The way we produce and interact with Art says a great deal about who we are. For some, Art is fundamental to the human experience and should be protected and accessible, like books in our libraries. Others collect and warehouse Art as an investment. Throughout the ages Art has been produced and utilized for commercial gain, political ends and a variety of other purposes.
Producing anything requires money and time, so Art rarely exists outside some form of patronage.
Perhaps one exception to this is the Street Art movement. Street artists place work without permission in the public realm, confronting people where they live and work. Some see this activity as criminal behavior, others as democratizing art. Nevertheless, this work is gradually being absorbed and validated by the establishment. This has created opportunities for some of the more talented street artists to exhibit their work in prominent museums and obtain lucrative commissions. Several of these artists are recruited each year to participate in the Life is Beautiful Festival held in downtown Las Vegas.
Tony Hsieh — shoe salesman turned urban interventionist — has championed the annual Life is Beautiful Festival. The festival is part of his government sanctioned, urban experiment to revitalize the area around his relocated Zappos.com headquarters and numerous land holdings.
Tony thinks “it’s important for the city to have a vibrant arts and music scene” and believes “the festival can really bring that energy level even higher.”
The festival is organized around music, food, street art and learning. In preparation for this event 18 downtown blocks are walled off, ticket booths strategically located, stages set up, and art works created. The area’s homeless are quietly escorted out of sight.
Like crumbs that fall off the banquet table, several of the works of art completed for the event are not immediately removed. I managed to secure this image of Big Jig Rig by artist Mike Ross through a chain-link fence weeks after the festival goers left town. I live downtown so I am grateful for the festival’s artistic residue. My lament is that life seems more beautiful for those who can afford the entrance fee and even better for those who can afford the VIP pass.