Studio Art Quilt Associates
Before getting to my topic I just had to show the above photo. My lilacs bloomed while I was at my workshop earlier this year. Last year we didn’t get any blooms and this year the plants are covered with blossoms and beautiful. As you can see I’ve never trimmed my bushes and they are about as tall as the house now which is pretty cool. I love spring!
I am occasionally asked if I am a member of Studio Art Quilt Associates (SAQA), an organization that promotes the art quilt. I’ve heard rumors that they claim they will eventually have every artist that is accepted into Quilt National as a member of their organization so the last 2 times I was accepted into the show I got a lovely letter from SAQA asking me to rejoin.
I find it interesting that they seem to have forgotten why I left the organization 3-4 years ago as they fail to address the issues I brought up when I left and I wonder why they think I would want to rejoin when I don’t feel anything has changed.
One of my major issues with this organization is that every 2 years when Quilt National has an opening they hold a conference in conjunction with the show. Fine I can see the synergy.
Problem is that SAQA seems to be perpetually short of funds and so they hold an auction of member’s artwork during this conference. I seriously object to this activity (and was very vocal about it) because Quilt National is one of the premier art quilt shows in the country and most of the art is priced at fair market prices and it sells very well. I find it very tacky not to mention completely unprofessional for an organization that purportedly supports art quilts as art to undercut the prices of the artwork. I fail to see how this promotes art quilts but I sure see how it hurts them. Sure it supports SAQA but should that be at the expense of the artist members?
Plus SAQA is only marketing this work to their membership, the conference attendees, plus the artists in the Quilt National show and a handful of other guests. Why, if their mission is to promote quilts as art to the public, are they not holding a public sale of the work. And selling it at comparable prices to what the artists themselves sell their own work?
I was told by a SAQA member, who was disgusted I dare to say something negative, that if I didn’t like the auction I could get up and leave the room after dinner and not watch and it wouldn’t effect me. The behavior of this organization effects all quilt makers because SAQA claims to be THE organization for art quilters. When they behave in this way and undercut the value of our art it hurts all of us. So it’s irrelevant if I watch or not - it still effects me and I’m going to say something.
The reason I bring this up is that SAQA is doing it again. They put out a call to their membership for them to donate 12″ square quilts to be auctioned off at the Quilt National opening dinner next week. Well lo and behold they ended up with over 130 quilts to be auctioned, you can see them on their website here. This is more quilts than there are people attending the conference.
So their initial thought is to put the quilts into lots and sell them off like discarded goods at a farm auction. I don’t think I even need to say what is so insulting about this idea. Okay maybe a little. Image how low the prices could go. The quality of the work they have to auction is very uneven and I shudder to think how the lots might be made (1 good, 2 bad). I believe a professional organization such as SAQA should never sell or exhibit any art that is unjuried and this grouping of work is a prime example of why not. Some of the stuff on that website is really not ready for prime time. That’s fine - we all have to start somewhere, but maybe the spotlight should be held off for some of these artists. Jurying isn’t bad, jurying is about quality and preserving the professional nature of an organization.
I hear the general membership isn’t too happy about the idea of selling in lots so hopefully this is not what will happen.
So why am I airing an organization’s dirty laundry in public when I’m not even part of that organization? Because I tried to work from within that organization and suggested that they behave in a more professional manner and it did no good. So I am hoping that by holding them publicly accountable for this debacle they will do the right thing next week and in the future put a lot more thought into what is and is not an appropriate professional and supportive way of fundraising for their organization.
I also have a lot of artist readers that are not quilters. I would love to hear what you think about this situation. Sometimes I wonder if I’m just blowing it all out of proportion. Or do think this is rather tacky and unprofessional also?
As a comparison, Surface Design Association, another fiber related professional organization, seems to really have their act together. They hold a very professional and well regarded conference each year and publish a beautiful quarterly magazine. I don’t see them begging for money or donations from their membership (yes I am a member as I find value in belonging).
Well that ought to generate a pile of hate mail for me. Quilters can be a nasty lot at times and I’ve been at the receiving end of it before because I speak my mind. At the Quilt National opening in 2005 someone came over and asked what I did to the president of SAQA because the woman was giving me nasty looks all night. I never saw it and I’ve never spoken to the woman but clearly I am not on the good side of the powers that be over there already so I don’t think I have much too lose.
