tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21829866.post610713286704744201..comments2023-08-20T07:06:14.115-04:00Comments on Thurber's Thoughts: So wrong on so many levels - Part 2Maggiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12677808307727487766noreply@blogger.comBlogger9125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21829866.post-50995685705740082412007-10-18T15:14:00.000-04:002007-10-18T15:14:00.000-04:00Ant - you did a nice job with your interview...but...Ant - you did a nice job with your interview...but the fact that artists don't make enough money does not justify the loss of revenue to government in order to 'prop up' the industry. There are other ways, without offering low interest loans for purchases, to promote arts in Toledo.<BR/><BR/>Furthermore, this loan program offers only a temporary boost (if at all), not a long-term solution to the fact that artists here pay more in taxes and regulations than they do in other places. <BR/><BR/>If Ben and the commissioners were truly interested in 'helping' all small business owners and not just targeted special-interest groups, they'd be looking at ways to reduce the sales tax and property taxes. <BR/><BR/>But these kinds of programs appeal to the emotion and, with the help of local media, get good press.<BR/><BR/>sad...very sad.Maggiehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12677808307727487766noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21829866.post-90635817435820868552007-10-18T14:55:00.000-04:002007-10-18T14:55:00.000-04:00On September 26, 2007 I interviewed Ben Konop abou...On September 26, 2007 I interviewed Ben Konop about 'Art Assist'. Some of the questions I asked were about some of the issues that were brought up here on the blog. <BR/><BR/>In my post "Tuesday's Story - Specifically 'Art Assist'", I quoted the post [from Ben Konop's blog] by John Swaile, "...after expenses (including time, supplies, rent, taxes and utilities), a local artist would make less than 100 dollars from a 250 dollar sale. That's less than 20 hours of minimum wage work." With my painting "My House" and example figures in front of him I was able to get some good answers from Ben.<BR/><BR/>His answer included, "Toledo should aim to become a destination for the arts. You bring in tourism, people from the surrounding communities..." He talks more about how 'Art Assist' is just the beginning. Find out more! Read Tuesday's Story... September 26, 2007<BR/><BR/>Read Tuesday's Story post:<BR/>http://antworkstudio.blogspot.com/2007/09/ben-konop-specifically-art-assist.html<BR/><BR/>~ANT homepage<BR/>http://www.antworkstudio.com/index.htmAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21829866.post-1108989275442439582007-07-30T16:07:00.000-04:002007-07-30T16:07:00.000-04:00Hello, I am a young artist living and working in L...Hello, I am a young artist living and working in Lucas County and think that creativity is a bi-product of a healthy arts community. I also think when someone talks about art; they should also talk about what an artist does. The reason I mention this is. . . art is all around you, from the television that you watch, the cloths you buy, the new cars you drive and the houses you live in. People in graphic design, architectural design, automotive design, fashion, interior design, media arts and/or traditional arts like music, film, poetry, painting, dance and sculpture contribute to the local economy in some way, shape and form which influences American culture in some interesting ways. In my humble opinion, with designers, fine artists and scientist working together, we can contribute to the bottom line in real time. <BR/><BR/>For example, when most companies make something, provide a service or sell something, they advertise. For most companies that advertise, they use a combination of radio, television, print media and now the internet to sell their products. The advertising business is a multi billion dollar industry where jobs are made and lost by how effective they are in increasing sales. The marketing departments for most companies are in charge of figuring out what people buy, when people buy, how people buy it, why people buy it and then selling it to them. When I attended Owens Community College to study Entrepreneurship, one of the main points I learned in my business classes was, most of the successful business people in the new economy will be people who combine people, resources and ideas with the most creativity, followed up with the only constant in business is change. <BR/><BR/>In my very humble opinion, I think creativity and a healthy arts community is central to developing job growth and eliminating brain drain in this region because the manufacturing/industrial sector of the business community is a shrinking market for generating economic opportunities in the area. Right now, the manufacturing/industrial sector is rapidly changing environment i.e. out sourcing of jobs, cutting healthcare costs and increased efficient in the technology to produced goods at a lower price. This is what any smart business person would do to continue turning a profit for their company and the last time I checked, America has an economic system based on capitalism and free enterprise. It is hard to grow a stagnant economy based consumer spending if people have no money to spend because there is little job growth/income growth and the jobs that are generated are low paying jobs. <BR/><BR/>So that leaves me with the notion that the American economy is changing and if Lucas County residents do not look to the future, the impacts of globalization and rising energy cost will be crush our local economy. Well into the turn of the 20th century, Toledo and most Lucas County residents experienced increased prosperity with the development of technology in the manufacturing/industrial sector of the business community, creating a foundation for the current middle class in this area. I think it is time is ripe for our business community, arts community and government to work together to start building our 21st century economy, one innovation at a time, funding creativity in all its forms. There are growing opportunities in the alternative energy business, computer technology, arts/entertainment and service industries but without progressive thinking, we will be left behind in the new economy. <BR/><BR/>Sincerely, <BR/>Terry A. Burton<BR/>www.terryaburton.com <BR/><BR/>Here are some support materials to add to the