In the driveway, packed and ready to try and give away some prints away at the Central Pennsylvania Festival of the Arts. Thirty prints that had lived in a box since I made them would try and find a new home.
On Sunday the festival doesn’t open until 10am so I had some time to roam around on the scooter. Morning is my favorite time to ride. The earlier the better. If 6am is good then 4am is heaven. I haven’t seen much of heaven lately.
I can remember days when this area was solid humanity from sidewalk to sidewalk and you could barely travel a half block in 15 minutes. Early morning is a favorite because things are more quiet. In the background you can see a bicyclist amidst the water spray made available to help cool people off and give kids some water action. The bicyclist had a small child on the back of the bike and he rode back and forth through the spray to give the little one some excitement.
The print giveaway.
Gordon Harkins and I gathered on campus and decided to make one loop through the festival and see how people reacted to our offer of free art and prints. We would make no verbal offers or approaches, just respond to inquires. We probably should have taken a long look in the mirror before making that decision.
Gordon was fully outfitted for the giveaway of his prints. Being far more serious than I am he had selected four images and made five custom, numbered prints of each. The prints were carefully signed and labeled and placed inside plastic sleeves to protect them. I had my prints in a satchel on my shoulder with a package of plastic sleeves to protect the print from barbecue sauce or funnel cake fallout should anyone desire to take one.
Neither of us had any idea how this would go. The show was just waking up and people were just beginning to arrive as we approached the sidewalk sale. I could see people reading us and wondering what we were doing. I could see furtive glances and hear soft comments like, “You ask.” But no takers.
Finally, “Hey, what are you giving away?” A man in a white van who just helped unload some artist’s wares. We showed him our prints and explained what we were doing but we couldn’t convince him to choose a print. He told us his wife was the artist and that we should visit her just two booths away.
“Why are you giving these away?” was her question. I froze and mumbled something meaningless about having boxes of them sitting at home. Gordon stepped in for the save and told her that we are setting them free. Worked for me. Worked for her. She selected a gelatin silver print of a dead tree I shot just a few miles from where we were standing. It was made with an 8×10 Zone VI view camera and that particular image garnered a Best of Show Award in the Annual Art Alliance of Central Pennsylvania Show. I never felt it was too popular. Photographs are never supposed to be chosen over painting and sculpture for a best of show honor. It’s like a mixed breed dog winning Best of Show at Westminster.
The woman wouldn’t know any of this unless she visits here. Doesn’t matter. I was just curious about what people would chose.
In the 90 minutes we were at the show I gave away nine prints. And I recognized another dozen individuals who wanted to ask but wouldn’t. This was all Gordon’s fault. He labeled his hat “Free Art”. Everyone knows that’s code for a credit card offer or worse.
In addition to being surprised at how reticent people were to ask I was also surprised at what they chose. One young woman picked a picture of my front yard. A young man chose a tree with a Posted, No Hunting Sign attached to it. One woman chose a picture of a single tea cup on a table in an empty Saint’s Cafe and a man selected a picture of a shimmer of light on a brick wall at the Cleveland Clinic. Good thing I had a diverse selection.
Walking home Gordon and I characterized our endeavor as a limited success. No one yelled at us and no one chose a print and ritually destroyed it in our presence. That’s always a good sign.
It did feel good to share the pictures and I will do it again next year. If not before. Until then I’ll keep riding and making pictures. It is its own reward.
What a great idea, and an even greater attitude – to give away prints that will be appreciated and enjoyed rather than collecting dust and being hidden for only private viewing. I wish I had been there. I’d be thrilled to have one of your prints on my wall simply because it’s yours.
I tip my hat to your eccentricity, Steve. It’s a very congenial form which keeps me coming back here to “Scooter in the Sticks” and makes me proud in considering you my main inspiration in having started my own blog two years ago.
“Photographs are never supposed to be chosen over painting and sculpture for a best of show honor.” Do you really believe that, as a serious photographer? I’ll admit that at times I find it difficult to hold photography up there as a form of art worthy of as much honor as a medium which requires much more giving of self by the artist, but now and then I’ll come across a print that says something profound and I’m not so sure.
-Joe
Steve, this is brilliant. As I read your post, I was reminded of another “art giveaway” back in Elkhart, Indiana. The water color artist painted something like 50 images, and they were free for the taking, BUT you had to have a Polaroid taken of you holding the art you chose. The Polaroids then became the “art on the wall.” My piece looked like an abstract of an old woman kneeling. I proudly have it on the wall.
Brent
This is wonderful and inspiring. Kudos to you and Gordon.
Steve
the people’s reticence might have been that they suspected the prints being given away as bait for some kind of sales scam…..kind of like timeshares…
I’ve been making personal photographs with no commercial value for years. Aside from the odd collector theyrealky do just live in boxes. Sharing them online reveals them to more people than would ever see them in a show. Giving few away had a Johnny Appleseed feel. Who knows what will happen.
As far as your other question–I don’t think photography is a lesser form but that is not necessarily the opinion of others. I heard a few comments of dismay after winning that award.
Brent: that sounds like a great experience. I enjoy the direct interaction that’s possible.
Becky Jones: thanks!
Dom: I suspect they thought some scam was afoot. Maybe nexttimewe’ll push the scam angle.
Hi, hope it’s OK to contact you with this comment. We’d like to offer you to be included on our giveaway search engine: Giveaway Scout (http://www.giveawayscout.com). Have a look and if interested, use our online form to add your blog (http://www.giveawayscout.com/addblog/ ). thanks, Jen
Dear Steve:
I marvel at the reticence of your readers. Granted the festival is over, and the while human interaction thing is now past, but I have no friggin’ shame. As an artist myself, though of the written variety (speaking of mongrels at he podium), I’d be delighted to exchange a copy of my book for one of your pictures.
If you check, used copies of “Politically Correct Cigar Smoking For Social Terrorists” is selling for as high as $107 on Amazon. (I kid you not.) I’d be delighted to trade one, autographed to you, for a print of yor choice. I am partial to scoter shots, or pictures of dogs.
Again, I did not get where I am today by being bashful. Neither did you, apparently, as you get to ride new motorcycles on the strength of your personality. Naturally, all your giveaway prints may be exhausted, in which case.I will wait until your next festival.
Fondest regards,
Jack • reep • Toad
Twisted Roads
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Hi Steve.
That was a great idea. And then to go ahead and execute the project was sometime really rarely. Like the Pollock paintings your art was not about the photograph but about the process of giving away photographs.
(Pollock paintings are often about the process of painting).
You are two wild and crazy guys!