apartment therapy changing the world, one room at a time

I've made a conscious effort to collect art, but it IS a personal decision, and I try not to take for granted that some would laugh at what I pay for a piece... the same way I may question someone's choice to spend money on a bottle of wine or a stereo system or a restaurant meal or leisure travel. All things I love, mind you... just some of the disposable income categories that have taken a hit for me because of where I place my priorities.

Happily, I think the internet has opened lots of gallery doors and made a broader range of prce points available to more and more people.

I also think that lots of things can be "art"... framed memorabilia, baseball cards, travel souvenirs. And, as a graphic designer who really loves the "art form" of the poster, even posters.

Collecting original works of art can seem daunting initially, but the internet has created many oppurtunities to view the works of many different artists--and their price points--before approaching a gallery with a sincere interest to purchase. I've been collecting for just a few years now, on a very limited budget, and I can't begin to tell you how much joy I get from encountering these works on a daily basis.

Unless I'm missing something, I'll take the Degas print and dream about the original, though I do agree about the milk crate shelves. Gloss comes by the can, but reproductions of Art often have much the same effect as the original.

I agree with Evan. I love Chagall and Magritte. Could I ever purchase one? Never. So why shouldn't I frame them nicely and enjoy them in my home, along with the original works of art I have from friends. But, AH, I also see your point, and I hope to someday purchase some pieces that I really love (when I can afford them). P(too), thanks for your comments as well!

when i first moved to san francisco and was a very poor nonprofit worker, my cousin took me to an open studio day because she and her partner wanted to buy some art. they bought thousands of dollars worth of beautiful paintings and told me to save the postcards for every artist that i really liked. when we got home they told me to take these postcards, enlarge and color photocopy them and frame them... until i could afford to buy the originals. i thought it was a great idea.

I think the point is that there are a tremendous amount of options in between an original Monet and mass-produced posters...

Some Degas and/or van Gogh prints do have collegiate and "dormroom-esque" feel about them. But that's because we are so bombarded with those same prints (the starry night, sunflower, etc) for many years. I still think with nice choice of frames, and matting, framed posters can look decent… especially, (for example) Rothko's or Calder's poster can still look fresh without shouting “I had these posters since my liberal art days”.

I'm with Patrick on this one. A lot of things can become "art" with the proper presentation. I think that is part of what sites like this one promote as well. To see the art in the design of everyday items we might not otherwise admire for the artistry and beauty that they have. Not to dismiss the intrinsic value of original painted artwork and sculpture. Personally I'm a big fan of graphic design and a framed poster I admire would have as much value as "art" to me. Though hopefully we can all avoid the cliched (or at least immature) choices of our college years.

"But one has to wonder, what you do if all of your friends went to Business or Medical School?"

well, here's what happens at an Ivy League law school:

First day of law school I realized it was time to ditch my NYC clothes and buy lots of camoflage at the GAP. Later on, listening to the more obnoxious of my classmates discuss how they were going to live when they made partner, I realized that These Are The People Who Buy Bad Art. They work hard, they play hard, and they spend their money on flashy trashy things, including bad art.

There's a lot of guys in the professional schools who are going to tell their trophy wives to collect art for their McMansions. This is where the tacky art market comes from.

I realize this is off-topic but I was inspired by that last comment.

I'm a little cross about the 'foreign' in 'foreign film poster.' Is it more sophisticated because it has an accent? What's wrong with an American movie poster? You don't have to love George Bush to love old Hollywood and its amazing graphic design.

The walls in my apartment were completely blank for 6 years because I would really rather have nothing than something that I don't have any affection for and I could never afford the pieces I loved. Finally I tired of the blank walls and decided I needed to act. I checked out art on the internet have had some luck purchasing original work on eBay. There is a LOT of bad work so you have to really dig (and I mean sifting through 7000 bad paintings a week can get to be a chore), but every once in a while something that I like will pop up. I save the artist in my favorites list and check back every week. The pieces I have purchased usually get a compliment from first time visitors and no one can believe that no single piece cost more than $200. Even if these paintings turn out to be temporary additions to my home, they have served their purpose well.

Also, for those who can afford to spend a bit more ($400- $1000), check out picassomio.com.

