an oil portrait from the turn of the last century, a tiny landscape in colored inks, a pair of handpulled lithographs by a New Mexico sculptor, and a yardsale buy that will evoke schoolroom nostalgia in anyone over 50.
Collecting art might sound high-falutin' and intimidating, but it is actually in the reach of almost anyone. The search for work can be as exciting as any treasure hunt, and having that work in your home or workplace is a continual source of comfort, intellectual stimulation and an expression of your personality. I had a college professor who said that everyone ought to buy at least one piece of art in their lifetime that costs as much as a major appliance, and I'm not sure where he got that idea, but as an artist, I'm all for it. For all you rich people out there, I say, c'mon and spread the joy: you make all that money, spread it around a little and support the arts. However, most people might want to start a little more modestly.
There are several options for collecting original, lowerpriced work. Drawings are generally cheaper than paintings, and small paintings obviously can cost less than larger ones. Student work or that of an emerging artist will go for drastically less than that of an established professional. Work that is done in multiple editions, such as photos or prints (etchings, wood-cuts, engravings, and hand-pulled lithographs) are generally more accessible, and many people start their collections with one of the fine crafts: a hand-made pottery bowl, a silver necklace or woven scarf of a unique design or a beautifully finished wooden box.
Seeking out original art is half the fun. Some collectors like art fairs, where they can see a wide variety of work and talk to the artist who created it. Missouri has two fairs that rank in the top 10 nationally---the Plaza Art Fair in Kansas City and the Saint Louis Art Fair in Clayton. There are also numerous smaller shows, like Art in the Park in Columbia and the Red Barn in Kirksville. Colleges often have shows of student work, and cooperatives and collectives (NOMO in Marceline, CAL in Columbia, and the ones in St Joseph and Hannibal) show a mix of amateur and professional creations. A real find might show up at a yard-sale or in an antique store.
I've met a number of people who are intimidated by art galleries...they shouldn't be; it's a business like any other. You don't need to explain to the owner that you are "only looking"...most people who walk through the doors are. Usually a gallery will have one or two rooms featuring a month-long show of the work of an individual or of a specific related group of artists, while back rooms hold examples of each of the gallery's "stable" of artists. Every gallery has a variety of artists, but within a range: the overall flavor of a gallery may be conservative or bold, traditional or cutting- edge. Visit in the day if you want a quiet experience or attend First Fridays in Kansas City (the evening of every first friday of the month) or Artrageous Fridays (the fourth Friday of every fourth month) in Columbia to be part of a more raucous crowd of celebrants.
There are a few cautionary notes: don't buy art as a way of investing...this is far riskier than the stock market and the truth is that most art will depreciate over time. Don't use price as a guide to worth..any artist knows that if a piece doesn't sell, doubling its price can very well move it out of the studio. Don't buy art to match your sofa...if you have to, buy a new sofa to match the art. Do buy art that warms your heart, or makes you laugh, or think, or cry.
I recently got the bid on a tempera painting at a charity auction for the Nerman Museum in Overland Park. It was one of four pieces I bid on and the only one that I ultimately received. I had considered bidding on the little oil by Eric Sall, since he was one of several nationally-known artists who had donated work, but while I liked the piece, I didn't love it. I'm glad I got the Russell Easterwood instead. When I hung it in the current NOMO show several of the members were genuinely appreciative of it, several were politely silent, and one member uttered a contemptuous "Hah!" Everyone has their own taste.
