ON ART FAIRS AND THE FOUR SEASONS MAUI ART PROGRAM

I haven't updated this blog lately in part because one of the trends in the art world is how art collectors are doing more of their purchases at art fairs. It's a trend that only extends the continued social, vs aesthetic, basis for many of these collecting-peeps who see with their ears. And makes even more difficult my wrestling with how to manifest PFA.

Meanwhile, speaking of juried approaches, I just experienced a brilliant one these past few days while vacationing in Maui. The Four Seasons Resort there has a program where, annually, they vet local artists. Those who make it then show in the Four Season's lobby area throughout a whole year. They change the artists everyday over a certain period of time so that resort visitors can be exposed to a new set of artists every day for probably the length of time that they'd spend at the resort. I acquired works from five different artists ranging from oil paintings to pottery to painted textiles -- works I hadn't been looking to acquire but, hey, I was part of an interested captive audience who happened to be around anyway.

The purchases could be done via the hotel, making it easy for the art patrons and the artists have an exhibition space for a much longer time than the month they might have at a gallery -- and patronized by an audience who would have the type of discretionary income to get their works. It's also a great offering by the Four Seasons to its guests, even while presenting a means to support local artists. Artists who have gallery representation are also sensitized to adjust their prices to make sure they don't undercut their galleries (though, I assume the artist return must be better than the typical 50% of the sale price they get from galleries).

I wish the Four Seasons and other hotels would do this at all their locations. It would seem to be a win-win situation for everyone.