So….
feeling
a bit ranty today.
Sunday
was spent with two of my siblings,
visiting
a charming town that’s filled with antique stores, galleries and restaurants.
It
was a lovely day…
except for the part of the afternoon
when I allowed myself to
feel irritated
by an exchange I overheard in one of the shops.
This
particular shop was filled with lots of wonderful, handcrafted items,
some by
local artists whose work I recognized.
We were in the shop for around 25
minutes,
and one of the salespersons kept busy with another customer for the
entire time.
I was impressed with the employee’s professional dedication
as she
worked with a customer
who appeared to be interested in making a purchase
but was seized
with indecisiveness.
The
employee and customer were by the checkout area
when my sister was making her purchase,
and I watched as different pieces of original, framed art
were hung on the wall
for the customer’s consideration.
She was clearly interested in one of the
pieces
and asked if there was any
‘wiggle room’
with the price.
That’s
when my internal voice said,
“Oh, please. Really?!”
Moments
like this can bring out my judgmental side,
and I freely admit to assessing the
Prada baby stroller she was pushing,
tricked out with a nice assortment of
accessories
and the lovely clothing she was wearing.
I know, I know….
I’m making
assumptions,
but this woman did not present a picture
of someone living a life
of financial struggle.
I
am acquainted with quite a few people
who dedicate their lives to creative pursuits.
While I can’t speak to other’s motivations,
I feel like I’m wired to create.
I’m
a maker.
The financial rewards are limited,
and I appreciate that is the trade-off
for
the powerful satisfaction I can feel
when my hands take raw materials and turn
them into jewelry
or when I translate an emotion into a painting.
Decades
of learning, exploring, failing and growing
go into each piece that I create.
go into each piece that I create.
Assigning a price to each of those pieces is quite humbling;
it is done very
thoughtfully.
In most retail settings,
the artist gets 50% of the selling price.
the artist gets 50% of the selling price.
That percentage will sometimes be 40%
when the arrangement is by consignment.
when the arrangement is by consignment.
I know they exist,
but I do not personally know any artist
who is getting rich off of his or her art.
who is getting rich off of his or her art.
My guess is that most of them would say
that’s fine,
but I would also guess
that most of them want to do more than just barely survive.
that most of them want to do more than just barely survive.
I
have no doubt
that the artist whose paintings were being considered yesterday
worked
hard to create the pieces that were matted and framed.
I know that the store
owners and employees
were working hard
to create a wonderfully curated selection of items
in a beautiful setting.
to create a wonderfully curated selection of items
in a beautiful setting.
When someone asks if there’s ‘wiggle
room’ in the price,
that wiggle means less money for the artist or the shop,
or both.
or both.
I could feel a twitch developing in my left eye
as I fought the urge to turn
to the customer and say,
“Just pay the price, already!”
But....
I
do know how to behave in public.
I remained quiet until we left the shop,
and I
turned to my sister and said,
“Oh, please! Really?!”
