Money and Art…

by johnmichaelvasvary

 

I like to consider myself an artist. That said, being an artist I see the art in everyday things and what people would consider normal life. Though if I must confess. I lead a life that is so far from what people would consider normal that my previous statement would be hard to be believed. It is hard, it is challenging, and it takes a certain amount of courage to continue. Where I have found myself continually at odds with society is the purpose of art and the expectation of society at large in judging the value of the art. The topic at hand being money and art.

Now plenty of people have found themselves to make large fortunes in art. Painters, Poets, Musicians, Singers, Inventors. That would be considered common knowledge, except for the fact that it is not true when based around actual evidence. Edgar Allan Poe, (penny-less in a gutter,) Emily Dickinson, (nothing published til after death,) William Shakespeare, (nothing actually written down til years later by actors who remembered their parts.) Or more modern day examples, The Beatles (only made money after “The Beatles”) The Ramones, Joy Division, Jack Kerouac, Jackson Pollack, Michael Jackson, (made money spent it all)  Jimi Hendrix, (estate was worth almost nothing at time of death,) Kurt Cobain. Almost every example of what people would consider “success” or in this case “success in art” is almost never rewarded with money. At least not until after death if ever at all.

Art and life is only judged in the future. It’s why Moby Dick can fail in 1851. Written by Herman Melville in 1891 when he died it was out of print. Now considered the book about whaling ever written. Look at Sublime. Badfish,  a cover band of the original, who’s lead singer died right as they were getting famous. Badfish in 2006 made an estimated 1.4 million dollars playing 152 shows that year. So popular that the surviving members chose to reform as Sublime with Rome.

Now I could continue in the is vein for hours giving example after example which I’m sure the readers of this might know or not know. As well as I am assured that they could give me examples of artist who’s stories support the theory that if you are an artist and are good. You will almost never know about it in your lifetime. Let alone make any sort of money doing so.

That is however not the point of this rant. The point is that we have got it wrong. We all know this. Money is not something you live for. It is something that randomly happens to a few of us. Yet we quest over it like it’s the fountain of youth. Art is great because it is a reflection of life. Without life there could be no art. No books about leaving Las Vegas, or dusty roads, or first loves. no family tails, no morality. No human condition. For that is all art is an examination of the human condition.

You need no more confirmation of that fact that to look at the art we consume and consider in our own way holy. Metal heads, Punks, Jocks, Gallery Owners. The list goes on and can extend to anyone. At least in my humble opinion.

There is a school of though in art. That bad art is better than good art. Bad art documents the human failure. It’s why people love Ed Wood movies. Art is that honesty that exists between creator and real life. 99% of us will never be worth millions. Why do we think people who make art should be? Why do we think anyone who is not worth money not a success? So I close with a quote, and the thought that I don’t aim to change your opinion. No one can do that. I can only make another person think.

“The aim of art is to represent not the outward appearance of things, but their inward significance.” Aristotle