Get A(rt) Life!

Apparently, most of you don’t. According to a study by the Urban Institute in 2003, 96% of Americans value art in their communities and lives but only 27% value artists. Huh??? Well, some pretty heavy hitters are doing something about it. United States Artists is a new organization for the support of America’s living artists. Their literature says that: After decades of dwindling public support, artists now have a home where they may find significant private funding to ignite the creativity that makes this country great. We figure that if we help more artists to create art there may be more opportunities for people who love art to actually meet artists.

I attended a very special party this evening to celebrate this announcement. The venue was an utterly SoHo-fabulous loft with an eye popping collection of contemporary art. Guests were required to leave every single bag, tote, etc. at the door. No purses inside, ladies. I confess that I found it almost traumatic to leave my bag at the door. I mean, my blackberry was in there! But in spite of these strict rules, someone still managed to send a piece of art work crashing to pieces on the floor. Oh, the agony! The room was filled with A-list foundation executives, nonprofit arts executive directors and a patron or two. I was grateful to join one of the invitees as a guest and hear first hand about this fascinating new initiative. It certainly seems to have made a big splash, or waves, depending on where you are sitting in the boat.