I think we all need to think about our actions when we donate art. Is it really in our best interest to do so? If we can buy cheap art at auction all the time why bother ever paying full price? I also think organizations need to find other ways to raise money other than by exploiting artists. But that all is another topic for another time. One that is much much bigger than the quilt world and much discussed in art circles.
Posted by Lisa in: Art Marketing, Being an Artist
Chris O'Byrne said,
May 17, 2007 @ 8:09 pm
I have to agree with you on this one. I have faced a similar situation where my wife was asked to donate one of her watercolors to support an organization through an auction. It felt like her work was cheapened by this process and she never did it again. There are plenty of ways for an organization to raise money without resorting to degrading the value of their member’s work.
Tom Frederick said,
May 17, 2007 @ 9:10 pm
Great point. I’ve found a flood of organizations that make their money off the artists rather than help the artists market to a wider audience. I just act locally and don’t participate in that kind of organization. Maybe I should have less fear and speak up more. Good for you to express yourself.
As for donating work to good causes, I had a run of litho posters made of one of my images. I put one in an inexpensive frame and donate it to such causes. I don’t feel that devalues my regular work. It’s a poster with my name splashed across the bottom, not a piece of fine art.
PS: If you think it’s bad in fiber… It’s worse in photography. The advent of digital has brought a flood of new photographers. Most are so desperate to get a bit of exposure that they give their work away. Doesn’t bother me, though - their work is worth what is paid for it.
Joanie San Chirico said,
May 17, 2007 @ 9:40 pm
This is exactly why I quit that organization, well, actually one of the reasons, there are others too. The auction hurts all textile and fiber artists who try to sell their work because the art buying public will also expect bargain basement type prices from them if the so-called “premiere” organization in the field offers work for sale at ridiculously low prices.
Here’s a frightening scenario. Since the auction will take place at a members only function, and say, 200 people show up, will the 130 donated pieces sell for about 20 bucks a piece?
Kristin said,
May 17, 2007 @ 10:20 pm
I enjoy your out-spokenness. You might also be interested in a very successful painter’s views on art auctions for charity:
http://painterskeys.com/clickbacks/charity.htm
Just for the record, the SDA conference is every 2 years and does, in fact, include an auction of member donated work. The auction is a small part of the event; the conference is well worth the trip for the varied membership, the members’ show, numerous artist talks, workshops, the trunk show, the fashion show and large number of simultaneous fiber art shows. And it all starts in a about a week.
Karoda said,
May 18, 2007 @ 5:27 am
Lisa, is this considered a major fundraiser for this organization? What ways does the organization provide exposure, support, promote artists? I do think there is room for uncensored/juried work and it seems best to keep this type of work a membership only affair as opposed to an art-buying public.
paulaart said,
May 18, 2007 @ 7:42 am
Lisa,
I wrote about this very thing (though not in the quilt world) a few months ago. Being asked to ‘dontate’ work that will then be sold at a ridiculously low price devalues the artist and their work. ( I later read in their newsletter they made over 150K that night and yet they wouldn’t even pay the artists a % for their donations)
For all the hype about ‘exposure’ and the ’cause’, I believe there are better ways to accomplish goals without demeaning art or the ones who create it. Shame on people who participate in events like this without recognizing the facts. The organization/the buyers/ and the artists need to respect each other enough to figure out something that is fair for everyone involved.
I applaud your outspokeness and ability to have strength in character!
Karen Baker Thumm said,
May 18, 2007 @ 7:44 am
Lisa, I couldn’t agree with you more! Art donation requests are a pet peeve of mine also. I get about 25-30 every year from groups I have no connection with from all across the country. The pitch is always that it will be great “exposure” for the artist and a tax donation too! When I explain that artists cannot deduct more than the cost of materials, they don’t seem to believe me and don’t have a clue what is involved time and expense wise for artists. We don’t whip these paintings out in an hour and slap on a free frame, for pity sake!
I only donate prints, not originals, to a few select charities of my choice. But, the bottom line is that this practice will not stop until artists stop donating their work to charities without any kind of compensation in return. Artists unite to end the exploitation of artists by charities!
