I never stop to marvel (or snicker) at what some people will do and call art. Here’s another story, the story of the $2,500 banana (from a story by Oliver Moore in the Globe and Mail, July 2, 2008).

A gallery in Halifax is displaying a work entitled ’Banana’ with a price tag of $ 2,500. The work consists of, you guessed it, a banana. A slightly green banana. On the tag identifying the work is a blue dot, which means that one or more buyers have put a hold on the work. In this case, there are 2 such buyers.

The work is by artist Michael Fernandes. The banana is changed every day and each time, it is replaced with a slightly greener banana. The artist is ’gradually reversing the ripening process’. He says that the work is not actually the banana; the process is what’s important. The buyer will be paying for the concept and will receive photos documenting the project. No tangible piece of art will trade hands.

One of the bananas was stolen not long after the exhibition started, and one was swapped for an apple. I guess some people see the humour in this situation.

The artist wanted to price the work at $15,000 but the gallery wanted it priced more reasonably and they agreed on $2,500.

Well, what can I add to this story? I actually find this one funny. It’s a concept, an idea. It does not require drawing or painting or sculpting skills; nope, nada. Just an idea. Well, of course, you have to find a gallery actually interested in showing such a piece of work. I suspect that reputation and public recognition have something to do with this part. I strongly suspect that, had I approached galleries with a similar idea, I would have been laughed out of the place.

Hope you’re having a great summer.

Suzette

"The only thing worse than being talked about is not being talked about."     (Oscar Wilde)

In my last blog, I talked about the effect that art has on our lives. Coincidentally, I just came across a study that ties right in with this topic. It shows that artists are generally happier and their life satisfaction is greater than the general population as they age. Making art, and the satisfaction that comes with that, has a lot to do with it.

(The study is from the Research for Arts and Culture and is called: "Above Ground: Information on Artists III - Special Focus New York City Aging Artists". You can view this study through their website. The study was limited to aging artists living in New York City, but I believe the findings are applicable to artists living anywhere.)

The following is taken directly from their report:
"Psychological models of ’successful aging’ have highlighted evidence of positive personal growth, creativity, self-efficacy, autonomy, independence, effective coping strategies, sense of purpose, self-acceptance and self-worth. Artists, as our study makes abundantly clear, are engaged in all of these indicators, especially with their art as a barometer."

It would seem that artists love their work so much that they don’t want to retire from it. They get great satisfaction from making art. They tend to have better-than-average social networks which contributes to their general well-being, even as they age. Interestingly, it seems that women give more support and experience greater benefits from their social networks than men.

I found this study interesting because, personally, I have to agree that the making of art and all of the ancillary activities that go along with it, totally enrich my life and give it purpose, especially at this stage of my life.

Suzette

"The arts are a very human way of making life more bearable. Practicing an art, no matter how well or badly, is a way to make your soul grow." (Kurt Vonnegut, Jr.)