Paint or Get Out?

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At tonight´s City Commission meeting(5 1/2 hours long) there was discussion regarding commercial sales within the Plaza De La Constitucion (the nation´s oldest public space). Our vendor friends did not come up with a viable alternative to present to the City. One of our favorite young artisans (torched glass), Trevor, the father of two beautiful children, finally spoke up and seconded Commissioner Crichlow´s idea of an alternate space near the parking garage. This was Art In The Market´s suggestion to many vendors and we were pretty much convinced that we were talking to brick walls.Trevor took off with it and we hope that this alternate space comes to pass. With the exception our new mayor Mr. Boles, an attorney, the commissioners seemed to understand that visual artists are Constitutionally excepted from the vendor ban.

Mayor Boles felt that artists must be painting or producing on site. As an art gallery owner and artist he felt that it would not be "right" for someone to set up an outdoor gallery on public property. He requested that the City attorney research the law to see if this can be put into place. ........The courts write that the "display and sale of visual art" is protected under the First Amendment. Just as the sale of printed material is protected under free speech ,so is visual art. For full First Amendment protection I do not need to be the author of the books and periodicals offered for sale. If I am the author, should it be law that I sit in the Plaza and write as I offer my book or periodical for sale. We invite artist and gallery owner, Mayor Boles to join us in the Plaza to show his work and other works from his gallery. We believe that the mayor is confusing us with street performers.

Take a look at the work of Art In The Market artist, Sala, recently arrived from Barcelona. It would be very difficult for Sala to haul her textile sewing machine out to the Plaza. It would be just as ridiculous for photographer Elena Hecht to be sitting there clicking the shutter on her camera as some sort of performance. Suvo says that he´s tired of turpentine and sloppy studios. he´says that going to go partially digital, clean up his Hwy 1 studio and paint with his mouse or stylus. Mr. Mayor, do not presume to tell us what to create or how and when to create our works.

Later .we will address a statement by artist (not a Plaza artist) Toni Dewitt-link ( interesting pastels)that she questions whether photography and prints are actually can be considered "art". Lord deliver us from dilettantes and dabblers! We are sputtering with indignation right now. ....Can´t type.