Lizard,
I don’t believe anybody owns art, even in the intimate sense. When it works for me I always feel like a conduit. I like doing it because it surprises me and informs me of things I didn’t know beforehand. Any personal invention I bring to the table is the result of finding the right vehicle/language that allows that thing to happen.
For that, artists do indeed deserve credit for the difficult work done to reach that point – most of which is clearing an endless and ever accumulating amount of brush out of the way.
I’ve never have, and don’t copyright anything I do. Usually people that want to use images (or the actual objects) I make ask first, I most always say yes, depending on the context. If people give me money for art, they can do whatever with it afterwards, because what they do then is more a reflection of them than me.
I’ve spent my entire adult life making art, and have absolutely no regrets. I’ve had dozens of exhibitions around the country and have a small phone book of reviews in art mags and newspapers, and have done way better than I would have expected. I’ve made some money and lost money on it, but for the most part when push comes to shove, I couldn’t care less about that end of it. Generally, the artworld and its vanities, careerists, and hanger ons are a waste of time better spent. I think I would have expected more better from those involved, but didn’t. So no love lost.
artwalk

Posted by: anna missed | Dec 9 2008 9:17 utc | 101