Building A Musesum At Home

There is lot to be said for the first time you purchase your first piece of fine art. First time buyers might have a lot of questions and uncertainties that can make deciding when and if not to buy a much more stressful process than it should be. So I’ve pooled together a few simple standard operating procedures to follow FOR THE AMATUER COLLECTOR.

First off, you are buying this piece for your own personal enjoyment. Right? So buy something that you can live with. Starting small is a good idea, and knowing the artist makes a good deal even better. Whether you decide to approach this venture as a finacial gain or contribution to the arts, knowing who created it will give you a stronger connection with the work as well as a deeper appreciation for how you are spending your money. It is always a good idea to have some information about the artist on hand, be it a resume, contact statement, or artist statement. While weighing in on the actual price of the piece, consider whether or not it is already framed and if you actually have room to do the mounting and hanging of the work. This is one reason starting small never hurt anyone.

Last but not least, keep an open mind when looking for where to purchase your first original work of art. Browsing local galleries, student art shows, and open studio events are excellent ways to get out a bit and see what is available. If you don’t have the time to gallery hop, the Fine Art Registry’s online marketplace is a great way to start browsing for elegant ways to decorate you home. After all, we’ve done most of the hard work for you. And don’t forget to register the piece you buy with FAR. It will increase its value in the long run and keep the records straight.

Café Musings

While sitting at one of the local art nouveau cafes in my neighborhood, my focus drifts a bit and I begin to listen. One can’t help but listen when out somewhere and alone. Our ears begin to filter the sounds and voices that shift through the soundscape. Sometimes I look for voices familiar to my own, other times it is the scraping sounds of dissonance and discord that I search for, something to match and balance out my own inward chatter. When people go out to eat, it can be hard to sense what they are looking for: approval, companionship, distraction? Or is it to enjoy the simple act of dining in the presence of people, participating in the natural flow of your city’s life?

The café that I go to is just a few blocks away from the gallery district in my city. As autumn filters through, the galleries are preparing for the next wave of local and student artists to bring out their latest creations for public viewing. Students whose work isn’t quite up to par will show their work in the university shows, which are held on campus in the student run galleries. I am glad that fall is finally settling in, bringing with it new inspiration and the same age-old questions to answer. For with these questions, there is always someone who comes up with a different way to answer the funny ponderings of daily and existential living. Finishing up my coffee, I head outside, hoping that someone has found a way to show us their answer to those simple and endless questions we all face: what’s it all mean?

« Previous Page