http://theaestheticelevator.com/2008/04/09/paducah-kentucky-artist-relocation-program/ For a well-considered visual environment Tue, 22 May 2012 01:23:31 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.com/ http://theaestheticelevator.com/2008/04/09/paducah-kentucky-artist-relocation-program/#comment-10756 Wed, 09 Apr 2008 23:28:59 +0000 http://theaestheticelevator.wordpress.com/?p=815#comment-10756 That’s easy for me to believe, hence my comment regarding affordability. Seems like the program might be as much a ploy to get the city back in shape — some of the buildings for sale are pretty dilapidated — as an encouragement to artists. It’s hard to believe a city of 25,000 can support so many artists . . . or in the case of the state of Arkansas, Eureka Springs (pop: 2,300) or Hot Springs (approaching 40,000 inhabitants).

]]> http://theaestheticelevator.com/2008/04/09/paducah-kentucky-artist-relocation-program/#comment-10755 Wed, 09 Apr 2008 19:20:16 +0000 http://theaestheticelevator.wordpress.com/?p=815#comment-10755 A very dear friend of mine, my former boss, took the Paducah bait. He’s up there now, trying to make a living. Yes, the place now has quite a few artists, but not enough customers. Many of the artists have some sort of independent income, according to my friend. Maybe they had rich families, or lucrative jobs prior to moving to Paducah. My friend is a brilliant printmaker; he built a studio there (brokenstonepress.com) and offers workshops and fine art printing, as well as doing his original work. But there weren’t enough buyers/students/patrons, and he had to go back to teaching art basics (at a community college). I don’t know how long he will be able to stay up there. He does like the place, but it is not affordable on his retirement income alone.

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