The Artistic Vagabond Tour

What is "The Artistic Vagabond Tour?

T

So why did I elect to call this exhibition The Artistic Vagabond Tour? 

Well, let’s first define what a “vagabond” actually is.  I’ll share with you two definitions: one who wanders from place to place without any settled home; nomadic and leading an unsettled or carefree life, with my own emphasis placed on “carefree.” 

A lot of artists get the chance to have their works on display at local galleries and museums such as The Baton Rouge Gallery, the Louisiana Arts and Sciences Museum (LASM), and the LSU Gallery at the Shaw Center.  Often times, it takes some sort of fellowship, or a “who you know” type of situation to have ones work displayed in those wonderful venues.  Sometimes an artist will spend countless hours full of stress and frustration trying to create works that will get them noticed in order to get noticed by a gallery.  Although this pays off for some artists, this can drive a person nuts!  So instead of waiting for a gallery, or slaving day and night for a gallery to notice me, I decided to do the next best thing: find my own place to display my works of art.

And those places are none other than the many branches of the East Baton Rouge Parish Library in Baton Rouge, Louisiana.  Like a vagabond moving from place to place, I will move from library branch to library branch with a carefree attitude toward any and everyone who cares to witness my artistry.  Someone could argue that because a library is a public place so, therefore, I can’t be as free as I want to.  Although that may have a lot of truth to it, I use that barrier to my greatest advantages.  My art work consists of a lot of history and social commentary.  What better place for one to get research if they are inspired by one or more of my pieces than a library! 

Another reason that I am using a “regular” place such as a library is because I want “regular” people to view my art work.  In other words, I want those who don’t normally go to art exhibitions to see my work.  If some or most of those particular people visit libraries, then they are comfortably forced to view my art.  The first few visits they may just pass by the drawings and paintings without noticing them.  Eventually, some of those patrons will stop at one and have a question.  That question can soon lead to them trying to contact me for discussion or even a possible commission.

A final reason for “The Artistic Vagabond Tour” is to show a lot of artists that even if they don’t have an agent or feel that they cannot get into a gallery, they can take the same diligence that I am taking and create their opportunities.   For the most part if one can secure a place to display their art and organize it on their own terms, they are free to make their own decisions without worrying about conforming to dress codes for “wine and cheese parties.”  Wine and cheese parties where the artist, more-than-likely, can’t afford the wine because most of their budget is spent on often overpriced art supplies.

Now, don’t get me wrong (and this may sound contradictory to the previous paragraph) I hope the day come where my work will be displayed in galleries and museums.  If, and when, that day comes I’ll play by that said gallery’s rules.  I’ll dress up for the wine and cheese parties and laugh at the unfunny jokes of some rich art dealer.  Why?  Well, that answer is quite simple: I’M ON THEIR TERMS, and that must be respected.  At those gallery and museum exhibitions, artists tend to make sells that will help them by more art supplies…or grocery…than they could before.

However…The Artistic Vagabond Tour is for those who want to experience an exhibition without worry about being dressed up or having some sort of social status.  This is for those who want to view art in a carefree…or near-carefree…environment without feeling as if they have to be “intelligent” or even “artistic” for art is carefree. 

So let us all be vagabonds.  Come out to the different exhibition sites in their respective months.  At each month you can bet that I will have special cultural performances and discussions on the “opening days.”  I hope to see you there! One Love.

Dates for the
Artistic  Vagabond  Tour

• May 2010 Scotlandville Branch
• June 2010 Delmont Village Branch
• July 2010 Jones Creek Branch
• August 2010 Eden Park Branch
• October 2010 Scotlandville Branch
• November 2010 Greenwell Springs Branch
• February 2011 Delmont Village Branch