Last Train to Arts-ville an Artist works to find funding

BANGOR, Maine - May 14, 2014 - PRLog -- BANGOR, ME — May 14, 2014 — In a recovering economy, where minimum wage is hotly debated on the nightly news, how much are people willing to pay for art? Advocates of the arts stand firmly behind the benefits of art for communities and individuals. But when it comes to assessing the value of these benefits, there’s never a simple answer. Artists have to constantly compete to have their work displayed in gallery settings, increasing their exposure. Having an audience means better financial support for the artist so that they may continue to practice their craft.

“Artists of yesteryear had wealthy patrons,” says Thomas Griffith, a multimedia artist seeking financial assistance to complete his latest work. “The patrons commissioned works from artists and their studio of apprentices, and that’s how artists paid for their supplies and made their living. Patronage is rare to come across these days, though.” Griffith’s latest work invites viewers into their own imaginations through a hand-sculpted railroad model, crafted to evoke expressionistic painting in three dimensions. The tabletop model is meant to be displayed in an art gallery setting alongside close-up photography of scenes within. “The photos will feel like expressionist paintings, while not completely hiding the fact that the subject is a model. I want the audience to play with their perception over whether they are viewing a painting, a real life scene, or a miniature model.”

Printing, matting, and framing the photos takes capital though, and for an emerging artist like Griffith, ready-to-hang work is vital to marketing himself to art galleries. Without a wealthy benefactor to invest in him, Griffith turned to a more modern form of art patronage: Hatchfund. A non-profit, crowd-funding platform, Hatchfund allows any individual to make tax deductible donations to artists with a vision. “This isn’t people valuing my work at ten, twenty dollars. These are people who believe in the essential, irreplaceable value of art itself. Even the minimum donation of a dollar is still someone saying, ‘Yes, art has intrinsic value, and I support it.’”

Hatchfund also enables partner arts organizations to join in and match funds. For Griffith, this means a greater chance of meeting his funding goal. The Maine Arts Commission is currently 1-to-1 matching any donations he receives. Griffith acknowledged that his crowd-funding efforts might yet fail to help bring his project to full fruition. But his passion to make art that expands viewers’ wonderment and perspective drives him to keep trying. “No matter what,” Griffith asserts, “an artist needs to stick with their aesthetics and be themselves. Trying to warp your art into what you think people would buy only ends up watering down the unique aspect of the art— the artist.”

About Artist Thomas Griffith:

Thomas Griffith lives and works in Bangor, Maine. He works in multiple mediums, but always strives to create immersive environments for the audience. Griffith’s style ranges from abstract expressionism to illustrative, and he enjoys exploring how to blend the two together.  His work has been shown at the Betts Gallery in Belfast, Maine, and in the Avalon Arts District of Second Life. His website can be found at http://www.thomasrgriffith-artist.com, and he can also be reached at thomasrgriffith@mac.com.

Contact Information:

Telephone: (207) 812-0367

Email: thomasrgriffith@mac.com

Studio: 9 Central Street, Suite 310; Bangor, Maine