Ann-
To further complicate matters, I have a friend who collects foreign posters made for American films. Honest. :)

Richard--
I also like NextMonet.com, eyestorm.com, britart.com, and mixedgreens.com. Prices on each vary wildly.

Patrick, I used to have the Italian posters for A Clockwork Orange and a few other films.

Since I was living there, they were easy to find; I wish I still had them.

As for reproduction posters and prints, I'm in favor of them if it's an artist you really like. My tastes are more traditional, but you can find very "underexposed" prints (rather than things which have popped up at mall "art" stores at artrenewal.org

Degas print/poster is ok, but please, it belongs in the kithen, laundry room, etc. NOT over the mantle.

Saw the Degas and the Sea show a few years ago, good stuff. Dark forboding boats againt the cool blue sea: nice.

I'm with Ann -- what's with the "foreign" film poster ideal, especially since you have the French poster of an American western up there... Couldn't you just have said "offbeat"? My new favorite person collects vintage scifi posters from the 30s-60s, and they're not at all in the same category as bad Degas prints...

I agree with patrick and jimmkk on this one, too. I'm pretty loose in my interpretation of what defines "art" (lower-case "a"). If a framed poster makes you happy, by all means, go for it. Postcards, magazine tear-sheets, handmade papers, pressed leaves, found objects, industrial signage, "ironic" thrift-store finds, whatever. I think everything counts, if presented correctly.

I had a friend who mounted onto his entryway wall, a hand-painted "Maps for the Stars Homes" wooden sign (that he managed to buy from the map vendor). With its loud primary colors and beat-up texture (plus the great spot-lighting on the wall), it looked great in the context of his clean modern home. And, in my eyes, it made as strong an "L.A. statement" as an original Ed Ruscha.

Owning original art (or editioned pieces) is great if that's important to you. But if you find another, less-expensive option that really floats your boat and invokes some passionate connection, then good for you! After all, it's your home. You are the one who'll be living with your choices, no one else.

I'm not a big fan of prints either, but as a poor college student I have very little money to spend on art.
I've solved this problem in part by: 1. framing photographs of places I've visited and displaying them with "collections" gathered from that place (red rocks, dried chollo, and a sterling silver cross from arizona, for instance), and 2. Collecting and displaying vintage textiles. I currently have a 1950's shantung silk cocktail dress hanging on my wall (which cost 26 dollars and looks amazing, by the way), as well as my collection of gold evening handbags. I switch what's on my wall hook every month or so. As a bonus, I also sometimes wear pieces from my collection (hey, at 26 dollars I'm not terribly concerned about preserving a dress for eternity)

Who cares what's on the wall as long as you like it?
I have a piece of nifty wrapping paper framed and hung on the wall. It's a great pattern (actually a blue-tined abstract photo made into wrapping paper). What is it you are trying to say by hanging only name-brand/approved art, artists, or movies?

Every year we participate in the St. Louis Artist's Guild's "Collector's Choice" event. For $150, we get to pick 1 piece out of about 250 pieces. Mostly framed art, but some sculpture, textiles, and jewelry. They pull names out of a tumbler for 1st choice, 2nd choice, etc. Last year, we were chosen fairly early and got a beautiful quilt. This year, we were chosen fairly late and still got a nice photograph. It is a fun way to get original artwork.

I must confess, we have a matted and framed Van Gogh print in our spare bedroom (Road w/Cypress & Star). It was a gift, and I like it.

jer--
I think we're all on the same page about "anything can be art" (and kudos for your wrapping-paper creativity... sounds cool). I think AH is just trying to encourage us all to think outside the poster tube.

This is a great site for people with more style than cash: http://www.tinyshowcase.com/ - each week they post a new piece of original artwork created especially for the site (I think) - and offer a limited run of quality prints from the artwork for sale online. You can pick up a gorgeous print (ok, ok - so it's not quite as good as the real thing) for the price of a new book or cd.

In NYC, there's always the Affordable Art Fair each year - OK, now it's called the AAF Contemporary Art Fair and they raised the highest priced items from $5K to $10K, but there are still lots available for way less, sometimes less than $100. All types of art. Very cool.

http://www.aafnyc.com/