GUEST VIEWPOINT
Weeneez and the Story
of Cheap Art
By Julie Rico
Recently, the Julie Rico Gallery was removed from the Galleries list on Downtownartwalk.com after being noted for several years on the website of the once-a-month event. The change came, ostensibly, in any case, because in addition to being an art gallery, the place is also the home of Weeneez, a restaurant that serves hot dogs.
So why did we combine a hot dog restaurant with an art gallery?
Economics!
Owning and running galleries since 1989, I realized that I needed a business with regular income to support a gallery—thus, the hot dog restaurant. Being available to the community and artists on a daily basis is also important to me. Any artist is welcome to visit Weeneez to chat with me—and to eat, too. Artists occasionally come in to ask me for advice based on my 20 years of experience in the art world, and I am happy to oblige. And sometimes our hot dog patrons are pleasantly surprised when they discover the art in the gallery.
Such happenings help explain why I saw the corner of 5th and Spring Street as an ideal spot to establish Weeneez and the Julie Rico Gallery.
What is a gallery, anyway?
Conventionally, a gallery is a sort of church, with white walls and lights, where one may appreciate fine art in a quiet setting Usually, the sitter or art dealer waits for people to come in and buy art. The conventional gallery business model largely relies on rich people for expensive transactions.
In these tough economic times, however, that could be a problematic business model, especially for a gallerist without deep pockets.
Granted, Weeneez is from a different mold. For years I have been advocating that artists should offer art that connects with consumers of modest means, too. I “saw the light” working with people such as Ed “Big Daddy” Roth and Robert Williams (one of the founders of Juxtapoz magazine and the low-brow art movement). They created mass- produced popular culture products such as stickers, posters, to help them survive as artists.
And it worked!
This approach allows more people to own art and to support artists.
Below is a manifesto created by the Bread and Puppets group out of Glover, Vermont. The spirit of Weeneez is reflected in this statement:
The Why Cheap Art Manifesto
“People have been thinking too long that art is a privilege of the museums and the rich. Art is not business! It does not belong to banks and fancy investors. Art is Food! You can’t eat it but it feeds you. Art has to be cheap and available to everybody. It needs to be everywhere because it is the inside of the world. Art soothes pain. Art wakes up sleepers. Art fights against war and stupidity. Art sings Hallelujah! Art is for kitchens! Art is like good bread! Art is like green trees! Art is like white clouds in blue sky! Art is cheap! Hurrah!”
Please e-mail Jay Lopez, executive director of the Downtown Artwalk, at jay@jaylopez.net if you would like to see the Julie Rico Gallery back on Galleries list at Downtownartwalk.com (see related Commentary, home page).
She’s With Brownstein on Jobs Program
Editor:
Regarding Gary Brownstein’s recent Letter to the Editor [“Draconian Jobs Program,” issue of January 8]:
It’s amazing to me that our elected legislators are making $100,000 or more a year while the rest of us survive on much less, if we’re lucky—but everyday folks still come up with better ideas about possible solutions to the challenges facing our country and economy.
I agree with most of Brownstein’s points—although the idea of arresting and deporting illegal immigrants who are operating cash businesses strikes me as overboard and a bit xenophobic.
But most of his other points seem to be practical solutions. Is there any way you can get the Garment & Citizen into the hands of the Obama Administration? Some of these Letters to the Editor make a lot of sense.
Raby Savage
Westlake
Editor’s Note: First Lady Michelle Obama recently responded to a Garment & Citizen reader who wrote to us with an idea about improving healthcare for members of the U.S. military. No word yet on Brownstein’s jobs program. Also, see example of Brownstein’s poetry, below.
Put Cell Phone on ICE Program
Editor:
I want to pass along this lesson to the Garment & Citizen’s readers:
I recently lost a friend who died in an accident. The authorities spent several days trying to locate any of my friend’s family members to notify. That’s a long time for a family to go unaware of a disaster, and can make planning a proper burial difficult.
I think everyone with a cell phone should program an “In Case of Emergency” contact number into the device. It is commonly referred to as an “ICE” number, and it could save individuals and their families a lot of pain.
John E. Smythe
Bunker Hill
The Garment & Citizen welcomes letters to the editor and guest opinion columns. We offer no payment and will not return submitted manuscripts. Submissions must be signed, with a telephone number and address, if possible. We reserve the right to edit submissions for space, clarity, and civility. The identity of authors may be withheld upon request and at the editor’s discretion. Send submissions to: Editor, Los Angeles Garment & Citizen, 117 W. 9th Street,, #410-411, Los Angeles, CA 90015; or fax to (213) 892-8075; or send via e-mail to editor@garmentandcitizen.com
