A True and Steady Course

​It has been so long since I was fully immersed in the art world. Over two decades ago, when I last considered myself a visual artist, the world didn't use cell phones or much digital anything. Social media wasn't even thought of yet. Using bulky computers and projection art was about as technical as anything got. I would say the music world and the art world at that time could be considered comparable - as far as the opportunities for independent artist to make their way. Analog times indeed.

​When I decided to pursue music as my primary art form 15 years ago, the idea of self-publishing music was fairly new. Everyone was making it up as they went, and there was this newfound hope that maybe, finally, music was out of the grip of the major labels and musician-artists could all exist on a more level playing field. It seemed at the time that the music world was about to get a leg up on the visual art world. The opportunity was finally there for independent musical artists to make their art available to the world and benefit from this financially as well. 

Of course, this was wishful thinking. It can be argued, of course, that this did happen in many ways. These days, any musical artist can easily and relatively affordably record and release their music. That's the good news. The bad news is, these days, any musical artist can easily and affordably record and release their music. With the freedom to professionally release any song for streaming, the waters have become muddied, and rather than liberating the artists, it more likely drowns them in a sea of noise. But this wasn't even the worst part of this new industry.

The hopefulness was soon replaced with a consumer base that no longer expects to spend any money on the music itself. Physical products of the music disappeared, aside from the reemergence of vinyl records. Streams pay embarrassingly little to independent artists, while the major labels managed to corner the market and make deals with the streaming companies that benefit them and their rosters. The result is an industry where independent artists and songwriters' revenue streams have dwindled, leaving us once again with a top 1% who benefit financially. 

It was an interesting time to be a musician, for sure. With new opportunities came new obstacles. I was one of the pioneers of the new musical digital frontier.

Yesterday, my husband, best friend, and I went to the West Seattle Art Walk. We had been invited by a friend (David Miller) who has art being exhibited at Inner Space Designs along the Art Walk. On the way there, I was pondering how the art world might have changed in these 15 years while I was so immersed in music. I wondered if these digital changes had made a similar impact on the visual art world as they had on the musical one. Certainly, the fact that websites and web shops were widely available for anyone to create must have allowed the individual artist the opportunity to sell prints or digital downloads of their art more easily. The few artists I follow on social media often create time-lapses of their art being created. As in any industry, marketing has moved online. 

I was interested in experiencing for myself how the art world works now.

It seems to me that while the digital impact on the music world created a total shift in how the music was made, by whom, how it was consumed, and how everyone stood to benefit financially, the art world may have shifted, but it was not completely upended like the music world. The addition of social media certainly brought the artist closer to the masses, but the way visual art is appreciated did not shift in the same way. 

Certain things remain, like the personal connection between artists, art lovers, and gallery owners alike. The swooning over art pieces and the generous cheese, wine, and other refreshments at an art walk or an opening. The need to physically transport art pieces to and fro still exists, and as far as I could tell, the value of the original pieces themselves has stayed consistent throughout this time. 

Without the complete capsizing of how the art form was consumed, the art world seemed to have stayed a true and steady course, taking the best from the digital revolution and making it work for them. It seems to me the art world came out the other side, with the better end of the "digital" deal. 

I find myself excited to be a part of it once again. 

Left to right: Raymond Hayden, Jaci Sawtelle, myself and Brooke Borcherding.

Us, admiring Brooke's art.

I was thrilled to meet Brooke Borcherding, an artist I have recently discovered whose art I adore. I was happy to find she is as delightful in person as her art is. 

I also got to reconnect with Diane Venti, who recognized me as a musical artist. She is the proud owner of the Alki Arts Gallery & Event Space and is currently showing a handful of Brooke Borcherding's artworks, along with other excellent pieces by local artists.