Last night, as Kathleen Vanesian and I were poking through the show at Lisa Sette Gallery (which is awesome, by the way), we were both whining about how much we wish we had some serious cash to throw down for art.
Poor us. We, like many folks out there, just can't afford such luxuries right now.
But tomorrow at the Ice House, you don't need any dough to get acquire some fine art. All you need are your skills.
Art4Barter is a traveling exhibition that allows artists to trade their artwork for goods and services needed. This could be dental work, medical services, use of studio space or any other need an artist may have. The works will hang in the White Column Room at the Ice House and instead of labels with monetary prices on them, the needed service for trade will be listed. All participating artists are from Arizona.
Art4Barter has toured the East Coast and has received quite a bit of press (ABC, NPR, BBC and many city publications). Curator Antonio Puri is a painter who was born in India and received his higher education (law school and art school) in the U.S. and Europe. He believes Art4Barter will create a new way of interpreting the value of art, and ultimately encourage our greater society to trade services rather than currency. He's currently looking for a sponsor to help take his show overseas for a European tour.
Changing the greater society...that's a lofty ambition. Still, you have to hand it to the guy for trying.
Art4Barter is tomorrow, Saturday, July 11th from 7-11 p.m. at the Ice House, 429 W. Jackson St. in Phoenix. Cal 602-257-8929 or visit www.theicehouseaz.com, www.antoniopuri.com/Art4Barter
