You may be worried lately that New York's starving artists are becoming even more starving during this recession. You may even be afraid that they will become an endangered species! In fact, if you are like most of the country these days, you stay up at nights wondering, but what about art?!? What will the poor artists do?!? Well, don't fear, concerned patron! Artists are totally digging the recession.
A couple of recent articles suggest that artists are actually feeling more optimistic and creatively liberated since the recession hit. Why? Well, for one such artist, the economic downturn means freedom from the boring gigs that she endured to pay her rent (endless Gershwin and Porter requests, yuck); for another it's a break from creating commissioned (and therefore creatively limited) pieces. Of her newfound freedom, the latter said “Nobody wants me to do anything, so I’m just doing what I want." (Hmm, sounds like my high school social life.) Whatever the case, this New York Times article cited a whole population of artists who feel that the recession has, more than anything, strengthened their commitment to and concentration on their craft.
A songwriter interviewed indicated that more free time lets his thoughts flow more freely, saying “I walked through Central Park twice this week and emerged with songs ready to go.” One visual artist's optimism came partly from analysis of the market (she predicts a decrease in the production of “market-oriented art that is being churned out by the bulk," which is a tough competitor for original and independent works.)
So rest easy. Those artists aren't going anywhere. You can read the hundreds of reponses to the NYTimes question "What effect is the economy having on your life and work as an artist, writer, actor, or musician?" here.
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