Art as a Tourist Attraction

 

The concept of displaying art in galleries and museums have been around for over a century. Artists who are able to put their masterpieces somewhere that hundreds of people will see is a dream come true. While galleries and museums are still the end-goal for most artists, there is now a growing trend of seeing art in one of its purest forms, on the street. Thousands of tourists flock to various cities around the world, to get a picture of some of the murals and street art designed for the area. Check out some of the places, best known for their free displays of craftsmanship.

 

Miami. Florida

 

Becoming a famous locations for mural photo opportunities, the Wynwood Wall area of Miami is now a must-see for those visiting the city. Most are aware that every December, the city hosts a huge art fair, called Art Basel. The event brings in artists from around the world to showcase their contemporary art. The show is mostly for new and up-and-coming artists and a majority of the three-day affair is held at the Wynwood Wall. However, December isn’t the only time the walls get their chance to shine. All through the year tourists find themselves lined up to take some social media-worthy pictures in front of the massive displays of art. As Miami is such a colorful city without the walls, there are dozens of other beautiful murals around the area to see.

 

Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

 

Many are surprised to find out that along with Brotherly Love, the city of Philadelphia is also nicknames, the City of Murals. All of the art that lines the streets of Philadelphia can be credited to the Mural Arts Program, the largest public art program in the United States. In an effort to reduce the harsh graffiti happening, the Philadelphia Anti-Graffiti Network gave artists free canvas’ allowing them to express the deeper community issues through mural creation. Thousands of people visit this northeastern city just to see some of the well-crafted and meaningful murals on display.

 

Nashville, Tennessee

 

As the city of Nashville is becoming more of a tourist destination than ever before, the murals have become an integral part of the experience. From the notable “I Believe in Nashville” mural to the Draper James stripes right across the street, there are opportunities for art lovers all around. Everyone who passes it, has to take a photo in front of the 20 feet tall What Lifts You Wings. Even just taking your picture in front of it makes you feel as though you can do anything, even fly. From fun flowers to abstract colors and shapes, Nashville has murals for everyone to pose in front of or save as a unique new screen saver.

 

Tips for Starting An Art Gallery– According to the Experts

 

The most important consideration for individuals who plan to start an art gallery is to know your target audience. The next most important tip is to study the planned location of the gallery.

 

In large urban areas like New York City, starting an art gallery is a relatively simple matter of choosing a location with a lot of daily foot traffic. In large crowded urban cities, there is less worry about a target audience since throngs of people pass by an art gallery and, on impulse stop in due to an art collection that captures their attention. In these large cities, art galleries crop up on sidewalks, in local parks and in strip malls.

 

The Grand Opening of an Art Gallery

The most momentous occasion for a prospective art gallery owner is the Grand Opening. This event should attract artists, art lovers and buyers. Choose a specific theme for the Grand Opening that becomes a signature style of the gallery’s offerings to create the gallery brand.

 

This event should create a lasting memory of your gallery’s purpose and artistic potential for a wide range of patrons. A Grand Opening announcement should be done several weeks before the date of the opening through advertisements and public relations. Don’t be afraid to contact local dignitaries for a “ribbon cutting” ceremony.

 

An Art Gallery with Curb Appeal

The other facet of starting an art gallery is creating a proactive calendar of gallery events. These events include guest artists’ collections or an open house during the holidays. The purpose of starting an art gallery should be clearly defined before a location is chosen. Decide whether renting or leasing is within budget.

 

Advertising and PR – Tools for a Solid Start

Experts agree that art galleries with the greatest success are those who have a well designed advertising and public relations program in place. An effective advertising plan should include social media and some form of hard copy ads in local papers and magazines.

 

The public relations plan should focus on encouraging regular gallery patrons of the art. Successful art galleries often choose activities for patrons like a “wine and cheese” art collectors’ and buyers’ soiree. Don’t be afraid to start gallery events with a program by professionals in art restorations and identifying valuable works of art.

 

Collectors and Buyers – The Lifeblood of a Startup Art Gallery

Obviously, without art collectors and buyers, a gallery’s finances suffer. Before the Grand Opening, create a list of potential collectors and buyers for the type of works of art that will be on display.

 

Art Conservation 101

Art conservation is the preservation of artwork. Curators of art museums try to appropriate works of art they feel will encourage greater patronage. In some cases, these art museum curators require the services of highly experienced, professional art conservators. Generally, this occurs when artwork has been found to be of considerable value in estate sales and through art dealers who do not want to repair damaged artwork.

 

The Unique Skills and Talents of Art Conservation

In addition to repairing damaged works of art, the skills and talents of professional art conservators requires them to visit art museums to ensure great works of art remain in top condition in an uncompromising environment.

 

To show the depth of importance of art conservators, these professionals all adhere to “Guidelines and Standards of Practice” as set forth by the professional organization, AIC (American Institute for the Conservation of Artistic and Historic Works).

