Marketing

Ellen's recent post, and her frustrations over marketing her work, and paying for it all, has me thinking about all the work one does beyond making the art. It seems, at times, that the best most visible art is that which has been well marketed. All that one must do to get work seen... juried shows, portfolio reviews, blogging, websites, business cards feels like a distraction from the main act of making art.

I make pictures to satisfy a hunger. I share them as I would share a meal with a friend . At times, though, when I am working on submissions to various juried opportunities, I feel like I'm cooking for a crowd, and not everyone will like what's on offer. It's tiring, and gets away from what truly satisfies my artistic urges.

The big meals though, can be extraordinary when well received, even if totally exhausting. Not to mention pricey, though I appreciate guests who bring a bottle or two of wine. In other words, if an organization is raising funds for their annual juried show through submission fees, perhaps setting aside some of that money to defray the shipping/framing costs of selected photographs?

Now, to carry the analogy a little further, for the bill. It's been my treat, but I'd love to find the dutch treat of marketing. Like some kind of food bank... is there a way to form a local art cooperative with the goal of giving the ingredients in the form of funds, time, and advice to artists for marketing their work? And, importantly, for marketing it beyond those who are interested in photography? Create the buzz of a popular restaurant?

I don't see this as a traditional artist's cooperative that assists its members in making work by providing studio or gallery space, but one which assists its members in promoting work. Basically, pooling marketing resources. I'm open to ideas.