Sure, you can buy your wife or girlfriend a silver necklace at the local department store so she can look like everyone else. But would she rather you buy a silver necklace lined with sea glass that converts into a bracelet? Sure, you could buy your husband or boyfriend yet another tie. But perhaps he’d be more intrigued by a wall-mounted motorcycle model made out of antique watch parts?

If you want to be unique with your gift-giving this holiday season, think about your local artist. He or she likely makes something you simply can’t find anywhere else, the kind of work that will have friends and co-workers abuzz. And you’ll be supporting our creative culture, a part of the culture that doesn’t show up in export figures but is vital to our society nonetheless.

At this time of year artists aren’t hard to find. There are of course many retail outlets that carry works by local artists, and this is true of galleries as well. But there is no shortage of arts fairs, either, and many feature free live music to boot.

For example, on Saturday I visited D.C.’s Downtown Holiday Market near the National Portrait Gallery, admiring both the compelling art (like those watch-part sculptures) and the ability of the artists to tolerate the cold weather outside. I was with the family so purchasing gifts for them was out, but the fair runs until the 23rd so I’ll be back.

Earlier today I stopped by the National Museum of Women in the Arts, where they are having a two-day holiday art sale featuring local artists (hurry, the sale ends December 10th). I made purchases there for my wife and daughter but won’t say what on the (extremely) off-chance they’ll read this blog entry.

On Saturday I’ll be in Takoma Park, MD, for the Third Annual Open Studio Tour & Holiday Art Sale, featuring more than 60 local artists. I must give a shout-out to my colleague Lucinda Dugger, who from the first studio tour has been instrumental in organizing it.

Even when I am not enamored with the art I see on display (something that actually doesn’t happen that often) I admire every single artist I see at these events. These are creative people who are producing works of value and are seeking to net that value. I doubt they are all working full-time at this, although I’m sure almost all would like to be doing so. But they go from show to show (I recognized some artists at the DC Downtown Holiday Market from the Del Ray Art on the Avenue festival two months ago), standing there while strangers peruse a part of their souls. I don’t think I could do that; as a writer, I never have to see someone’s face while they’re reading my work.

Local art is something to be supported year-round, but the holidays are a perfect time, because you can put a few extra dollars into an artist’s pocket when they need it and give your loved one something they’ll remember for far longer than that gift from the local chain store.

And lest you think I’ve wandered off track here, I’ll bring it back to copyright by saying that when you go to these fairs and studio tours, don’t bring your camera. It was summed up nicely by an artist I saw earlier today, selling wall-hangings of hip-looking women drawn cartoon-style saying very clever remarks designed to appeal to the independent woman. A sign was displayed below the art stating: “Copyrighted Material. Absolutely No Photographs.” In other words, if you like an illustration, buy it.

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This entry was posted on Tuesday, December 9th, 2008 at 1:09 pm by Patrick Ross and is filed under creators, events, philanthropy. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.