What happened to my art scene?

Downtown Flint Skyline. Photo taken by Sarah Razak. This photo was acquired through the Creative Commons License on Flickr.

I remember 3-years-ago how fun the art scene in downtown Flint was. Art Walk was always fun and the galleries were full, but there were small indie shows as well that brought in tons of people. Granted I can be some what biased in this, given that I have helped put together a good portion of indie shows myself. But it makes me sad that the art scene is so cliche and not at all what the artists in the city deserve. Not everyone wants to be a part of the bigger galleries, or sometimes they aren't able.

I am definitely not knocking the major galleries, because lord knows I appreciate them and what they are doing for the community, but I miss the grittiness of those indie shows. I miss the feel of those shows. You could tell that the people involved put everything they had into making something different, yet respectful, than the norm.

I wish the artists in Flint would stop for a moment, and think about those little shows and what they meant for artists who couldn't get their work out there, and how some of these indie shows helped them get where they are, how they helped them get noticed.

I will never give up my passion for these shows, cause I have been the one putting them on, and I have been the one getting their work out there because of them. So, artists in Flint, here is your chance, lets kick it old school and do what we do best; keep the arts alive, and give 'em one hell of a show!

"Few things are as heart wrenching as watching someone you love die but I can tell you that watching someTHING you love die can elicit similar pain and heartache. It is torture to watch something you worked on and poured your passion into as it dies, worse when you see it dying but can’t stop it.

For me right now that THING is community art and it is dying…but it doesn’t have to."

Chris Ringler, Flint Arts Activist

Will it stay or will it go now?

Buckham Gallery in downtown Flint has been one of the major staples of art that I can remember. The gallery was established in 1984 by a group of artists who felt that Flint needed a space for serious artists. But as of late, the gallery has been suffering, trying to keep it's doors open.

Buckham Gallery is an artist run, non-profit organization. Over the past 25 years, the gallery has depended on monies coming in from grants, donations, and dues from members. In this time also, the gallery has been host to hundreds of shows, poetry and performance art events.

Part of the problem this year for the gallery is that the State of Michigan has done serious budget cuts, cuts that leaves Buckham almost $15,000 short of what they get each year. That $15,000 only covered approximately one-third of their annual expenses.

Sam Morello, Buckham Gallery's treasurer told the Michigan Times (a student publication at UM-Flint) “We used to receive a good deal of money from the Michigan Council for Arts and Cultural Affairs and it is the same department of the state of Michigan government which has been cut.”

Many other art organizations are also feeling the pinch of funds being cut in Michigan, but have managed to stay afloat. With the economy in the state that it is in, art sales and membership have been at an all time low. Buckham has seen dark days, and hopefully they will put through these.

Buckham Gallery is located at 134 1/2 W. Second St. in downtown Flint. Business hours are:
Wed. thru Fri. 12-5p.m. For further information on how you can contribute to Buckham Gallery email the General Manager Jennifer Sikora @ manager@buckhamgallery.org.

Why am I here you ask?

Hello all out there in the blogosphere world! My name is Amanda Emery and I am going to be telling you all about the rad art scene in the downtown Flint area. Not just the major galleries, but the small indy shows as well. Flint has always been rich in the arts, whether they be musical or physical.

I remember when I first became involved in the arts in Flint, I was the ripe old age of 13 and I would come downtown to the Local 432 and listen to local bands. I believe that my love of music and art really started there. As I got older I began to become more involved in other arts in Flint as well.

I have helped put together small indy art shows in downtown, as well as help out and be a part of shows in the bigger galleries.

The point of what I want to tell you here, is that Flint might hit some hard times, but the arts have always stayed strong. The Local 432 is making a comeback, some major galleries maybe struggling, but they are managing. And every now and again, people take the initiative to find a space, and put on a rad as hell show of their own. What I am gonna do is bring you some pieces of all of it.

Hope you enjoy.