Publisher’s Letter: Reprioritizing Art

BY GINNY VAN ALYEA

I think 2016 will be a big year – if we want it to be. In the office as we were planning this January-April edition of CGN, we also prepared to embrace myriad changes for the magazine and our daily lives. 

I welcomed a baby boy in November, long time Business Manager Laura Mettam moved to her home state of Michigan – we all wish her well – and new staff member Alison Reilly hit the ground running, bringing a new energy to these pages. New voices join us as well from several professional members of the arts community as part of our online CGN Influencers series, where art world insiders share insights about everything from art school, to auctions, collection management, and more. So many changes inspired us to introduce a new look and logo and embrace a more modern font and style. 

In the spirit of change, we are excited about much of this issue’s news. From our profile of the two dealers and lifelong friends who started Printworks 35 years ago, to an interview with a young dealer focusing on street art, we look back in order to look ahead. 

The always entertaining art collector Howard Tullman shares with Kevin Nance his eclectic (some will say racy) approach to zeroing in on what he likes, while Franck Mercurio profiles a young couple beginning a collection they divide between home and work. 

Art collecting today is part of an ongoing, almost urgent, discussion in the art world. For those whose livelihoods depend on support from buyers, in addition to institutions and cultural groups, the question is simple: at a time when an older collector base is aging out of the market, why don’t more young people buy art? What are the answers? How can we help art stand out as not just another ‘thing’? One answer may be found in artist Tony Fitzpatrick’s call for artists to extend a hand and work with their own community. His call shouldn’t be just for artists, but for all of us looking to add meaning to our creative experiences.

While big sales make headlines, buying art doesn’t often make the news; more people must embrace the power to decide for themselves whom they want to connect with and support. This affects what art we may want to acquire, as it’s possible to ride an artist’s creative coattails to change our daily experiences in subtle as well as profound, ways.

CGN is devoted to making the art world accessible by promoting all there is to do and see in the visual community. We don’t declare what is good or bad – part of the experience of art is discovering for yourself what you love and appreciate. Be part of the adventure.

2016 is a fresh chance to reprioritize our experiences and pursuits. We are eager to see what’s next this year.