Break Me Off A Piece Of That (Please)
Performance at the Gladstone Hotel
2007
2007
The following is text written by Milena Placentile:
The Canadian art world is not sustainable, and the causes for this are numerous. Some causes are circumstantial and could change with a different government, but others are much more deeply rooted. The dominant economic model undervalues the time, energy, and expertise involved in the production of art, and the prevalence of opinions that art is trivial, wasteful, or futile make critical dialogue extremely difficult.
DeFreitas has observed how frequently artists are expected to be satisfied with meager compensation, or to donate their time and work. Fundraising auctions exemplify this because they are widely regarded as chances to acquire artwork at below market value. So few artists have expendable time and resources to participate in these events, yet they feel obligated to demonstrate their support for a cause, or they are in need of opportunities to circulate their name and work. Why do we live in a society where it's common to think that art should be cheap, or even free? To draw attention to this issue, and with the aim of turning a dilemma into a positive exchange, DeFreitas has established an agency designed to solicit donations from visiting audiences that are matched to artists in need. It would indeed be wonderful to connect lawyers, accountants, mechanics, and other professionals interested in donating some time and skill to individual artists as a show of support.
The Canadian art world is not sustainable, and the causes for this are numerous. Some causes are circumstantial and could change with a different government, but others are much more deeply rooted. The dominant economic model undervalues the time, energy, and expertise involved in the production of art, and the prevalence of opinions that art is trivial, wasteful, or futile make critical dialogue extremely difficult.
DeFreitas has observed how frequently artists are expected to be satisfied with meager compensation, or to donate their time and work. Fundraising auctions exemplify this because they are widely regarded as chances to acquire artwork at below market value. So few artists have expendable time and resources to participate in these events, yet they feel obligated to demonstrate their support for a cause, or they are in need of opportunities to circulate their name and work. Why do we live in a society where it's common to think that art should be cheap, or even free? To draw attention to this issue, and with the aim of turning a dilemma into a positive exchange, DeFreitas has established an agency designed to solicit donations from visiting audiences that are matched to artists in need. It would indeed be wonderful to connect lawyers, accountants, mechanics, and other professionals interested in donating some time and skill to individual artists as a show of support.
Documentation by Milena Placentile
