That certainly  seems counter-intuitive, right?  After all, don’t most artists struggle in the best of economic times?  Who’s going to buy art when they can barely afford a mortgage payment?  All true, all true.

However, in the genuine spirit of the arts – which, let’s face it, is not and cannot be concerned with monetary gain, since pushing people outside their comfort zones and becoming rich have historically been far from complementary pursuits – a down economy is absolutely beneficial to the world of arts and letters.  I came across this idea during a talk with Prof. Alan Michael Parker, my old adviser at Davidson College, and a  renowned poet and writer.  We were talking about graduate schools, and what a good time it is to be a student, and he said “You know, you and I are not the only people thinking this.”  To which I replied, “Oh.  Of course not,” feeling stupid because, well, I had been thinking that I’d just made this great insight.  Anyway, we talked a little more after that and then hung up.

Ever since that conversation, I’ve been excited about what “it’s a great time to be a student” means for the arts.  Just think: so many of those people who had artistic leanings in school, but decided to do the “responsible” thing and become bankers or lawyers so they could make tons of money, now can’t make money either way!  And if you’re bound to be broke no matter what, well, why not pursue your passion?  This phenomenon is historically proven, too – Prof. Parker mentioned to me that a “renaissance in arts and letters” (his words) almost always occurs during and after tough economic times.  Just think what kind of literature we might see in a couple of years, in existence only because its author was unable to make millions on Wall Street.  Or what kind of sculpture, or music, might emerge from a dutiful but unexcited almost-law student, who is granted a reprieve by the unfriendly market.  Mixed blessings, certainly, but hopefully the “blessing” outweighs the “mixed.”

the renaissance man himself: Leonardo da Vinci.  we probably won’t get another one of him, but you never know…

In short, I would keep an eye on the arts over the next few years, both local and national.  We Charlestonians are lucky enough to live in a hotbed of artistic talent already; it will be interesting to see how the scene grows and changes in 2009.

Filed under: I'On Group, Morris Square on January 5th, 2009