discussion:<BR/><BR/>http://www.policymattersohio.org/<BR/>jobwatch/JobWatchIndex.htm<BR/><BR/>http://www.toledoblade.com/apps/<BR/>pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20060917/NEWS24/<BR/>60917002<BR/><BR/>http://www.bls.gov/eag/<BR/>eag.oh_toledo_msa.htm<BR/><BR/>http://www.economywatch.com/<BR/>world_economy/usa/states/ohio-economy.html<BR/><BR/>http://adage.com/datacenter/<BR/><BR/>http://www.toledochamber.com/pdf/<BR/>IBM%20findings%20news%20release.pdf<BR/><BR/>http://www.hhh.umn.edu/projects/<BR/>prie/aei_pubs.html<BR/><BR/>http://www.culturalpolicy.org/issuepages/<BR/>NewEconomy.cfm<BR/><BR/>http://www.hhh.umn.edu/img/assets/6158/<BR/>artistic_dividend.pdf<BR/><BR/>http://www.innovations.harvard.edu/news/<BR/>46011.html<BR/><BR/>http://www.greenpowermagazine.com/<BR/><BR/>http://www.toledoblade.com/apps/pbcs.dll/<BR/>article?AID=/20041030/NEWS06/<BR/>410300387&SearchID=73217243367194<BR/><BR/>http://www.toledofreepress.com/?id=5724<BR/><BR/>http://toledoblade.com/apps/pbcs.dll/<BR/>article?AID=/20070725/OPINION02/707250303/<BR/>-1/OPINIONTerry A. Burtonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15897012414205434644noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21829866.post-8549469281054289712007-07-29T15:39:00.000-04:002007-07-29T15:39:00.000-04:00I have a different perspective Maggie.The blade be...I have a different perspective Maggie.<BR/><BR/>The blade being a champion of da artz, and perceiving themselves as THE local political king/queen maker, senses that our charming and charismatic mayor du jour is on his political death bed, so they feel the need to find and make a new king that is suitable to themselves and their agendas.<BR/><BR/>Enter young Ben...<BR/><BR/>Fresh meat that can be molded and shaped, hyped and sold, as Toledo's new savior; young, fresh, new ideas, yadda, yadda, yadda.<BR/><BR/>They're (J.R.B.) primping, pimping and packaging young Ben as their answer to our problems.<BR/><BR/>Otherwise, why else would they fawn all over such a silly and insignificant project (scam), unless it's just the first wave of ink from the upcoming monsoon of blather and hype,designed to SELL young Ben to the ignorant and attention deficit voting public?<BR/><BR/>As I recall, it's worked for them before. . .Hooda Thunkit (Dave Zawodny)https://www.blogger.com/profile/13176392380086227377noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21829866.post-85408229022190942382007-07-23T11:48:00.000-04:002007-07-23T11:48:00.000-04:00Yes, Jay...but how many people have called the com...Yes, Jay...but how many people have called the commissioners and told them so - versus how many artists that may have praised the program...<BR/><BR/>As Shakespeare said, "aye, there's the rub."Maggiehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12677808307727487766noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21829866.post-61745450404313188302007-07-23T11:28:00.000-04:002007-07-23T11:28:00.000-04:00I couldn't agree more with just how wrong Lucas Co...I couldn't agree more with just how wrong Lucas County government's involvement in art is. <BR/><BR/>The more that government subsidizes something, the more they can regulate and control people. The latest cat declawing issue is one of many examples just how bad government wants to run people's lives.<BR/><BR/>It's not the government's job to find or create the market for an artist's work. That responsibility lies with the artist himself. <BR/><BR/>If an artist wants to sell his work, he needs to become a better salesman and promoter. He should take Ron Popeil lessons or something. <BR/><BR/>If an artist wants to be in business (not all do) in addition to doing art, then the artist must create work that people want and are willing to pay for.<BR/><BR/>Being an artist is one thing, being an artist in business is altogether different.Jay Otthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08170850586783653546noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21829866.post-50204851351699782082007-07-23T09:31:00.000-04:002007-07-23T09:31:00.000-04:00This is an absurd program. I commented on Mr. Kono...This is an absurd program. I commented on Mr. Konop's official blog about how I thought so.<BR/><BR/>It's a no-brainer...if you can't support yourself doing one thing, you do another. Duh.<BR/><BR/>LukePubliushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02738978748809484109noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21829866.post-49023838604003709142007-07-23T09:18:00.000-04:002007-07-23T09:18:00.000-04:00Roo...the problem is that the Paducah project was ...Roo...the problem is that the Paducah project was based upon research about what was needed and how best to meet the needs of this industry. Lucas County's program is a sound-good, feel-good program with little long-term substance to make a difference.<BR/><BR/>The most successful economic development projects are when they are driven by private industry with the local municipalities providing infrastructure, lower taxation and limited - if any - red tape.<BR/><BR/>I started saying this in my 2002 campaign and many now repeat it: Government doesn't create jobs.<BR/><BR/>Anyone interested in the Paduca Artist Relocation project can visit here:<BR/><BR/>http://www.paducaharts.com/about_<BR/>the_program.phpMaggiehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12677808307727487766noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21829866.post-11432542697092663662007-07-23T09:08:00.000-04:002007-07-23T09:08:00.000-04:00Good morning Maggie!Well, this is another fine mes...Good morning Maggie!<BR/><BR/>Well, this is another fine mess we are getting into! <BR/><BR/>While I support the arts as an integral part of our revitalization I do not agree with subsidizing the purchase of art. If there is a piece that I can't live without then I will find another way to purchase it. Either wait till I save, lay away (yes artists do this), save up (hey! what a concept!) or just wait until it won't put a strain on the household budget. <BR/><BR/>You and I have talked about the Paducah project that has been very successful. I just re-read the program synopsis and other items regarding how this small town put together one of the most innovative art projects around. Nowhere in the material does it say that this effort was funded by creating a burden on the tax-payers. <BR/><BR/>I don't know how someone that is on the verge of losing their home because their job disappeared is going to feel sympathetic (or empathetic) to a 'starving artist' when the artist is being afforded a free-ride to self promotion.<BR/><BR/>There has to be a better way. So far it's not surfacing - at least not in my mind.Roohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11569815196644365844noreply@blogger.com