| Art News | Page 1 Page 2 | | Economic crisis has area arts commmunity concerned
By Robyn Bradley Litchfield - July 27, 2008
When people are wondering how they're going to cover this month's mortgage, fill up the car or buy groceries, they tend to cut out anything that they consider non-essential.
Often, art is one of the first things to go. Fewer people are interested in buying paintings, sculpture and other works when they have less to spend, which can have a devastating effect on Montgomery area artists and art galleries.
Artist Robert Ekelund of Auburn is a member of Gallery One on Cloverdale Road and has seen a dip in sales as the nation's economic troubles worsen. And as an Eminent Scholar in Economics (emeritus) from Auburn University, Ekelund is watching the national crisis with added interest.
"As everyone knows, the (U.S.) economy is teetering on depression -- you can use the "d" word." Rising oil prices, foreclosures and unemployment along with a national debt of $9.5 trillion begin to cut into Americans' personal income.
In the national and international market, art is flourishing right now, he said. People in London, Paris and other parts of the world are paying record prices for American Impressionist pieces and other art. And because of the deflating U.S. dollar, European and Asian buyers are getting some great deals. Regional art sales are also thriving -- for now. Ekelund predicts that this boom won't last.
And artists and art galleries on the local level are especially hard hit. | "History in the Making: A Retrospective of the Turner Prize" at The Mori Art Museum, 25 April - 13 July
"History in the Making: A Retrospective of the Turner Prize" is the first exhibition to bring together works by all of the past recipients of the Turner Prize, one of the most important awards in contemporary art. The Turner Prize has been held every year since 1984 (except for 1990), and has grown to become a national event in Britain. Including work in a wide variety of media, from painting and installation to video, the exhibition also forms a significant retrospective of British contemporary art over the last two decades.
"Who do you think will win the Turner?" — That's a constant topic of conversation in the U.K. each fall. “The Turner Prize” is one of the most significant awards in the world of temporary art, and its exhibition and prize ceremony have become high profile events. The ceremony is broadcast live each year, and the winner receives major coverage in the national and international media. ‘History in the Making’ is the first single exhibition to bring together works by all the past recipients of “The Turner Prize” following the trends of British contemporary art and conveying the vibrance of art at this hub of international artistic activity. Hosted by Tate Britain*, the Prize was established in 1984 by The Patrons of New Art, a group of Tate Gallery benefactors, for the purpose of encouraging new art. Its name is taken from Joseph Mallord William Turner (1775–1851), a British artist who is particularly well-known in Japan. The Prize is unique among art prizes because it includes new development in a range of media – including not only painting, sculpture or photography. A Turner Prize exhibition is held each year to exhibit works by a shortlist of nominated artists, who must be under 50 and either British or resident in the U.K. A single winner is then chosen from among the nominees. | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
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