Alison Zapata said,
May 18, 2007 @ 9:42 am
Lisa, I have been reading your blog and am impressed with the strength of the value you place on your work and stand firm voicing, not only your ethics, but also how you come to this understanding, in a society that is often times unconnected with the realities of the amount of work and individuation it takes to produce art.
I just got back from a conference in which a subject of discussion was donating art for fundraisers. There were the new, upsoming artists who had the desire to “be seen” and were eager to donate. Then there was the school of seasoned verterans who have the experience and wisdom that comes from trial and error. There message was strong, in that, donating work often times comes from the good intentions of the heart.
The organizers who make the calls to start collecting items often times have little idea with how to price art. This should not the case for the quilting organization, whose bottom line to to get funds. Anyway, often the work we sell for so much more can go away for nothing more than a song. This is where the artist needs to set the minimum bid and be okay with it going for that amount, if this is not the case, do not donate. I agree, why buy art at retail prices when I saw it bought for half the amount. The artist must have all the time in the world to create for nothing, right? Wrong.
I personally was not happy with the fact that a signed build-a-bear went to four times as much as my hand painted portrait. Why put myself through that? I have learned that from now on I will donate to two causes a year, donate prints, and have complete controll over the auction starting price. Furthermore, I will set criteria for my organization of choice.
EXPOSURE!!!!
If I want exposure, all I have to do is run down the street with my clothes off for a while, thanks! I wonder if I can call my plumber and ask hiim if he will donate his services to unclog my bathtub drain for free for exposure…. on second thought, maybe I’ll hold off on that one.
Mary Andrews said,
May 18, 2007 @ 10:58 am
We can figure out how much exposure we have by how many requests for free art we receive. I must have plenty of exposure because I get at least one a month if not more. With all that exposure, I don’t think I need to donate to get more.
Keep the pressure on, Lisa. The powers that be won’t know what we are thinking if we don’t speak up especially if it isn’t what they want to hear.
Diane Clancy said,
May 18, 2007 @ 6:03 pm
Wow! What a great discussion … I went and read what other people said on their blogs too. I am not know enough that I get requests for donations except by the library and the fairs that I used to do (craft type fairs).
I have donated prints to the library and I did give some prints I wasn’t thrilled with to the fairs. ok … you are probably right - If I didn’t like them that much, I shouldn’t have my name on them. But other people loved them … I don’t do those fairs anymore because it is too much work for not enough money.
What I have been reading the last several years makes me not want to donate art except to something very special to me. But by a close friend, I was invited to donate the next year to an organization I respect - they wanted an original and said they did a lot of publicity.
I considered it …basically as a favor to this friend. And when it got to be several months ahead of time - when I would want to make decisions and put it in my work flow .. when I told the person I was planning to donate and could he tell me the details … what I got was a curt being directed to their website.
Obviously, I did not donate. I have no idea if there was background on this between him and the organization. But I don’t expect to be asked and agree and then be blown off. Good lesson for me - pretty early on too.
Guess I was lucky!
~ Diane Clancy
http://www.dianeclancy.com/blog
Mary Snyder Behrens said,
May 18, 2007 @ 8:00 pm
My experiences with donations have been many and varied. The best organizations recognize the value of the work donated, present it well, and supply the artist with the vitals (highest bidder, price paid, etc.) as well as a thank you. I cannot tell you how many art auctions to which I have donated where I have not received so much as a thank you. I do feel preyed upon at times. But I also believe in contributing to my community. It always boils down to a judgment call. Sometimes it is more advantageous to donate cash than suffer the indignities an auction often offers.
Thanks for the discussion.
MSBehrens
cynthia said,
May 19, 2007 @ 10:39 am
It’s an interesting and timely discussion. I belong to an organization that recently required artists to donate a piece of art for an auction to raise money. On the one hand, I was glad to do it because the organization offers a lot in the way of art education to the greater public. But here’s what I resented - they hinted that if members didn’t donate a piece, this would be considered when they reviewed and made the decision as to who would be awarded booth space at a well attended art fair that they host.
I did feel like they were squeezing the artists whose livelihood depends on selling their work at fair market value.
I’ve been getting requests for donations of art to various fund raising charities and I realize that I need to formulate a plan for what kind of art work that I’ll donate and also align my charitable donations to those organizations whose values mirror my own. I think I also need to have a set limit # of donations per year and once that quota is maxed, ask me again next year.
