Shadowed, and guest blog post

Shadowed

With this second tiny landscape, I want to share the second guest blog post (of three) written by my son! I love his writing and his thoughts, and I hope you do too. 

4" x 4" framed

Painted with the finest quality heavy-body acrylic paint on acid-free, heavy weight Fabriano watercolor paper

Click here to purchase via my website.

Hey; this is Jake Stichter. I'm Brenda's son. I'm a musician, a woodworker, a guitar builder... I am a maker. I'm also a recent seminary graduate – I received my Master's degree in Media Arts and Worship from Dallas Theological Seminary a few weeks ago. My wonderful mother offered to let me serve as a guest author on this blog space to discuss some ideas that have been percolating in my head for the last little while as I've been progressing through my degree.

I'm sure this audience doesn't need to be reminded of how difficult it is to promote your art. We live in an era where the internet has truly permeated our culture, and as a result much of the world has a vast trove of information at our fingertips. But with all of this “stuff” eternally present in the online community, it all quickly becomes clutter and noise when we are trying to break through and promote our own projects. While being surrounded by all this pressure and chaos of this over-saturated public space, I have personally become interested in revisiting the idea of patronage.

The general framework of having artists being supported by patrons is not a new idea. Traces of the idea can be can be seen in many cultures going even as far back as the ancient world, but it is mostly known to us through its popularity in Europe during the medieval and Renaissance periods. Patronage was more than just purchasing pieces of art –  the patron would traditionally offer the artist the means of support, a home, and a pension as well as payments for their work. While patronage was a mutually beneficial arrangement (it offered status and power for the patron, and gave the artist access to influential people in society along with a more steady, secure income) it wasn't perfect. Because they provided such direct support patrons often expected to have a large role in determining the content of the artistic output, to the point that much of it would be more closely described as propaganda. As these artists increasingly began seeking more creative control in their projects (and as a growing economic middle-class began to have enough financial sway to purchase art), the system of patronage eventually grew out of favor.

But as we look around, it appears that some forms of patronage exist still today. Modern residencies and endowments can fulfill a similar role, with governments, institutions, or corporations fulfilling the patron role instead of a single individual. Websites like Patreon and Kickstarter have created simple ways for creators to connect directly with their audience. And, according to a 2017 New York Times article, even traditional patronage is finding a second life. “[Artists are experiencing a] shift in how some arts enthusiasts, from wealthy individuals to grant-making foundations, are relating to creators.” Says Jennifer Miller in said article, “They are moving away from merely collecting and consuming art and toward a model reminiscent of the Renaissance, when royal houses provided room, board, materials and important professional connections to talented artists of the day.” 1

So what's the point of all this?

I think the idea of patronage has the potential to be something valuable to the art community today. A patron, whether an individual or a corporate entity, can give an artist both a consistent outlet for their work and a built-in audience – giving the artist a head start on cutting through all the “noise.” But we need more patrons. And in meeting that need, I wonder if we could all be patrons (of sorts) for each other. I think there are meaningful, simple ways that we could all help each other break through the noise. Here are just a few of those ideas:

Cross-promotion: It's simple. If you see someone else making something you like, show it to your audience. Even if you are living in a similar location and creating in a similar medium to another artist, odds are that your audiences won't be 100% the same. The extra little exposure bump can go a long way, and your audience will probably appreciate you showing them cool new things to experience.

Collaboration: This is something I see many musicians and YouTube personalities doing well. Working on a project alongside another artist (especially one working in a different medium) can be a great way to build interest in a project, introduce both artists to each others' audiences, and tackle a project with a larger scope than what either person could do alone. As a bonus, working alongside someone often results in the creative process heading in some really unexpected, weird directions with cool outcomes.

Financial support: It's the most direct way to show support, but it's often the most difficult way to support someone, at least on a consistent basis. It's obvious to say that we can show support by buying each others' work, but there are smaller alternatives that still can make a real difference. As I mentioned briefly earlier, many artists are starting to use the platforms Kickstarter (to fund specific, large projects) or Patreon (for a more consistent, small monetary influx) to help support themselves. Either of these platforms allow for small donations, which still help! This idea has gained traction in more organized ways recently, with projects like #artistsupportpledge (https://artistsupportpledge.com) and One Percent For Artists (https://www.onepercentforartists.com) gaining traction.

A Kind Word: We all know how much a simple, genuine compliment can mean, especially when we are in the middle of the struggle. When you see something cool, tell the artist that you like it! It costs literally nothing, and sometimes the effect is enormous.

So, does any of this resonate with you? Do you have any ideas on how we can all be small-scale patrons that I forgot? Let me know! I'd love to hear other thoughts about this!

-Jake

1  Miller, Jennifer. Suffering for Your Art? Maybe You Need a Patron. 17 May 2017, www.nytimes.com/2017/05/17/fashion/what-is-a-patron.html