 |
Gallery Night raves and rants; plus Mayor Norquist’s
views on artist pay.
RAVES
Have you ever been to Fusion Gallery? If you haven’t,
you need to give it visit. Nestled in Walkers Point, 703 S. 2nd
Street, is a quaint, charming and inviting little
gallery-boutique, operated by Jacqueline McReynolds. It
was Gallery Night, and I wanted to visit someplace new and
happened to stumble into Fusion. I know what you’re thinking
... “stumbled” -- just a figure of speech, folks. The funky
art man was taking it easy on the wine that night. Inside, just
past the door, was some fantastic photo work by artist Annette
Hess. She is a self-taught photographer with a natural feel
for composition, who started pursuing photography in 1999,
shortly after her brother took his own life.
Annette’s strength lies in using angles and lighting to
naturally enhance the images. Her favorite subject is nature.
She hopes that by shooting the natural world, she will give the
viewer a sense of the life and hope that she feels. Her brother
is ever-present in her photos; she honors his memory by donating
10% of her art sales to H.O.P.E.S., an educational
organization that works to prevent suicide and depression. Word,
Annette. The world needs more people like you, and keep on
clicking that shutter. Annette can be contacted by e-mail at
popgal@juno.com.
Being a boutique, Fusion had a lot of unique clothing, women’s
clothes, I’m assuming. (It was unique being the funky art MAN
not wo-MAN). I can’t judge. But ladies, skip down there and
check it out yourself.
RANT
I was drawing some quick portraits and caricatures at the little
farmers market on Locust and Bremen St. one Sunday. It’s very
relaxing and fun for me, plus I get to practice my portrait
skills and make some spare change on the side. I looked up and
there, buying some veggies was none other than Milwaukee’s
embattled first family: soon to be ex-Mayor John Norquist
and clan.
Now, at first, I felt a little uncomfortable there face to face
with the man that I poked fun at a year ago in one of my E-files
cartoons, making his personal embarrassment humor for you
people. But such is the burden I must bear as an editorial
cartoonist. I mean, the guilt I feel for making fun of our
esteemed President Bush is colossal, Titanic and monumental in
proportion. Getting back to my story I ... (OK, so I’m
exaggerating a bit … OK, a lot … OK, I lied.) However, I did
have some reservations about that Norquist settlement cartoon
because of the personal nature of the situation and the
humiliation of both parties involved; but we ran with it anyway.
Getting back to my story, I remembered reading somewhere that it
was customary for an artist to do portraits of mayors and
dignitaries free of charge. I guess to fill out ones portfolio
and expand your client list. I asked the mayor, did he care to
have his portrait done free of charge? I sort of half expected
him to say, “How dare you offer me a portrait after what you
did.” Then it hit me that he probably never saw the cartoon
and has no clue whatsoever that I was making fun of him. Just
like Ricky Nicholson never found out I drew funny cartoons of
his mother in middle school.
The mayor sort of looked at me and said “an artist should get
paid for his work and not give it away free.” That sort of
wowed me. I was shocked that he felt that way. Too many
times—hell, more times than I can count—the attitude of
people has been that doing art is something artists just do, a
gift, and that it should be free. There is still an overwhelming
proportion of Milwaukeeans who do not appreciate their
population of artisans. Oh sure, people flock to the Gallery
Night spectacles and feel proud of the art museum. I’m
wondering: is that real support or simply enjoying it for free
support?
What the mayor said hit home in many ways. I know that my work
is appreciated: I have too many people who come up to me and
remind me of that picture I did of them some years back. Yet, if
I am out at a festival or market and I charge fifty or as little
as five bucks, there will still be that person who will try to
talk me down and still expect a Rembrandt when I’m done. I
also know my work is good because of the many paintings that
have been stolen from me in the past.
As I gripe about things and point the finger at those cheap
folks out there, that funky angel voice in the back of my head
says, “What about that music you down loaded or bootleg CD you
bought?” I think, “Shut up! funky angel voice in my head,
that’s different.” But, sadly it’s not. I have already
made a vow to myself that I will no longer buy bootlegs or
download other artist’s music for free. In other words I am
refusing to steal from my fellow artisans. I will buy my music
even if most of the money goes to huge, greedy corporate record
companies owned by larger, greedy conglomerates.
In the words of our mayor, an artist deserves to get paid for
his work. And to you, John Norquist, my offer still stands as
sort of an apology for that cartoon. I will not make a habit of
making apologies, not even to Ricky Nicholson’s mother and
President Bush-- you’re both still fair game for cartoons.
|
|
|