 

Thus, an art conservator is experienced in proper pest and climate control, museum facility security and a broad knowledge of original artists’ use of color and design. These professionals must be able to detect an “overpaint” of a famous work of art and recover the original painting hidden beneath the overpainted artwork.

 

Tools of the Art Conservation Trade

In order to properly conserve artwork for preservation purposes, proper tools are needed by conservators. These include small implements like erasers, spatulas, tweezers, bone folders and cotton swabs. These tools help the conservator preserve works of art with such details as to appear untouched by other than the original artist. They also require a handheld black light to uncover “overpaints.”

 

Why is Art Conservation Important?

To understand the underlying factors of art conservation, it is important to study art value. The Metropolitan Museum of Art, for example, generates a large patronage as a result of changing art exhibitions regularly to attract public interest.

 

An art conservator is required to store and lock away valuable pieces of art at this museum to make room for these displayed exhibits. The job of the art conservator is to properly transport works like 18th Century pastels, DaVinci, Matisse or Monet paintings, works of art from privately owned collections or those that are specially commissioned.

Conserving works of art is of primary importance in order to create the durability of artwork and also to preserve a continuance of the love of art for future generations.

 

Artificial Intelligence and Art

Etienne Kiss-Borlase AI and Art

The world of technology is advancing each day. As artificial intelligence becomes more of a reality, there are many industries that are likely to be affected by the machine. While the finance and healthcare fields begin to prepare, there is one industry that many never considered to be impacted by AI. Art is something that lingered on the human brain and comes from the most creative minds of our times.

Many experts in AI feel as though the connection between art and machine will be a true testament to a collaborative environment. Although creativity is something that many people feel as though they don’t have, AI could help spark a fire within. Often, people don’t have the ability to express their thoughts on a piece of paper. The hope is that artificial intelligence will have the algorithm that works best for the artist and help them to discover new ideas.

Artificial intelligence is already becoming a part of the art world. Through the use of romance novels, algorithms have trained the AI in the art of poetry. Certain robots have also shown their artistic abilities in the Robot Art Competition. Some of the pieces were so intricate, they look as though completed by a human. Many artists and AI experts have mixed emotions about the emergence of the machine in the art industry. Of course, the fear comes from the idea of technology replacing people. On the contrary, human-made items will end up becoming an item of the utmost value. Hand crafted items will become a luxury compared to the ones that a machine is pumping out.

Along with the concerns of authenticity comes the question regarding authorship. Jon McCormack used AI in creating one of his art series of digital plants. McCormack considers himself the artist although the machine is who created the pieces of work. As AI continues to develop, the artist will be able to truly test their capacity. Right now the machines can only complete what they have been trained to do. The non-human aspect of art created by AI is something many believe will hinder the collaboration.

One day, AI could in a way, bring art and artists back to life. New Beatles songs could come about by using samples of the members who have passed. Van Gogh’s style could be memorized by the machine and his creativity then live on. It comes down to the authenticity and emotion we feel from the art that currently exists. Unless the art that AI produces can trigger raw emotion, humans will continue to be the inferior artists.

Rockefeller’s Art Collection to be Auctioned

Many people hope to live a long and happy life. David Rockefeller accomplished just that. At the age of 101, the financial mogul passed away but was sure to leave his mark on society. Earlier this month it was announced that many of Rockefeller’s personal items are being put up for sale including his NYC penthouse. The most noteworthy piece of Rockefeller’s estate going for auction is his art collection. A collection that was obtained over six decades is now heading to Christie’s auction house for what is likely to be the auction of the century.

 

David and his wife Penny were extremely active art enthusiasts. In 1994, the Museum of Modern Art used the couple’s lavish collection as the subject of one of their exhibitions. The Rockefeller’s had a strong relationship with MoMA. Thus, earnings from the auction will go to the museum, along with other philanthropic organizations. As one of the first members of “The Giving Pledge”, Rockefeller generously promised to donate more than half of his worth upon his passing. David Rockefeller Jr., has publicly stated his family’s willingness to fulfill his father’s wishes by contributing the auction earnings to charity.

 

The Rockefeller’s personal art collection has an estimated 15,000 pieces. Christie’s has received about 2,000 works of art from the compilation. With selections from the Impressionist, post-Impressionist and modern eras, the auction will earn around $500 million or more. Experts are already calling it the art auction of this and last century. In 2009, the art collection of Yves Saint Laurent auctioned at a record-breaking $484 million. It seems as though the Rockefellers are more than likely to steal this title. Prior to the auction in the spring of next year, the collection will travel around America, Europe, and Asia. None of the items for auction have been revealed and it is likely that they will remain private until the tour.

 

It seems as though the generous and philanthropic nature of David and Peggy Rockefeller will live on. As they lived their lives full of compassion and selflessness, so will their legacy. For those fortunate enough to buy a piece from this collection, they will own a legendary work of art with a great sentimental history.