Lori Doty on mon 6 jun 05
I realize that this sounds like I am giving away my time and energy, in
a way I am. I live in an area that does not embrace the arts due to low
income jobs and dare I say it Midwest/Backwoods mentality. Some people
that came by my booth were aghast at the price of a porcelain lidded
dish that is 12 and a half inches across ($100). I had other pieces
that are smaller and cost less (from $5-35). I have heard talk here on
the list about Mel pricing pieces by the inch and figured that I might
be right with my pricing scheme. I currently let my mother-in-law who I
love dearly and her friend come by on most Thursday nights to "play
with clay" and talk art. I may never hear from the people I talked with
since I believe that the arts here are considered too intellectual or
highbrow when Walmart and the Dollar Store are the places that people
buy their dinner ware and supper.
The energy I put into my work just needs to come out and I love to
share what I do know. Maybe I can educate and improve the opinion of
the people in the community (I live and work in) so they will start to
believe that art is essential rather than extraneous.
I realize this is a rant and I also should be careful because some of
you might be my neighbors. I'm in Rolla, Missouri so if anyone wants to
come out and show me wrong or give me some pointers on how to educate
the community on the arts I'll gladly take notes
Lori Doty
Nurse/ Potter
Slowly turning the tide.
On Jun 5, 2005, at 12:12 AM, L. P. Skeen wrote:
> Hey Lori, it sounds like you had a great day meeting and greeting and
> selling. Did I read this right? You're giving someone three, two-hour
> pottery lessons (i.e. 6 hours of your time plus (presumably)
> materials) for
> $25??? PLEASE say that's a typo, because it's the equivalent of about
> $4/hour.
>
> L
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: "Lori Doty"
> One guy stated he was severely visually impaired and was wondering if I
> could let him use my wheel. I explained that I would allow him a free
> session and
>> then charge $25 for 3 additional if he chose to go with it. (sessions
>> being 2 hrs a week)
>
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Leon Briggs on tue 7 jun 05
> I realize this is a rant and I also should be careful because some of
> you might be my neighbors. I'm in Rolla, Missouri so if anyone wants to
> come out and show me wrong or give me some pointers on how to educate
> the community on the arts I'll gladly take notes
Sounds like you're right in the middle of two fairly developed art centers.
Springfield and St Louis Missouri. Here in Springfield the ceramic art scene
is developing exponentially. There are three or four art festivals a
year along
with raku and pit firing seminars. Lots of potterys giving lessons here
too. I believe
that here in the Midwest, because of it's antique ceramic heritage, people
like to associate the ceramic arts with the outdoors. If you want to get
some
of your /backwoods/ individuals interested in what you're doing -
Set something on fire! It always draws a crowd. Worse case scenario - you
could always drive 100mi north on i44 to St Louie or 100mi south and
visit us.
Robert Briggs
www.corvusmoon.com
L. P. Skeen on tue 7 jun 05
Lori,
It is understandable to want to price low enough that you can lure people
in. However, you need to price for what you're worth. That means you, your
expertise, all the years you put into learning how to do what you do, not to
mention materials, wear and tear on the machines, etc. If you don't value
your work, who will? If they think it's only worth $4 per hour, then geez,
it must be easy to do and anyone can do it.
If you really want to accommodate the financially challenged, offer a
sliding scale based on income and situation, but don't offer the cheap seats
to everybody. Art IS essential, but it ain't free.
L
----- Original Message -----
From: "Lori Doty"
>I realize that this sounds like I am giving away my time and energy, in a
>way I am. I live in an area that does not embrace the arts due to low
>income jobs and dare I say it Midwest/Backwoods mentality.
I have heard talk here on the list about Mel pricing pieces by the inch
> The energy I put into my work just needs to come out and I love to share
> what I do know. Maybe I can educate and improve the opinion of the people
> in the community (I live and work in) so they will start to believe that
> art is essential
Kate Johnson on tue 7 jun 05
Hi Lori...like you, I live in Missouri, and have all my life. I'm close to
Kansas City, with Hallmark, the Nelson Gallery, the Kemper, and lots of
other cultural centers large and small. My own small town, Excelsior
Springs, has a couple of galleries, and I have work in both.
