Here's the thing, if it makes Tux or anyone else feel better about this...or not...it's just the position I'm coming from.

I've lived in Columbus my whole life, and I've seen more growth and opportunity strike this city in the last maybe 6-8 years than ever before. I was personally not a big supporter of either the name, or even the initial concept, of this thing...until I saw it gaining some momentum. Now that it has, I feel very differently about it.

I plan on personally making zero dollars from this, and am 100% donating my time and efforts. Why? Because I believe, quite firmly, that this can help the city and the artists within it on some very real, very basic foundations. The things I'd like to see happen are some of what I've said, including (but not limited to) a monthly rotating show hung in City Hall of a local artist. A presence in as many public and private buildings in and around downtown as possible for local artists to display...and sell...their work. An additional way for City Council, the Mayor's office, etc. to support local artists outside of the GCAC or OAC that may be more grass roots, reaching artists that normally wouldn't have that kind of access. An identity for Columbus outside of the traditional ones (like college football, which I love BTW) that may be reverse engineered, in a way, so that Columbus actually becomes what we market ourselves as. I want to see Columbus retaining the artists it produces, I want to see the artists in Columbus being recognized...and paid...for their work, and I want to see further support from partnerships with city and corporate resources to do it. I think that can be accomplished here.

I'd like to see people depart a Skybus flight from Seattle or San Francisco or New York and be greeted by exciting, original artwork produced right here in town. Absolutely. I'd like, even more, for either the airport to be purchasing that work with their own budget (down the road) or the people viewing it to buy it.

I'd like the Columbus Arts Festival to have more than a half dozen artists who are actually from Columbus showing...and selling...their work there. I'd like buildings like the Urban League and even the new Courthouse (if it doesn't end up sucking) committed to featuring local artwork to provide a presence for arts, and specifically local arts, in every facet of life in Columbus possible.

Now, if that's the goal of this whole thing? I have no idea. If it's the goal of my individual (and independent) efforts, I have a very good idea...it is.

If you believe that artists are going to "get screwed" out of this, you're certainly entitled to that belief...but it won't be by me. If you believe that artists will somehow invalidate their work by showing at venues like this you're certainly entitled to that belief...but it's not shared by me. If you believe on some level the whole thing is corny?...it is actually shared by me, but corny and effective aren't necessarily exclusive of each other.

I believe, particularly after some of the work I've done, all of the things I've listed are not only possible, but very achievable in a very short time. If you don't want to participate, don't. If you do want to play a part, do.

It's independent, after all.

Guess today's Dum-dum mystery flavor and win some local alt-art!


note: said local alt-art may make use of decoupage, or a soup can, yarn, macaroni and glue

i'm not an artist, i would never claim to be. nor am i 'indie,' mainly because i have to "depend" on a job and other things like "air" and "water" and "my girlfriend" to survive and further my means of expression. so i'm still having a hard time wrapping my head around "Indie Art" and Columbus being the "Capital of the World."
by the arguments i've read, like the one about Austin, shouldn't city number crunchers add up the number of "Indie" galleries and then compare them to other cities like NYC or even Austin, then decide to go with the slogan? better yet, shouldn't we display the type of behavior that a "Capital of the World" should exemplify rather than just slapping a name up there? fuck it, man, if we're gonna be the "Capital of the World" of something other than "Hailing Satan" i don't want to be a part.
i would rather have a name bestowed upon us than try to trumpet some horrible fart sound of a slogan as a rallying call for people to move here and sell their shitty hemp necklaces. like one time, i think it was Lois was playing at Bernie's, and she said "whenever i think of Columbus, i think of that pizza place where you can get a sprite in a styrofoam cup over crushed ice, and it's the greatest crushed ice in the world." there's your slogan, holmeses, "Crushed Ice Capital of the World."

This Indie Art movement is what the artists of Columbus choose to make it. If people want to make it lame and superficial, as it appears some do, then it will be so. If people choose to use it as an opportunity to create new ways for artists to thrive with integrity in Columbus then that is what will happen.

The nature of this movement puts the outcome and results in the hands of the artists themselves which is, in fact, "indie" and could be a positive thing in my opinion...depending on what the artists of Columbus choose.

this may have been said, but...
instead of laying new track for a "new movement" why not try to put a couple new engines behind the already thriving underground art scene in columbus? the sloaganeering makes it seem like the existing art scene never had a chance of succeeding, and sort of derails the whole train. why not join forces?

Well folks, best move on to the next argument. Me and my peeps at MadLab Gallery have actually upped the antie, we are now the

"Art Capital of Universe!" --echo, echo, echo...

I know this is some heavy shit and it probably messes with alot of folks self defeating ways but we could not go on letting people think that anyone else in the universe had something cooler going on.

So Waaahh...

Oh yeah..Too Much Photography opening this Saturday 5-7--over 100 pieces..last years attendance near 300...and free wine. MadLab 105 N.Grant

LOL @ "interlopers".

Yeah, we wouldn't want anyone acting vague, presumptive, or egocentric...

It's not a small group, and it's not a closed group. I also firmly believe it's not painting anyone with a brush who's not participating, and hardly think it's even painting the participants with one.

If it's not something you're interested in being a part of...cool. I have yet to hear how it will affect you other than one of your out of town friends thinks it's lame.

I do know that it can have the effect of raising the visibility of local art and artists. I do know that it create conversations about the concerns of local artists with people that can have an impact on those concerns.

I know those two things for certain, because that's been my focus in this independent initiative, to make sure those things happen.

p.s. One more thing about inclusion. If you're creating art right now...you're already included. You don't need to do anything else. If you're helping build the art scene...you're already doing it. If you want to do more...great. If you want to be part of the discussion...well, just join in. There's no secret meetings happening or strategy behind closed doors going on. If you want nothing to do with it at all, that's fine too. As this thing grows and progresses, there will be calls for artist submissions...and some will be by me because they'll be stuff I'm working on. My requirements for those will be that you're local...that's it...not if you know the secret IAC handshake, and frankly not if you slammed or praised the idea in the first place.

I think a lot of people are getting hung up on the Independent thing, like it means that it has to be artists succeeding all by themselves with zero help. I don't see it that way...nor do I think that's a good idea. I see the Independent part of this as each person who wants to, formulating an idea that can help build the success of Columbus artists (even if it's just themselves) and acting on it independently.