"Exhibit 8 at Ven and Vaida Gallery"
2009-12-04 until 2010-01-02
Art4Barter
New York, NY, USA United States of America

Bartering may be the answer to bail us out of our current crisis. Although artists have historically been bartering as much as possible it is more relevant now than ever before. It can provide a solution to survival for so many of us and create a new vision for society. The exhibition is curated by Antonio Puri who has been a Member at absolutearts.com since 2000. Works featured in the exhibit are by Margo Allman, Erica Brown (absolutearts.com member), Genevieve Coutroubis, Robin Frey, Maria Nevelson, Quentin Morris, David Stephens, Jay Varma, Brett Walker and Kay Wood.

View more of Erica Brown's art in her portfolio http://www.absolutearts.com/portfolios/e/ebcbrown/

Antonio Puri's work can be seen in his portfolio http://www.absolutearts.com/portfolio/k/kantonio/

The artists that are participating are from diverse backgrounds and varied genres and will present their works for barter. No works shall be sold for money but rather for services and goods. The exact service or good that the artist requires will be on the label next to their art. For example, if an artist were to ask for dental work or other medical procedures in exchange for their art, the visitors will get a chance to meet those requests or offer something different for the artist to consider. This gives the community an opportunity to barter for those items that are missing from the artists’ lives. The irony is that art is missing from the lives of many people too because it is treated as a luxury item. This system will not only inspire people to trade with artists, musicians, writers, dancers, amongst others, it will also make society less judgmental about valuing art or different services. When this becomes the norm, bartering will be a respectable activity and will create relationships between people from different trades.

Society will be able to provide opportunities to artists that were inconceivable before this. The seven exhibitions preceding this one were tremendously successful. Bartering is a way of dealing with hard financial times and is a win-win situation. The development of this project relies on the support from venues that can connect artists with members in the community that are able to fill the needs of the artists.

Related Links:

Indepth Arts Resources for the State of New York

Other Important Exhibitions in New York