apartment therapy changing the world, one room at a time

...and it probably costs them at the most maybe $5 to make in some mass produced factory. Wouldn't it be better to at least support some young local artist whose selling their work very inexpensively, even if it looks basically like this stuff?

Stores like West Elm getting into the "art" business drives me nuts. They're known for their inexpensive repros and for sure this has its place. I just hold art to a higher standard. Maybe if they called it what it is, wall decor, it wouldn't bug me so much. Oh well.

Agree with barbara on this. Support young artists! These etchings are pretty and very decorative, but you'd be surprised by what $79 will get you from a young/emerging artist.

This stuff is nice enough wall decor but please don't call it art.

I give up - what is your definition of "art"? :)

Look like knock-offs of the Beth Weintraub works they sell at Propeller so if you want to support a local artist buy from her.

Just a minute, in the exact same catalog they also offer work from Chia Chiung, a student at the Savannah College of Art and Design for $79. http://www.westelm.com/online/store/ProductDisplay?partNumber=WE-PRODa256&storeId=17001&langId=-1&catalogId=17002&viewSetCode=E&parentId=WE-SH1WALART&retainNav=true&cmsrc=WE-SH1WALART

You can support THESE young artists by visiting their store at http://www.shopscadonline.com/

In fact I just looked at the Wall art on their site and three of the four "art" pieces are by actual artists. Just because they became involved with West Elm (and therefore, will get paid!), does that make their work any less worthy?

http://www.westelm.com/online/store/ProductDisplay?partNumber=WE-PRODa281&storeId=17001&langId=-1&catalogId=17002&viewSetCode=E&parentId=WE-SH1WALART&retainNav=true&cmsrc=WE-SH1WALART
http://www.westelm.com/online/store/ProductDisplay?partNumber=WE-PRODa257&storeId=17001&langId=-1&catalogId=17002&viewSetCode=E&parentId=WE-SH1WALART&retainNav=true&cmsrc=WE-SH1WALART

These are neat, but I have seen better stuff at melt.
http://www.melthome.com/products/MeltOriginals.html