It is Election Day here in the U.S., and what better time to talk about the importance of art?
Since 2008, I've made a point to buy a piece of original artwork on or close to the November presidential election date. Call it a good luck charm or a declaration of hope and happiness, but I believe in the power of art (not to mention supporting the work of fellow artists). Artwork I purchase prior to a presidential election becomes (for me) a personally meaningful symbol of that election.
My best art picks were in 2008, when I bought several small paintings by Trish Grantham, and again in 2012 when I bought a painting by Carla O'Connor. Obama won both elections, and these paintings are extra special to me for that reason.
Alas, I had high hopes that Ms. Clinton would be elected president in 2016 but we know how *that* turned out. Still, in October 2016, I purchased a painting done by Savannah, GA artist "Panhandle Slim" (real name: Scott Stanton) depicting singer Helen Reddy and quoting her "I Am Woman" song lyrics. Scott misspelled "invincible" but that's part of the charm of this piece. This huge 36 x 24" painting on plywood hung in a prominent place in our house for a year---but then we moved to a smaller house in 2017 and had no big wall on which to hang it. Sadly, I hung it in the garage so I could at least see it when I went in there, but I had to figure out a better way to enjoy my Helen Reddy painting. Looking out my kitchen window, I wondered if I could hang it outside on my back fence so I could see it every day?
I realized the plywood painting would not be able to withstand repeated exposure to the elements (rain, wind, etc). So I went online and found websites that will print high resolution .jpgs on outdoor metal signs. I took a fairly good digital picture of the painting, and uploaded it to a website that offered heavy galvanized steel signs (with pre-drilled holes in the corners) MEANT to hang outside! The whole thing cost under $140 and they even paid for shipping. When the big box arrived, and I opened it, it was PERFECT. Today, I had my handyman come and attach the metal sign to the fence using weatherproof bolts. (I've included the image at the end of this post). The original painting is still in my garage.
We won't know the outcome of the 2020 election until tonight (if then) but, for the record, I did buy an original painting by CA artist Debra Abshear in October. In these uncertain times, keeping up certain traditions are more important to me than ever.
Since 2008, I've made a point to buy a piece of original artwork on or close to the November presidential election date. Call it a good luck charm or a declaration of hope and happiness, but I believe in the power of art (not to mention supporting the work of fellow artists). Artwork I purchase prior to a presidential election becomes (for me) a personally meaningful symbol of that election.
My best art picks were in 2008, when I bought several small paintings by Trish Grantham, and again in 2012 when I bought a painting by Carla O'Connor. Obama won both elections, and these paintings are extra special to me for that reason.
Alas, I had high hopes that Ms. Clinton would be elected president in 2016 but we know how *that* turned out. Still, in October 2016, I purchased a painting done by Savannah, GA artist "Panhandle Slim" (real name: Scott Stanton) depicting singer Helen Reddy and quoting her "I Am Woman" song lyrics. Scott misspelled "invincible" but that's part of the charm of this piece. This huge 36 x 24" painting on plywood hung in a prominent place in our house for a year---but then we moved to a smaller house in 2017 and had no big wall on which to hang it. Sadly, I hung it in the garage so I could at least see it when I went in there, but I had to figure out a better way to enjoy my Helen Reddy painting. Looking out my kitchen window, I wondered if I could hang it outside on my back fence so I could see it every day?
I realized the plywood painting would not be able to withstand repeated exposure to the elements (rain, wind, etc). So I went online and found websites that will print high resolution .jpgs on outdoor metal signs. I took a fairly good digital picture of the painting, and uploaded it to a website that offered heavy galvanized steel signs (with pre-drilled holes in the corners) MEANT to hang outside! The whole thing cost under $140 and they even paid for shipping. When the big box arrived, and I opened it, it was PERFECT. Today, I had my handyman come and attach the metal sign to the fence using weatherproof bolts. (I've included the image at the end of this post). The original painting is still in my garage.
We won't know the outcome of the 2020 election until tonight (if then) but, for the record, I did buy an original painting by CA artist Debra Abshear in October. In these uncertain times, keeping up certain traditions are more important to me than ever.
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