Investing in beauty not a lost art in hard economic times

So with the cost of living on the rise, how are local art galleries and fine-arts nonprofits holding up in the Highland Lakes?

“What happens when difficulty comes, either personally or financially, people become more centrally focused on their families or homes,” said Marta Stafford, gallery director for Riverbend Arts Gallery, 710 First St. in Marble Falls. “When people come in to visit or shop at Riverbend, there is a noticeable physical difference in their appearance. Art has a meditative quality that is conducive to nurturing.”

Stafford believes many people seek comfort in art. Not only can it expresses their personality, but it helps them during times of crisis, including after the deadly terrorist attacks of Sept. 11, 2001.

“We actually sold a lot more art after 9/11. We had more sales at that time than in previous years because people were looking for a way in which to feel better,” she said.

Although the gallery has been quieter than usual, Stafford feels the visitors she interacts with actually stay longer. Sales have not suffered significantly even as the cost of living continues to sharply rise.

When customers desire art to add a dimension to their lives, they find a way to satisfy that need, even when disposable income is not as easy to come by for some.

“A sale for a piece of artwork is not a sale. It is like building a relationship with a client,” Stafford said. “Inviting someone to the gallery is like inviting them into my home, and they have a lot of questions about the art in which they are interested. People need to feel as though they are making the right decision before deciding to buy.” 

Stafford also said a large number of gallery visitors in the last month were evacuees displaced as a result of Hurricane Ike.

Stafford refers to the art gallery as a good foster home until the pieces find a new residence. The artwork displayed at Riverbend comes from across the country.  

A difficult aspect of the job, according to Stafford, is having to decide which pieces of art will be selected for display at the gallery.

“We receive more submissions than we can accept. The gallery owner, Suzanne Owens, and I look at the art and appreciate the effort they put into their hard work,” she said. “We look for pieces that are not similar to what we already have. What we have here is what I like to call a ‘progressive dinner party.’ We have only original works of art and people are often surprised as to the different styles and types of materials used.”

Stafford believes art is a gift to the community. 

“Craftsmanship and fine arts are enduring throughout the years and difficult times,” she said.

Michael Levitt is the vice president and advertising manager at Highland Arts Guild, 318 Main St. in Marble Falls. The nonprofit gallery has seen sales increase by 61 percent in the last year.

“We have 45 artists whose work is hanging in our gallery, and there is a waiting list for other artists who want to display,” Levitt said. “We have increased traffic in the gallery due to an increase in our advertising.”

Similar to Riverbend, the Highland Arts Guild displays work in all mediums such as paintings in oil, water, pastel and colored pencils, and the work is also all original.

“Our mission is to offer fine art at affordable prices. We have seen an increase in out-of-town visitors as well. Many of those who come here are from Houston, Dallas or as far away as Colorado,” he said.

Levitt believes the art they sell appeals to a specific market.

“A lot of the people that buy art are probably middle- to upper-class buyers who are very knowledgeable about the art they are interested in and appear to be fairly well-off financially. It is a possibility that those who buy are insulated from a sluggish economy,” he said.

Levitt said the artists displaying their work at the gallery have yet to increase their prices. However it’s also important to consider the impact the economy has on the artists as well as the buyers, he added.

“We have to realize the artists are just as affected by the economy. The cost of their supplies are going up just like prices are for everybody else. Most of that is related to an increase in gas prices and freight charges,” he said.

Levitt is an artist himself and noted the cost of the mats he uses has increased drastically in the last year, jumping from $13 to $51 per sheet.

“I think it’s quite possible our prices are lagging behind in this economy,” he said. “Even though our gallery has sold more over June, July and August of this year compared to last, the net profit for the artists is going down.”

For more on the galleries, visit their Web sites at www.riverbendfinearts.com and www.highlandartsguild.org.