Open Source | Artist Guild, by Erin Wilson

Erin Wilson posts essays and media at thevirtualimage.com. Wilson is board president of arts-advocacy organization ArtPeers, and director of Wealthy Theatre. Wilson took part in ArtPrize 2009 and through ArtPeers has been involved with Art.Downtown and ACTIVESITE. He moved to Grand Rapids from Williamsburg, Brooklyn, where he met his partner, Amy, who has co-founded groundbreaking Grand Rapids modern dance collaborative Dance In The Annex (DITA).

I can't imagine why you wouldn't
Welcome any change, my friend.
"AEnima" (Tool)

This week, I got publicly accused of the following:
1. Being a fascist.
2. Forging pointless ideas.
3. Attempting to turn art into a commodity.
4. Plotting to control artists' lives.
5. Introducing "rules" to the practice of art.
6. Stifling diversity and creativity.
7. Plotting to exclude/blacklist artists in GR.
8. Systematically eliminating artistic freedom.

Obviously, I was shocked that someone described me with such, breathtaking accuracy.

And how great to reach this new arc of my career, being openly portrayed with such vitriol. Finally! My moment has come. I've really made it.

But then came the coup de grace: the critics created a Facebook Event Page. Things were getting serious.

They plied rules like "no dues," "all meetings would be confidential," and "no rules." They said they'd undo and "shutdown the work-in-progress" ArtPeers Artist Guild.

If you're unfamiliar with the Guild, I explain it in some detail below. In short, my elevator speech goes like this: "The ArtPeers Artist Guild is the final phase of my master plan for total domination and control of all artists in Grand Rapids. Okay?! NOBODY CAN STOP ME NOW! Least of all these meddling kids!"

These are not the droids you're looking for
The ArtPeers Artist Guild is a framework designed for artists, by artists, to help us work most effectively with those who engage our services (event organizers, venues, purchasers, etc.) and vice-versa. Sort of a "constitution" for local arts intended to benefit all parties, a living document we'll evolve transparently throughout 2011.

Through a series of public/free events (the first of which took place 4/17 at Hugo Claudin's 'Mexicains Sans Frontieres' on S. Division) we're "alpha-testing." It's an open-source document. All are welcome to participate.

There will be six more "Build The Guild" events in 2011. We'll promote each free event widely as we schedule dates in barrier-free locations within the city. Upon request, we can enable virtual participation (e.g. Skype chat.)

Toward the end of 2011, we hope to invite artists to "endorse" the Guild; similarly, we hope to endorse venues that agree to the spirit of the Guild, as relates to responsible and mutually beneficial interactions.

Inception
The final sentence of ArtPeers' mission statement explains the inception of the Guild idea: "…to advance a culture that nurtures local art and values local artists."

The Guild appeared to be a need we could fill. Many of us have overheard the challenges faced by local artists regarding pricing, documentation, sustainable compensation, general regard, etc.

The Guild idea emerged more formally during a 2010 Rapid Growth Media/MSHDA Speaker Series event we facilitated and named after an Andy Warhol quote: "Good Business Is The Best Art." Please click here for information about that important event.

How it may go
The Guild is intended to provide optional and free suggestions, resources, goals and information. Compensation issues are addressed, but for artists who don't necessarily seek financial outcomes from their work, the Guild shall feature useful tools relating to best practices, free expression, grievance resources, professionalism, collaboration and more.

For example, ArtPeers, through the Guild, could advocate for artists or venues where issues exist -- if an event were structured in a way that presented hardships for musicians, we could formally communicate Guild endorsed concerns with its organizers.

Anther example of a benefit of the Guild: our database could facilitate purchaser searches (for collections, exhibits, concerts, productions, jobs, etc.) that require specific types of art/artists.

Also, if a Guild venue were having issues with an artist, we could help (upon request) to facilitate dialog to realize a positive outcome.
The relationship between local artists, patrons and purchasers is complex. It's the right time for an open discussion with definite outcomes. The city benefits from improved capacity to attract and retain live/work artists, who provide a vibrant, underlying foundation to daily life. A city's artists evolve its color, shape and sound -- and this, my friends, is a very good thing.

Once the Guild is finally built, local artists utilizing its resources will be charged nothing. All are welcome. ArtPeers shall receive no monetary compensation. We're donating hundreds of hours of administration and planning; I personally donate all hosting services for ArtPeers members' profiles, blogs, event listings, etc. If we're capitalists, we're really bad at it.

Artist-as-profession
The Guild maintains that artists ought to be treated with the same regard as skilled trades. In my essay "What Art Is Not," I implore readers to reject the traditional view that only self-declared artists (can create art). I take the view that many created objects -- from spiderwebs to edifices -- can be art.

And science, for sure -- consider the words of astrophysicist Neil deGrasse Tyson, who frequently wears a Leonard da Vinci emblazoned tie:

"Allow me to say that when you are on the frontier of knowledge, between what is unknown and known, reaching out into that abyss, sometimes you do actually have to make stuff up that might be true, so you can organize a research plan… this is the creativity of discovery that not everyone has. But those who do, all of society follows them, into those directions. Einstein's best quote is that imagination is more important than knowledge."

This man is an artist making science, in the finest traditions of the Renaissance period. Segregating art is a road to nowhere.

Art can be free
Some people equate art wholesale with recreation. This doubles the challenge regarding sustainable pay. But as many skilled tradespeople (e.g. architects) could tell you: there's a difference between "being engaged" and "whimsy." Art is a legit profession deserving of the same general regard as any other.

Doesn't mean artists can't give it away. That's up to the individual every time. But we suggest artists indicate what they're giving away, to preserve the notion of true value. Students and beginners can't always charge money for their work, as they're building a portfolio.

Accomplished professionals may choose to give it away (or discount) because they believe in something. Anyone can choose to zero out the final balance, but documentation can be a healthy practice. The Guild provides tools for generating invoices.

At Wealthy Theatre (my day job, so to speak), we've put donation requests out to everyone from artists and architects. Architects provide us with zeroed out invoices. Line items referencing true expenses (before discounts) reaffirm for us the actual value, providing us with a record of the donation and facilitating our letter of receipt of the architect's tax-deductible service.

Why not the same for artists, who also incur expenses? It's healthy to establish and preserve context for value received. If you're independently wealthy and don't need to charge for your work, well done. But for the rest of us, we may rely on this thing having a price tag. Like, if we need to eat next week, or pay rent.

Art is not a commodity
Yes it is. Has been since before Pontius Pilate washed his hands. Our feelings about this (pro/con) do not change the reality that millions of arts and culture dollars circuit through Grand Rapids annually. For local artists, the reality on the ground is very "wild west" right now. We're trying to do something about that, collectively.

The ArtPeers Artist Guild is our attempt to do what Dr. Tyson described as "reaching out into that abyss," actually making stuff up that might be true, so we can organize a research plan. This is the creativity of discovery. We invite you to join us in creating this bridge, together. The idea is so huge that it could collapse under its own weight. "The future needs all of us," as Tommy Allen reminds us weekly in his G-Sync column. So very true.