Posted by Al Ingham

Afforable Arts is a great idea, is well managed, well run with lots of support and contact letting people know exactly where things are at.
In the past the shows have been awesome events, with great artworks on display for all to see, and for a limited few, a hand slipping deep into their wallets. Art isn’t about selling however, it is about experiencing the art.
Yet it seems as though Affordable Art misses this point. While it is a great feeling to know you have sold a work and the Affordable Art Show assists with this procedure immensely, I don’t see that as art’s main purpose; and as soon as that does become its main purpose, the art looses its heart, its soul – its purpose as art.
Then of course there is the art itself. To get into the Afforable Art Show there is a selection process infront of a panel of judges who over see every artwork that is submitted. As with any large scale show, there are many who are rejected during this process.
In the past the quality of the art has been pretty good.
But, this year was a bit dissapointing. I don’t think the artworks had as much grunt to them. In the past I have come back from a show inspired, wanting to copy at least 5 or 6 works which I thought were worthy enough to copy! This year there were only really 2 pieces, and both of those were absractive in nature, and not my preferred style of art. This could be because I went on the last day of the show and all the good pieces had sold, but even so… I wonder how bad some of the ones which were turned away were, considering some of the pieces which made it through the selection panel!
All in all it was good, but there are still a few bads, and quite a few just downright uglies!
‘Till next time…