Baltimore Art Examiner

Spend Your Rebate Checks on Local ART!!!

I've been thinking and thinking about how to spend my George Bush rebate check when it arrives. First of all, I have to say I am in no way a fan of this pathetic bandaid of a solution to a major mess caused by our current president. George Bush is not buying my love, that's for sure. And I'm not kidding myself - we're all going to have to pay this money back and, in the future, it's going to cost a lot more. We're still going to need lots of roads and schools, which I am happy to pay for with my tax dollars, although maybe we'll be a bit smarter next time before starting wars we can't afford to pay for -- and I am talking specifically about the next couple of months. Please God, keep Bush out of Iran.

Anyway, since we've all got this money coming and there's nothing we can do about it - what is the best way to spend it? One friend of mine said that she was actually thinking about flushing it down the toilet, but I think she was joking. I originally was thinking that I'd buy Euros with the money, because they're continuing to rise in value, while the dollar is still sinking. What are the rich buying with their American dollars? I checked it out and, apparently, the rich people have been buying gold for a couple of years now. Six hundred bucks won't get me much gold, but this is, again, a sure sign that the American Dollar is tanking.

So THEN I look around me - in beautiful, artistically rich, and also, fairly inexpensive, Baltimore. And WOW! There's so much good artwork around and so many amazing artists here in town. Why not take a gamble on a relatively inexpensive work by an artist who's work you've been sweating for some time?

People grumble that art is so overpriced and expensive, but honestly - there's always a print, a small work, or a work on paper that can be priced affordably. You can even just go direct to the artist's studio if you want to. I honestly don't care WHERE you go, but I do think that Baltimore's art community needs an influx of funds, and this time without a 'complements of Mayor Dixon' sign attached. Don't you???

Nobody's getting rich here, but buying and selling artwork does create an exchange of energy, generates opportunities for artists to continue their work, and produces good kharma in the buyer. Plus, after the dollar sinks into worthlessness, you'll still have your framed beauty on the wall, and hopefully, by now, the artist is famous and you can sell the piece for what it's worth in Euros - or Chinese Yuan.

Topics: Presidential Rebate Checks

Presidential Candidates on Federal Funding for the Arts

Who spends more federal dollars on the arts - Republicans or Democrats? I think this answer is an easy one. Let's take a look at the history first, before we answer this question, though. For starters, the National Endowment for the Arts is our federal... Read More
Topics: National Endowment for the Arts , Politics

In Sight: Vision Quest at School 33 Art Center

There’s a peculiar and very specific type of vision shared by all five artists in School 33’s Invitational Exhibition. The show’s title, a vague cliché at best, does successfully align it with Visionary Art, which creates an... Read More
Topics: School 33 , Vision Quest , Seth Adeslberger

Interview with Barry Nemett, Painter and Author of Crooked Tracks, A New Novel

Book Landscape, 1972, Oil pastel on canvas, 12 x 84 in Barry Nemett has exhibited his paintings in museums and galleries throughout the United States, Asia, and Europe. Since receiving a Fulbright/ITT International Travel Fellowship to Spain, he... Read More
Topics: Barry Nemett

Chul-Hyun Ahn - Phenomena: Visual Echo at Grimaldis September 4

CHUL-HYUN AHN: Phenomena: Visual EchoSeptember 4 - October 11, 2008Opening reception: Thursday, September 4, 7:00-9:00pmKorean artist Chul-Hyun Ahn creates sculptures utilizing light, color, and illusion as physical representations of his investigation... Read More
Topics: Grimaldis Gallery , Chul-Hyun Ahn

Vision Quest & Meaghan Harrison open at School 33 on August 23

Opening Reception: Saturday, August 23rd from 6-9pm curated by Jason Hughes, School 33's Exhibitions Coordinator.AUGUST 21-OCTOBER 4, 2008opening celebration: Saturday, August 23, 2008 6-9pmFeatured artists include: Seth Adelsberger, Sarah Gamble, James... Read More
Topics: School 33

Art to Dine For - The BEST Art Fundraiser EVER!

Art To Dine For benefiting the Creative Alliance, the Art and Soul Sep 8- Nov 15Thirty-two amazing soirees in this scintillating series of fab fall gatherings in gorgeous, arts centric environments. Tour the harbor in a vintage motor launch. Go crabbing!... Read More
Topics: Creative Alliance , Soledad Salame , Art to Dine For