It would also be another bonus to be able to deduct fair market value on tax returns, vs. only being able to claim actual material expenses. I know there was recently a bill in the works to change this.
paulaart said,
May 20, 2007 @ 9:59 am
I didn’t say the obvious: bottom line, there is nothing wrong with auctions and donations but people need to be honest about it. If you are an organization trying to raise funds for something and you want to use art as a vehicle for obtaining said funds, then at least be HONEST about it to those you ask. Don’t lie and say its great exposure. Don’t lie and say it will help your career. And artists’ WAKE UP, honor the value of who you are and what you do. Don’t be blind or gullible, if you believe in the cause and want to help then do it but don’t complain that no one is giving you anything in return. (I was guilty of this and I realize how unhealthy that is). Give if you want to, don’t give if you dont want to. Its simple.
Mary Ann Tipple said,
May 21, 2007 @ 9:29 am
Interesting and I quess it will pay to leave that banquet a tad early! I have donated things but usually I give small experimental works that I can part with. But it is irritating when there is no follow up on how well the work sold or a thank you.
Meagan said,
May 21, 2007 @ 5:06 pm
I had a booth at an art fair last year and donated a quilted bag to be used in a Chinese action. (I usually make medium-sized art quilts, so the bags were my “small ticket” item that year) I ended up selling three bags (which was a good number, for me, since it was my first art fair) to people who saw my donated bag and wanted to make sure they got one.
I’m not necesarrily advocating donating pieces, though. I donated a small art quilt to a non-charity organization (As a favor, just like someone else here did) and while I did get a pre-printed thank-you note, I never found out what the quilt went for, which made me a little annoyed. I certainly won’t be donating again next year, partly because of that and partly because I didn’t receive any “exposure” - no phone calls or emails or whatever from people wanting to see more of my work. I guess that is how I would decide whether or not to donate again: did I get any new work/commissions/inquiries or just a little thank-you note?
pamdora said,
May 23, 2007 @ 12:42 pm
Hi Lisa, Hope you had a productive time at the BArn. I haven’t been reading blogs for the last several weeks, too much traveling, but during lunch thought I’d pop in and see what you’re up to.
Interesting discussion, looks like I’m the only one who’s posted so far that did donate a quilt to the SAQA auction. Actually, I don’t really think of it as a quilt, since it’s so small. It’s more of a joke to me, I just happened to have this alien left over from another quilt and it happened to be exactly the right size.
I agree with you about auctions in general, I’ve never donated anything to an auction before this year for the same reasons many have mentioned here. But this year I’ve decided to try to give more things away, because I’ve been lucky in many ways, and to focus less on myself regarding the ways I’ve been unlucky. One thing I’m trying to do is find things in my studio I don’t use and give them to artists who will use them.
Anyway, that doesn’t have much to do with auctions, except I guess that’s why I’ve gotten weak and donated to two auctions this year. I hear SAQA’s auction wasn’t the best-thought out and now they are regrouping. I’ll be there on Friday, so we’ll see what’s up with that!
Ann Bell said,
May 23, 2007 @ 1:54 pm
After donating to numerous art auctions through the years and NEVER even once seeing business from the exposure, I now only donate IF
1. I can set the minimum price
2. I receive at least 50% of the selling price.
3. If the piece is not sold, it is returned to me.
4. I can enter a limited edition print, since customers at these events usually will not pay a market price for an original.
I
These conditions provide a natural limit to the number of auctions where I participate.
Last month I received a phone call where I was asked simply:
“Would you like to donate a piece of art to our auction?”
She didn’t even bother to identify herself or her organization.
I had no trouble saying “no.”
Chris said,
June 1, 2007 @ 7:22 pm
Lisa,
I attended the SAQA conference.
I am 100% in agreement with you about everything you wrote re: SAQA and why you’re not a member.
As far as the auction, they decided they had “too many” and would begin to auction the work at a later date online. The current president included a statement to remember to tell your friends they can bid also.
Here’s the short blurb from the website:
“Instead we will hold an online auction for the One-Foot Squares on the web site during June. This will allow all the pieces to be auctioned together, and it will allow everyone an equal opportunity to bid on their favorites”
I’m not a good group player.