Quote:
Originally Posted by ahealy
Ok, this is a little sensationalized and a little dramatic BUT for the millionth time...when the hell is Austin going to get a proper modern art museum????!!!
I've been following the progress of ruby city in SA and was reminded how far ahead all other major TX cities are in this area. Has there been any chatter of.....anything?
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I've put a lot of thought behind this subject. I argued with my artist friends for years that Austin was FAR behind in, well ALL the fine arts really. We have an abundance of young artists (some talented, most not....but that's ok), young musicians, but not too many highly skilled, highly respected artists.
I've come to a couple conclusions.
1. Austin is a very young city.....fine art is generally patronized by older very wealthy families, endowments, companies that support art. Wealthy people have the money a top tier artist can command. I would guess that NYC spends more money on one city block of (Manhattan) on fine arts than all Austin. That's a guess, but you get the point.
2. Older cities that support the arts poach our budding artistic stars...who can blame the artist who flock to cities that can/do/will pay them handsomely for quality work.
3. The artists that are left behind are....gasp....not that great. I have nothing but local art on the walls of my home. I've commissioned a few pieces from artists that came out good and ok. One from Kathryn Goodnight, and the other from Eliza Gomez (which turned out amazing), and a few others. Most pieces we've acquired from estate sales or the places like the Art Garage, and Round Top. All that said, I'm not often impressed with what I see in local art galleries, stores, restaurants. Most of it looks immature, but that is be expected...kinda like garage bands....they have to start somewhere.
4. The relatively young population of Austin (art consumers) don't have the time, inclination, and money for art. They are studying, working, or trying to get laid.... and good for them.
5. I think in about 50-100 years, when Austin has some more Billionaires who leave huge endowments for the arts of Austin in their wills, we will get the arts scene we deserve. Till then, as long as Dallas, Houston, Chicago....Sante Fe, LA, Miami, DC, Boston, San Fran, and NYC (not to mention the rest of the GLOBAL art scene) exist as they do.....Austin will never be able to compete...the best leave for those cities who can appreciate and more importantly afford their work. And I don't blame them.
Austin is a BIG college town....but it's a college town. Those other cities are REAL cities, with decades of extremely wealthy families supporting the art scene.
I agree with you, I long for a robust local scene like SA, Houston, Dallas, shit even Marfa.