“I’ve been working my ass off just for you to make that
profit.” - Robert Rauschenberg, shouted at Robert Scull after the sale of one of his works at an auction, for which the artist received nothing.
Unlike actors, authors, and song writers, visual artists do not receive royalties on the resale of their works. An article in yesterdays NYT addresses this disparity.
The usual "artists are lazy and want free money" argument is already showing up. Well, the vast majority of professional artists I know work 5-7 days a week, starting early and leaving late. Artists don't get sick time, benefits, pre-tax savings subsidies, or vacation time. Some artists have to make use of studio space in places that should be condemned because it's all they could afford (or was available, of course in a year or three, that condemned area becomes a boon to condo developers and the local tax base thanks to the artists "creative vibe" which attracted YUPpies to the area, said artists are then must move out due to rising rents, rinse repeat, but back to the subject at hand). Many work two jobs... or more. When an artist sells a work for $1,000 (after many get to enjoy it for free or close to it) and then a collector resells it for $10,000, the artist deserves a cut of that. Why? The work increased in value because the artist kept working, kept pushing forward, kept getting shows at bigger and better galleries, received good critical reviews, and increased their prestige. Artists work.
Two Congressmen, Representative Jerrold Nadler, Democrat of New York, and Senator Herb Kohl, Democrat of Wisconsin, have taken up the fight (yet again, it's been attempted at various times since the 60's) to get this measure passed. This measure is already in place in many other countries. Why is the US so behind the times? Let's throw some support behind these two fellows. Contact your legislators and let them know its time to treat artists fairly.
