Vince Pitelka on fri 18 sep 09
Terrance wrote:
"Is being a member of a professional artist association necessary? I believ=
e
so;
a member voice will become loud because it is supported by a professional
body that works to promote the social and economical well being of the
member artists."
Hi Terrance,
Thanks for such an informative and well-stated post. The one point I wish
to make is that the above is true only if an artist needs a professional
organization. Many do not. The Tennessee Association of Craft Artists
(TACA) is a powerful force for fine craft in Tennessee, and runs all sorts
of services for craftspeople, educational programs, and several excellent
juried craft fairs in Nashville. Such organizations are very beneficial to
many artists, but involvement in such organizations is by no means
absolutely necessary for someone to be an artist and to be successful. Art
is such an individual thing, and each artist must seek his/her own path to
personal fulfillment and/or financial success, depending on their objective=
s
and the kind of art they make. It is important to point out that a person
can be an artist and never show their work to a single other person. Art i=
s
not validated by the gallery, the press, or the marketplace. Art is
validated by the individual making art. That's the beginning of it all, an=
d
without that there is no art.
- Vince
Vince Pitelka
Appalachian Center for Craft
Tennessee Tech University
vpitelka@dtccom.net; wpitelka@tntech.edu
http://iweb.tntech.edu/wpitelka
Terrance on fri 18 sep 09
I have been reading the voices on this subject, trying to figure out what=
=3D
=3D20
people are trying define.=3D20=3D20=3D20
I believe that in order to find our place in the field of art we must loo=
=3D
k at the=3D20
subject in terms of art with a capital =3D93A=3D94 and art with a small =3D=
93a=3D94=3D
. When I=3D20
say I am an artist, I say it under the capital A. When I say I am a scul=
=3D
pture=3D20
or a potter or a painter or a chef or a writer, I am talking about my art=
=3D
=3D20
profession using the small =3D93a=3D94. Using the small =3D93a=3D94 does =
not be=3D
little the action=3D20
that I perform; it just means that I am practicing that field of art at t=
=3D
hat=3D20
time. I use the term Artist with the capital =3D93A=3D94 when I tell peopl=
e =3D
what I do=3D20
for a living in general or when I am filling out documents that ask my=3D20=
=3D
profession.=3D20=3D20
Furthermore, in order to be recognized as someone who works as an artist =
=3D
in=3D20
both the Capital =3D93A=3D94 and the small =3D93a=3D94 one need only to pro=
nounce=3D
to the=3D20
public that they are practicing the art form. But lets not forget that a=
=3D
nyone=3D20
can call themselves and artist. Some are =3D93con artists=3D94 others are =
=3D93=3D
scam=3D20
artists=3D94. Therefore one should do more to ensure the public understand=
=3D
s that=3D20
they are a practicing visual artist.
Therefore, In order to be recognized by the public body as a professional=
=3D
=3D20
practicing visual artist/craftsman/painter ect. One should belong to a=3D20=
=3D
professional organization promoting the art form that they are practicing=
=3D
.
Many professional organizations have gained their recognition by creating=
=3D
some=3D20
form of governing body. This body sets out the rules and regulations th=
=3D
at=3D20
support the definition criteria that must be met, in order to become a ce=
=3D
rtified=3D20
member in the organization and thus use the organization=3D92s seal or mark=
=3D
to=3D20
apply towards their daily practice of their profession. When the public =
=3D
sees=3D20
this seal they know that certain criteria had to be met in order to use t=
=3D
he=3D20
mark.
In Quebec, (which, by the way Lis, is in eastern Canada), people working =
=3D
in=3D20
the art field have many professional organizations that promote their act=
=3D
ivity.=3D20=3D20=3D20
Potters in Quebec, for example, can belong to the provincial visual artis=
=3D
t=3D20
organization or the provincial craft organization or both. Nevertheless =
=3D
in order=3D20
to belong to the professional organizations they must meet certain criter=
=3D
ia.
Below is the definition of a visual artist wishing to become a member of=3D=
20=3D
the =3D93Regroupement des artistes en art visuel du Qu=3DE9bec. It is alig=
ne=3D
d with the=3D20
Province of Quebec=3D92s definition of professional artist. There are simi=
=3D
lar criteria=3D20
for the Quebec Craft Council.
1. Work in one or more of the following disciplines:
=3DB7=3D09Installation=3D20
=3DB7=3D09Video Art=3D20
=3DB7=3D09Painting=3D20
=3DB7=3D09Textile Arts=3D20
=3DB7=3D09Performance=3D20
=3DB7=3D09Drawing=3D20
=3DB7=3D09Photography=3D20
=3DB7=3D09Printmaking=3D20
=3DB7=3D09Sculpture=3D20
=3DB7=3D09Holography=3D20
=3DB7=3D09Illustration=3D20
=3DB7=3D09Another visual arts discipline
2. Be a permanent resident of Qu=3DE9bec
3. Meet the four criteria of professionalism as defined by the Act Respec=
=3D
ting=3D20
the Professional Status of Artists in the Visual Arts, Arts and Crafts an=
=3D
d=3D20
Literature, and their Contracts with Promoters (R.S.Q., S-32.01), as list=
=3D
ed=3D20
below:=3D20
You are considered to be a professional artist if:=3D20
=3DB7=3D09You declare yourself to be a professional artist;=3D20
=3DB7=3D09You produce works on your own behalf;=3D20
=3DB7=3D09Your works are exhibited, produced, published, presented in publi=
c =3D
or=3D20
marketed by a presenter;=3D20
=3DB7=3D09You have been recognized by your peers as a professional artist b=
y=3D20=3D
way of an honourable mention, an award, a prize, a scholarship, an=3D20
appointment to an adjudication committee or an invitation to participate =
=3D
in a=3D20
salon of by any other similar means.=3D20
The important point to note in this definition is that anyone can declare=
=3D
=3D20
himself or herself to be a professional artist. We do not need to have th=
=3D
at title=3D20
assigned by any one or any organization. But to be recognized as a credi=
=3D
ble=3D20
professional artist one must meet the other three criteria as well. The =
=3D
second=3D20
means that you produce art to make money from it. The third is self-
explanatory and of course the last is the one that really counts.=3D20
Is this definition necessary? In Quebec it means using the title =3D93pro=
=3D
fessional=3D20
artist=3D94 as your profession on your tax returns and will in turn; allow =
=3D
special=3D20
treatment as a business, allow deductions for copyright revenue, allow th=
=3D
e use=3D20
of sales tax exemptions rules and most importantly allows you to particip=
=3D
ate in=3D20
many government programs and grant competitions.
Is being a member of a professional artist association necessary? I belie=
=3D
ve so;=3D20
a member voice will become loud because it is supported by a professional=
=3D
=3D20
body that works to promote the social and economical well being of the=3D20=
=3D
member artists.=3D20=3D20
Another point in passing is that the organizations that I mentioned above=
=3D
, also=3D20
had to meet certain criteria established by the government at all levels,=
=3D
in=3D20
order to speak for the members.=3D20
That is why I am proud to be a fine artist."=3D20=3D20
I know that the government recognizes my creativity and artistic talent a=
=3D
nd=3D20
the government speaks for the people.
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