My middle godchild lived in Rolla till recently, so I know it's not all it
COULD be in terms of cultural awareness, but it's not a complete wasteland,
either.
>I realize that this sounds like I am giving away my time and energy, in
> a way I am. I live in an area that does not embrace the arts due to low
> income jobs and dare I say it Midwest/Backwoods mentality. Some people
> that came by my booth were aghast at the price of a porcelain lidded
> dish that is 12 and a half inches across ($100).
Yep, there will always be folk who can't afford what we have to offer, or
don't value it. And there will be those who do. You can't guage anything
by the few outspoken ones who are aghast, you can't let it color your
attitude or get to you.
Rolla's a college town...I'd be willing to bet there are also a fair number
of folks who are NOT "backwoods" mentality (as Seinfeld said, "not that
there's anything wrong with that." Interestingly some of my best and
most faithful collectors over the years have been Missouri farm or small
town folk.) You need to reach those people, as well as those with more
disposable income.
And like Lili and others, I've bartered my work and felt it was a good deal
both ways...for legal advice, for dental care, for the most gorgeous,
delicious homegrown beef, for lawn care... Some people are open to it,
some aren't. Gets tricky at tax time, 'cause Uncle Sam still considers it
income....
I had other pieces
> that are smaller and cost less (from $5-35). I have heard talk here on
> the list about Mel pricing pieces by the inch and figured that I might
> be right with my pricing scheme. I currently let my mother-in-law who I
> love dearly and her friend come by on most Thursday nights to "play
> with clay" and talk art. I may never hear from the people I talked with
> since I believe that the arts here are considered too intellectual or
> highbrow when Walmart and the Dollar Store are the places that people
> buy their dinner ware and supper.
That's no doubt true, for some...and not for others. People are different.
>
> The energy I put into my work just needs to come out and I love to
> share what I do know. Maybe I can educate and improve the opinion of
> the people in the community (I live and work in) so they will start to
> believe that art is essential rather than extraneous.
Ah HA, there you go. That's the answer to building a following, if not to
changing the minds or priorities of some who'd complain if they got a
Porterhouse steak for 10 cents a pound.
Marketing, press releases, mailing lists, publicity, a good website...it's
kind of a pain when you'd rather be messing with clay, but I think it's
essential to teaching people to respect and perhaps understand (and value)
what you do. Can you interest the local newspaper editor in a story on your
work? Or maybe one of the magazines? In the past, I was in Rural Electric
Missourian or whatever it's called (it was a long time ago)--consider some
of these less well known sources. The electric coops always have a
newsletter, and I'll bet other utilities do too. People like human interest
stories! Maybe someone could come take pictures of you at work...people
ALWAYS love to see process. If you're not comfortable with that, get photos
anyway, and send them along with your press release.
Work up a good bio/resume/vita (I can never keep straight which is
which). Send it along with your press release.
Make up nice business cards or a brochure, if you don't have them already,
and ask your favorite tearoom, restaurant, bed and breakfast, boutique if
they'll have them on display by their checkout. Maybe you can make contacts
to sell your work there, too.
The local Chamber of Commerce or Tourist Information Board are also really
good places to leave a stack of your cards (yeh, I need to do this too.)
As I see it it isn't so much a need to educate the WHOLE community as it is
to attract a few dedicated collectors. Good thing, too, 'cause we're never
going to convince all of them that a porcelain bowl is a necessity...
>
> I realize this is a rant and I also should be careful because some of
> you might be my neighbors. I'm in Rolla, Missouri so if anyone wants to
> come out and show me wrong or give me some pointers on how to educate
> the community on the arts I'll gladly take notes
No need to be careful, just realistic. You can't educate them all, but you
can find your niche.
Best--
Kate Johnson
graphicart@epsi.net
http://www.cathyjohnson.info/
Art, History, Nature and More at Cathy Johnson's Cafepress--
http://www.cafepress.com/cathy_johnson/
Graphics/Fine Arts Press--
http://www.epsi.net/graphic/
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