Tuesday, December 15, 2009

Imagine it...and they will come!

There is a trend happening...I saw it in New York...heard about it on the west coast, and now you are reading more and more on the internet.  Really...a timeless idea of artists, musicians performing in small venues, right there in private homes!  Mozart was well known for his parlor concerts...



But...perhaps the 60's...large music festivals, the idea grew that really good musicians, great experiences had to happen on a large scale.  The changes in the economy are forcing many artists to rediscover the roots to how creatives in the past went about efforts to perform and become known.  Here is a pretty good article on this growing trend-

http://www.concertsinyourhome.com/blog/archives/275

A myspace forum where this trend has been presented and discussed further-
http://forums.myspace.com/t/4447892.aspx?fuseaction=forums.viewthread

Another excellent article on the rising popularity of house concerts-
http://www.helium.com/items/1451709-what-is-a-house-concert

I have to tell you...when I was out in New York, I found out...that had I arrived the evening before I would have been treated to an evening at a house concert where Levon Helm and Howard Johnson were playing.  (Ask me about Howard sometime...as we are related!).  Well...turns out Eric Clapton showed up incognito and then just sat in and played.  People paid about $100 each to attend, and were surprised and treated to this laid back unforgettable event.  FWIW...I wouldn't have had to pay anything...dang!

Well...we certainly can learn and cultivate these unique events where those finding themselves fortunate to attend are willing to pay a bit more for the intimate and uniquely personal setting.  Not just for music...but for our art as well.

Here are a few articles on the same growing trend for visual artists-

as posted by the New York Times-
http://www.nytimes.com/2009/12/10/garden/10galleries.html?hpw

the trend demonstrated in Harlem...an annual event-
http://www.hoast.org/events.htm

A history of Artist "Open" Houses...trends, and links from Wiki'pedia-
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Artists_Open_House

So...bottom line...we are on the right track building on a time honored idea actually!

Tuesday, December 8, 2009

November 28th Arts Happening


We had a wonderful afternoon and evening, ten of our Consortium artists had works for sale and it got so busy we couldn't keep track of how many came through....easily 200+ came to see and buy art, talk to the artists, socialize, have snacks and refreshments




Melinda Obey explains one of her carvings to Zoi

Jutta and the Hi-Dukes


Jutta, Terran and Zoi wowed the audience with a performance of eastern european folk music