A dialog about Prodigal Art:

The following is a dialog I had through email... in which I discuss many aspects of the benefits and process of art caretaking... It was all spurred by this woman's perception, who could appreciate the idea of art caretaking, but believed she couldn't participate, since she grows attached to her art, and wouldn't want to pass it on....

She, also an artist, felt she would be obligated to the artist for which she was caretaking, to accept an offer, and move their piece forward, before she was really ready. And, she didn't believe she would want to do that, with a piece she loves....

The following dialog in response to her, highlights my intentions for the process, which will hopefully express, and allow others to understand, how this can occur naturally, without a sense of obligation...and will also highlight many other aspects of things I envision for the website and the movement....

please respond with your own opinions on any of these concepts...
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I do understand something about not wanting to part with some pieces.

I tell you, though. That's part of what I think is so beautiful about this, though.......... Because for me, I want to know that what I create has a purpose...... a person who appreciates it......... and as long as that is happening with the original, I am happy.......... (that's my thinking, anyway) - And so....... if there comes a time when someone would rather sell than hang on to it - great........ and if they love it so much that they can't part with it..... then wonderful....... it's with someone who loves it, and is STILL appreciating it..... so much that they would turn down an offer........

But, you mentioned how you don't know that many wealthy people.... But that's not necessary..... My intention is to create local gatherings, and when you are ready to pass something along, you can bring it to one of these gatherings......... It's how we will build our community and sense of trust.........

Not to mention - every piece that moves, will be tracked and displayed on the website....... so, my imagining is, that the "favorite" pieces, will have a line of people who are offering to be the next caretaker.......... and you will be able to say whether you are ready to move it on or not, on the website........

When you do....... everyone who expressed interest in that piece in the past, and requested to be notified of when it may be available, will be notified.......

I'm not sure of the details of what we may want to do........ that's all to be determined...........

but all of that is why I believe the website is a key aspect to the development of this.............

To work without it, would be very difficult. I don't believe it would work. If it could..... we probably would have already been doing it this way......... at least, as an option.........

I've heard so many times, people like you and me, say the same things......... someone loved it so much, you wanted them to be able to have a particular piece. I sure hate telling someone they "can't afford it"..... by showing them a price that is out of their reach.

The purpose of this, is to bring the entry price down, so that EVERYONE can enjoy owning original artwork in their home............. it isn't a matter of how much money you earn........ it's a matter of integrity........... trust. There probably will be some pieces that people hold on to...... but the real story of someone's "trustworthiness" in the process, comes with time..... and many pieces......... If they hold onto all of them.......... and/or - it is discovered they sold something, and didn't report it.......... it will be discovered. The world, online, is becoming very small, indeed. And they won't be a part of the system, if they operate that way.......

that's another reason the website is so vital. It is the online reputation system.

But I believe that so much more art will happen, and so much more art will flow...... and the entry price, free........ will allow people even in slums to participate.... and for the price to roll up naturally as the artwork moves to people with higher amounts of income..............

You don't have to know high rollers......... I don't want the art to move up in price that quickly anyway........... I'm only looking to recoup what I would have received for it in the retail market, over a period of the art's lifetime........ and the sooner people start with this....... (i.e. teenagers and children........) - the more opportunity they have to amass a body of work that will continue bringing in residual income for them, long after they have created it.............

It all depends upon the art/the artist........ the desirability, truthfully. The same is SOMEWHAT true of gallery "rock stars" these days.......... except - so few get to be in the limelight. One has to first be represented............ and then........ through HYPE, oftentimes......... their reputation and price inflation occurs.

Art caretaking will level that.......... allow everyone an opportunity to be viewed equally - and the beauty of it is......... people can rate the artwork they enjoy, without seeing how others have rated it.......... and the "wisdom of the crowd" - a fact proven to work, will put top placement for the "favorite" pieces, when a person chooses to search via that method.

And they will be the art pieces most relevant to today! not just the masters of yesterday..... and the most hyped by the galleries now....

And my favorite of all - is that the artists, too - will be chosen/selected as favorites, in the same "crowd wisdom" method.... and those people will be given scholarships to go to other places in the world to create their artwork........ so that people THERE may enjoy caretaking their art, too.....

I get really excited when I think about what all of this will create........ and I see so many levels of how this will change so many things......... all for the better......

It fulfills so much of what we are missing........

And that night, back in March of 2003, when we had our first ProdigalArt meeting, it was SO inspiring....... it took me back to the time when we were all in school.... and shared our inspiration....... shared what we had created together...... and inspired each other to create more.

When our work sits in closets, and is not fully enjoyed by others, it stifles the creative process............. The work is not fulfilling its purpose, and we see little reason to continue.

The moment we all gathered together, and watched as people's faces lit up at each other's artwork........ We all were stirred with the fire to create more.

That is the TRUE purpose of all of this............... to bring back the integrity to what an artist's real purpose is.......... to create and share artwork with those who love it........ to bring messages to the surface...... to create dialog and inspiration, and touch levels of our being we don't normally touch.

Creating art for hire, or for profit, as the intention in the beginning, or so soon after the point of creation, doesn't feel respectful of the art, for a deep reason........ it's one we don't often want to analyze.......... We know we enjoy the process, and want to experience that more........ and the "hard truth" of our society - that we must make money to pay the bills............................ and THIS is how we do it......... has brainwashed us into disrespecting the real messages in our artwork..... and to create artwork for different reasons than the purest reason of all.....................

and we are the ones that miss that piece........ we don't even know what it is.................. we feel it............. we know it..................

But.................... we continue, as we were. We simply don't know how to do it any differently.

This is how I believe we can make it different.......... and we can allow that real truth of our art.......... the messages that have been waiting for us....... waiting to reveal themselves to us........................ to finally live through us.......... and among us................. to heal us, and bring us back together.