A Must Read: The Warhol Economy

Dear Elizabeth Currid, will you marry me?

I know you’re already married, I’m not trying to break up your home or cause friction, I just think you’re awesome! I finished this book in August and I have been meaning to blog about it since.
Elizabeth Currid has written a book, which in my opinion will change the way America views art. 

This is a little tidbit from the book jacket:

" In the Warhol Economy, Elizabeth Currid argues that creative industries like fashion, art, and music drive the economy of New York as much as, if not more that finance, real estate, and law. The implications of this argument are far reaching, and not just for New York. Urban policymakers, Currid suggests, have not only seriously underestimated the importance of the cultural economy, but they have failed to recognize that it depends on a vibrant social scene-the social, cultural, and economic mix that she calls the Warhol Economy…”

Most of you are artists or art lovers, so the above statement seems obvious. I don’t live in New York, and from what I have been able to track through this blog, don’t worry I’m not spying on you; most of you don’t live in New York either. But anyone who has ever lived in New York, or at least visited, knows that, of course the art and culture scene help make New York what it is.

As an artist/art lover/supporter, you also know full well the impact an art scene has on the greater community. Trendy neighborhoods are trendy because, certain people, aka creative types, make that neighborhood exciting.

The reason I love this book, and the reason for this post, is that FINALLY, someone outside the art community, has confirmed that the arts are a major component to a healthy, functioning community. As an artist, you must be your best spokesman, promoter, hype-man, advocate, whatever, but let’s face it, 99% of America doesn’t “get” or “care” about what you do. 

Nor do they take you seriously when you try to justify how important creativity is to the human condition. They may think it’s a “cool hobby.” They may think it’s “neat.” They may think of it as “ a cute way for children to express themselves, oh I’m so proud of this drawing you did at preschool today, I’m going to display it on our refrigerator with magnets,” etc.

But the cold hard reality is this: 99% of the loving proud parents, who display those preschool drawings, believe dreams are just that, dreams. Although the drawings on the refrigerator are cute and free from inhibitions, they believe eventually that child should give up on art, be realistic, and grow the fuck up. Because we all know you can’t make any money from it, you won’t be famous until you’re dead, and maybe if you do go to art school, you know, when you’re done, you can go get a “real” degree so that you can…drum roll, get a real job! 

Sadly the only way to reach those 99% of unbelievers is with the “boring as fuck gospel of numbers and data about the economic impact of the arts.” I know what you’re thinking; “hard numbers and data about the economic impact bla bla” sounds boring. Graphs about “Occupational Clusters from the Bureau of Labor Statistics” sounds really boring…and normally I would agree with you. 

But it’s all about the delivery my dear reader.

Currid blends stories from well known designers, artists, club owners, bands, interviews with heavy hitters like Jeffrey Dietch, and combines them with an appendix worth of hard data, some of it going back to the early 20th century, all to form a book that underscores the larger value of art and culture communities.

And when the person delivering that data has a PhD. in Urban Planning from Columbia University, those 99% unbelievers should take notice.

I can hear another thought brewing in your head, something along the lines of “Arts value shouldn’t be about cold hard numbers. Its value shouldn’t be measured in terms economic impact. Art is what it is…or as Gerhard Richter put it “Art is the highest form of hope.”

I love to daydream and ponder about how the world should be, hell this blog is called Opening A Unicorn Shop, but let’s be real, we live in America, and the dollar is king.

I’m not saying that the only value art has is when someone spends money on it, far from it. What I’m saying is, in order to reach people who only understand value in terms of money/job growth/economic impact etc, you have to first appeal to their core values. Once you have their attention, then you expand their mind about why art is such a crucial part of moving the human race forward.

By the way, I was just joking about the marriage proposal. But this book just made me giddy and all of you should read it. And by purchasing the book, you’re helping to support the arts AND you’re putting money in the pocket of well deserving author.

What could better than that?

The Warhol Economy By Elizabeth Currid
Available from Princeton Press
On Amazon.com