Artists seek venues, collectors
By Sarah Rozeboom, Northwest Arkansas Times
Posted on Sunday, February 20, 2005
URL: http://www.nwanews.com/story/adg/108620
The natural beauty and increasing cultural offerings in Northwest Arkansas exert a magnetic pull on artistic souls, as evidenced by the area’s flourishing community of artists.
"We have a wealth of talent, from music to film to drama to visual arts," Fayetteville oil painter Megan Chapman said. "Any time you have that, it just helps the climate, helps the enthusiasm and gets people interested."
But finding a place that satisfies the senses and fills the bank account is difficult for artists.
Local artists may draw creative inspiration from one another, but they also must compete in a limited market.
For many, that means having a second job.
For example, Fayetteville painter and printmaker Eric Smith divides his time between teaching art classes at Northwest Arkansas Community College in Bentonville and working on his own projects.
Fayetteville artist Christina Mariotti’s backup plan for slow months is painting interiors. "It’s like Flashdance or something," she said, referring to the 1983 film. "I do the technical painting during the day and work on my painting at night."
Chapman and others, like Rogers pastel artist Julene Baker, devote all their time to their craft because they have the security of a spouse’s paycheck.
"You never know when you’re going to make a sale in this business," Baker said. "Anyone who does this as a single person is either totally talented or has somebody supporting them."
One of the artists’ biggest challenges is confronting a lack of demand for their work.
"There’s not really a clientele," said Rob Andes, a master’s student in the art program at the University of Arkansas at Fayetteville.
"There are people that might buy one piece of art because it will look nice in their house, but there are not many collectors."
Another problem, Baker said, is that people who can afford art think they have to look beyond the region to find quality work.
Many artists said that might change if there were more places to display their work.
Existing venues open to lesser-known artists — such as Arsaga’s Espresso Café and The Perk on Wedington in Fayetteville — remain booked from six months to three years.
The cafe owners, Cindy Arsaga and Ted Youmans, respectively, said they never solicit artists; inquiries come in several times a month.
The past year brought the opening of two new galleries — Iris Arts and J. Gallery, both in Fayetteville — but more are needed, artists said.
In addition to furnishing display space, galleries help by marketing artists ’ work and attracting new clientele and tourists.
Jeanette Baxter, owner of J. Gallery, said artists elsewhere face the same obstacles.
"Most artists are very talented but don’t know how to market themselves," she said. "In school they’ve learned color, line and design but not how to sell their work. They need galleries to represent them."
In an effort to help area artists, Fayetteville Downtown Partners has undertaken a project to create an art district in the downtown-Dickson Street area.
The organization’s mission is to aid the restoration and growth of the city’s downtown area
In November, several local artists met with Jill Anthes, board liaison for Fayetteville Downtown Partners.
"They’re talking to artists themselves … to see what is needed to create a friendlier art scene," Chapman said.
"Anytime the city comes to artists and says, ‘What do you want? What suggestions do you have to create a better environment?’ That’s an exciting time."
Anthes said Fayetteville Downtown Partners encouraged artists and supporters of the arts to complete an online cultural assets survey.
The effort yielded more than 100 responses that will be used to help form a plan of action.
"For artists, we’re trying to find out what stumbling blocks they’re running into, whether it’s space, funding, an audience. We’re trying to find out what they want to see downtown," Anthes said.
"The cultural and arts component is so important to Fayetteville’s future."
Rogers and Bentonville artists are receiving similar support from Main Street Bentonville, a nonprofit organization Bob Haynes founded about three years ago to promote the city’s downtown area.
"Art has become key to our promotional activities and to our emphasis," Haynes said.
The organization held two art walks in 2004 and hopes to work up to four annually.
At the last event, held in July, 44 artists participated, and between 2,000 and 3,000 people attended, Haynes said.
"I know Northwest Arkansas is well-known for crafts," he said. "What we wanted to do was also place some specific emphasis on the fine arts, painting and that type of activity."
