End of an era in Salem arts ...
Sunday, July 18th 2010 @ 4:02 PM (not yet rated)
Times are always changing, but some are not as welcome as others. Locally, the Salem Art Association has, over the last few years, become a "professionallly" run association, as they grew too big to be run by volunteers. Their big annual event is the Salem Art Fair, taking place this weekend in Bush's Pasture Park.
Historically this was a big event for the citizenry to stroll through the beautiful park under the shade of massive old oak trees of a warm summer's day, grazing on food and beverages from the many vendors of such, passing up and down the aisles of booths of artists, many of whom were local (or at least from somewhere in the NW), and occasionally walking off with a new treasure.
It was a GREAT place to meet and greet people from all over the area. Listen to and/or watch some stage acts of various and sundry types. Enjoy the balloon-sculptors handing out their craft to the little ones. Generally revel in the beauty of a Willamette Valley summer day.
The professional staff have been (with the blessing of their Board) "up-grading" the Fair for the last few years. Meaning the emphasis has become "big" art, "important" art, in short, art that generates revenue to pay for that professional staff. So now all entrants are "juried" and gee, this year, even with all the marvelous artists working from the Mid-Valley, only 9% of the artists accepted are from ANYWHERE near here.
In the past, the Association took a percentage of the gross from each booth. That's changed, as some years the "take" was down to the artists, and the Association's take dropped. They can't afford that now, of course ... so it's a straight $500/booth fee these days.
But wait, there's more. Rather than ask for a donation, it's now a required $5/head fee, said (by the Association's professional staff) to be chosen because it was a "family-friendly" way to pay for the event. Um ... that charges those many out-of-state artists $500 to show their wares.
It's no longer about supporting the local community or local artists, it's all about supporting the professional staff of the Salem Art Association.
I am more than happy to support fellow artists, especially local ones. This ... no. We're not going this year, and I don't feel the least tinge of regret. The managers of the affair have made choices that make in not an affair I have any interest in.
Bu-bye!
R. Neil Haugen
