Tiffany Owens – Clips & Samples

Culture 101: How to Get Art Smart

Publication:  Wine@MSN.com | December 2005

Date Published: 11/5/2006

Photographs: No

Content

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By Tiffany Owens

According to a survey by the National Endowment for the Arts (NEA), almost 40 percent of adults in the U.S. – or 81 million people – attended at least one arts activity during 2002. Counting all art forms and all types of participation, 76 percent of adults (or 157 million people), made the arts part of their lives during the survey period.

But what about the rest of us? Often, the biggest obstacle for most newbies and neophytes to enjoying the arts is a preconception that it’s created for richer, more educated or more refined folks than ourselves. That’s simply not true. Armed with a little knowledge and know-how, it’s easy to find something enjoyable in the arts for every taste or budget.

Where to start

Your newspaper’s A&E section or free weekly paper will be your best guide to local arts events, festivals and performances. Enjoy a particular venue, gallery or theater? Most have a mailing list or e-newsletter to inform patrons of upcoming shows; some even have special sneak preview events for their members at discounted rates. Or, for those on a budget, volunteering a few hours of your time (especially at film and art festivals) can often be exchanged for a free ticket or two to your exhibition of choice.

Visual art

Can you tell a Pollock from a Picasso? There’s something innately rewarding about learning to identify the different schools of painting and individual artists – whether they’re Masters of the Renaissance, Realists or rising stars of the art world.

Public art galleries are a great place to begin your visual arts education. Most towns have them – even small ones. In addition, most have a “student night” or other free or discounted access. For example, the Seattle Art Museum offers free admission for all every first Thursday of the month and special First Friday Senior Discount Days.

Private galleries are always free, because they operate like retail stores – they assume that all who enter are prospective buyers. Most of the time, the staff are happy to chat and tell you about the artists, even if it’s obvious you don’t have a spare ten grand to pick up that limited edition print in the corner. However, if you’re shy about wandering in alone, attend an opening instead. Dates and times are usually listed in the paper and on artist postcards at the gallery. Art openings equal free admission to free art (and sometimes free wine and snacks too) alongside the anonymity of being part of a crowd. Or, to make a night of it, look for your city’s designated “Art Walk” days, usually the first or last Thursday or Friday of every month. During art walks, galleries stay open for a few extra hours in the evening so that participants can enjoy numerous exhibits at their leisure.

If you are lucky enough to live near a local art college, it’s an ideal place to check out up-and-coming artists. Best of all, because they are just starting out, their artwork tends to have more affordable price tags for the aspiring art collector. Call or check the school’s website for show schedules. Also, colleges and universities often have art collections and/or galleries that are free to the public.

Classical Music, Dance & Opera

Classical music, dance and opera can be intimidating to some for many reasons; however, especially with opera and ballet, sometimes a little research as to the storyline and background can allow you to follow the performance a bit easier, thereby enhancing your enjoyment of the overall experience.

If you’re close to a school that offers a music, opera, ballet or other dance program, their calendar will be likely be filled with student recital times. Most days will offer a choice of lunchtime or evening performances, absolutely free. If you’re picky, watch for grad student performances to see candidates that will soon be