Why art is worth your money
Every year, U of G’s School of Fine Art and Music puts on a student print show and sale to provide an environment where students can network with the public, other artists, and curators. Two participants, Andrea May and Maddie Lychek, spoke with The Ontarion about the importance of student art shows.
The Student Print Show and Sale is not only crucial for students and the University, but also for future generations of artists to see that their work has the opportunity to be shared and sold.
Lychek, a fourth year studio art major, expresses the importance of art in society: “It is a wonderful platform to voice your opinions and stand for what you believe in.”
In addition to having a unique piece of art to decorate your home with, buying a print at the show also helps fund student artists.
“As a student, I cover the cost of my materials and [selling my work at art shows] allows me to earn some of that money back,” Lychek explained. “Some artists don’t equate economic success with their status as an artist. For me, it validates me because it shows that I can sustain myself with my practice and continue to work and practice art in the long term.”
“For myself, as well as other student artists around me, it definitely becomes discouraging when people don’t understand that the art you make can’t always be given away for free,” May, a fourth year studio art major, said. “It takes time, money, and effort to produce sometimes the smallest work, and it becomes difficult when people don’t consider that. To be given the opportunity as a student to sell my work provides a great sense of encouragement when I see my pieces being sold and tells me there are people that do actually want to buy the art I have spent so much time creating.”
For patrons wondering about the pricing of work at the show, Lychek believes there is something for everyone, and that the art is affordable: “We’re students too, so we understand the student lifestyle and budget.”
The Student Print Show and Sale runs from Nov. 16 to 18 at Zavitz Hall. Students will be showing and selling original lithographs, etchings, screen prints, and more.
You can find Andrea and Maddie on Instagram at:
Story by Laura Vautour & Karen K. Tran/The Ontarion
Feature photo courtesy of Andrea May