Art Is For Everyone: The Process and Joy of Pursuing Art
Two artists based in northeast Florida, both alumni of Flagler College in St. Augustine Florida, are creating amazing art. There’s a problem though; the market for local art is small.
Terell Rashad, 22 and Adrian Elias, 23 use poetry, paintings, t-shirts, webcomics, and music to express themselves and their views on race, gender, sexuality, romance, and more.
“You have so many people who are too afraid to even give art a chance. To even buy art or go and view the art for free or to read things for free, because they’re afraid they won’t understand it,” Rashad said.
Many communities host events where people can engage with art and artists. St. Augustine hosts an art walk on the first Friday of every month. Jacksonville hosts their art walk on the first Wednesday of the month.
Though art walks are an easily accessible way for people to view art, some artists believe that they can alienate people.
“Museums feel more like temples where you come and pay reverence to the piece, but no one ever wants to talk about it, because they’re all so afraid to disagree, because if it’s in a gallery then it must be good [...] when that’s not really the case,” Elias said.
That being said, art walks are one of the easiest ways to find art and to learn about local artists. It’s an opportunity to view art, which is something Elias believes is important.
“It’ll [art] enrich you and the lives of your family. It can be an educational tool, it can be an inspirational focal point for the people growing up in your house for them to maybe want to do that,” Elias said.
Art can also be purchased online. Etsy is a website on which people can browse and purchase art. Many artist have commission prices on their own websites.
Rashad, a writer and poet, created Harvest, a new webcomic about magic and witches in a modern world.
“Over 800 people follow my webcomic,” Rashad said.
Harvest is free to read.
“Just give me credit. Payment for me is seeing how many people read...even if it’s one person like ‘this is cool’ that’s payment for me,” Rashad said.
Rashad has written an anthology of poetry that will be available for purchase on Amazon. Lately, Rashad has been working on art at a fever pitch.
“It’s on a local, small level. I’m working with local artists and friends,” Rashad said.
Elias is producing a line of t-shirts printed with artistic designs. Those shirts can be purchased for $15.
Producing art takes skill, time, and often times expensive degrees. Artists need to be compensated.
Here are some ways you can start engaging with art.
Add art to your monthly entertainment budget.
Commission a graphic artist to create the icons and headers for your social media.
Frequent local art walks.
Browse and purchase self published novels online.
Follow webcomics.
Those are just a few of the many ways you can begin enjoying art. Art is not created instantaneously. Art takes time, and time is money.
“It’s the best feeling in the world. Oh God, I go hungry sometimes, but I love it,” Rashad said.
Rashad and Elias both agree that art can be difficult, if not impossible, for people without disposable income to purchase.
“For someone who works a regular 9 to 5 job or even someone who is only getting paid minimum wage, first off they can’t necessarily afford to pay us. That’s already a wall right there, because obviously we deserve to be compensated properly for the things that we do. The things that we do take so much time that people don’t necessarily realize,” Rashad said.
Elias, citing his own knowledge as an art historian, stated that throughout history people have often wanted fine art, but they have not always wanted to pay what that art is worth.
“They wanted Parisian art without having to pay Parisian prices,” Elias said.
That being said, both Rashad and Elias believe that art should be something everyone can enjoy. That is why Rashad produces and hosts Harvest for free. That is why Rashad loves the art of Frida Kahlo and Diego Rivera.
“They [Kahlo and Rivera] made it outside the galleries. Murals and things like that painted on public spaces were meant to break down the walls of the gallery so that everyone could enjoy them. Because art is for everyone.”
Art can be intimidating. Art can be expensive. Art can be difficult for one to find, but art is part of the human experience. Art is creativity given form.
“It’s a cultural experience that we should all take part in,” Elias said.
What will your first step be in your journey to find and consume art? Will you allow art to enrich your life?
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