Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: TUESDAY, March 20, 1990 TAG: 9003202342
SECTION: EXTRA PAGE: E-3 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: JEFF DeBELL STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: LENGTH: Medium
They want the charities to share the proceeds with the artists who lend their work to the cause.
"We think art and charity can work together beautifully," said Christiansburg artist Jean Nelson, an organizer of the movement.
Though there are exceptions among the sales, the typical practice is for the artist to donate his work outright. It is sold to the highest bidder and the charity pockets the income. The buyer gets the art, usually at a bargain price, and sometimes a tax deduction as well.
The artist gets nothing except a little publicity and the right to deduct the cost of materials, which in the case of an individual piece can be insignificant.
A more equitable approach, the artists say, would be to sell the work at fixed prices or to establish minimum bids, with the artists getting 60 percent and the charity taking 40 percent of each sale. Buyers still could get a tax break - in addition to the art itself.
Besides being more equitable financially, the artists maintain, such an arrangement would induce artists to donate better pieces and would attract artists who do high quality work but avoid charity auctions on principle.
"I think overall it will upgrade the auctions," said Andy Williams, owner of Gallery 3 in Roanoke. "It's very valid. The artists have been very generous for years."
Lana Roberts of Blacksburg's Matric Gallery agrees. She is frequently asked to donate to charity auctions as both an artist and a gallery owner. She thinks sharing the proceeds "would be better for everyone all around," she said.
The organizers are circulating a statement of their position and seeking the signatures of artists who agree. At the end of April, they will collect the names and formally approach the charity auctions in the hope of reaching an accommodation.
The artists are prepared to withhold their support from future auctions with which no agreement is reached, but at this point no one expects a boycott to be necessary.
Artists who already are committed to specific auctions stress that those commitments will be kept.
"We all want to emphasize that we're not trying to do harm to anyone, but the artists are really being hurt by this," Nelson said.
Spokesmen for two of the best-known auctions say they are sympathetic.
"Artists get hit up for everything, and it's getting worse," said Barbara Landon, longtime chief fund-raiser for Blue Ridge Public Television. "We would be willing to talk to any group . . . to see what we could work out."
Blue Ridge Public Television raises money through annual televised auctions of donated art and fine crafts. Last year's event raised about $49,000.
Landon said station management is against sharing proceeds with the artists, but feels the needs of the donors can be served in other ways.
"I fully understand the artists' position," said Jim Bohland of Blacksburg, who is chairman of the 8-year-old art auction for the Medical Clinic of New River Valley Inc. Bohland said he is optimistic that something can be worked out to the satisfaction of all parties.
The subject has long been discussed among artists and auction organizers in the area, but not until recently has there been a formal effort to bring about change. It began with a group of artists in the Blacksburg-Christiansburg area and has spread to the Roanoke Valley.
One New River Valley artist said she has been approached for donations by 14 different auctions over the years, about five of which recur annually.
She asked not to be named for fear of appearing anti-charity. That is a common refrain among the artists.
"It's difficult to be making a stand against something that has so much good in it," Nelson said.
"We're sensitive to their needs," Blacksburg artist Martha Dillard said. "It's not that we don't want charity fund-raisers. It's just that the whole art industry is being hurt."
Besides putting undue strain on the income of artists, which typically is low to begin with, the sales are seen by artists as diluting the already limited retail market for their work.
Artists who wish to sign one of the petitions can do so in Roanoke at the Grandin Theatre, Mish-Mish and offices of The Arts Council of Roanoke Valley, and in Blacksburg at Miller & Main Gallery.
by CNB