Can Art Boost Tourism?

Art brings people together. It encourages community gatherings and serves as a center of activity. This is why art enthusiasts can often be found traveling the world; art attracts visitors from far off destinations and increases tourism. In addition to welcoming cultural experiences, globe trotting art lovers stimulate local economies.

To confirm this belief, take a look at current events from around the world. News from Abu Dhabi, the state of California, and an international debate involving a traveling art exhibit all suggest art can boost tourism, and in effect, economies.

Abu Dhabi Art Attractions

Abu Dhabi’s economy is growing fast. As industrial growth revitalizes this land, the emirate is planning to use art as a way of attracting tourists. In fact, there are plans for several museums and art centers to open in 2015. The goal is to use art as a way of boosting the city’s appeal. Such cultural centers will show the world that Abu Dhabi is open for business, community life, and tourism.

California’s Creative Economy

The state and economy is devoted to using art as a means of bringing people together. Over the years, creative efforts have boosted California’s economy. More than 600,000 people work in creative businesses that are registered in the state of California at the present time. It has brought public, private, and nonprofit sectors together in an effort to shape communities and attract tourists.

A Global Art Debate       

As economies are strengthened by art, some are weakened by a lack thereof. At present, a global debate focuses on the importance of art in local economies. The Cleveland Museum of Art canceled a traveling Sicilian art exhibit that was scheduled for fall. This is because Sicily regrets loaning the artwork to museums in other countries, as its absence has hurt the local economy. Oddly enough, the Cleveland Museum of Art fears a similar predicament.

Art is a vital element for any city. It strengthens local economies and creates jobs for people who care about the community. It is a great way for people to learn about culture, enjoy artistic experiences, and support the global economy. News around the world confirms how powerful a force art is to local communities and the world at large. How has art stimulated the area where you live?

Read more Segmation blog posts about Art’s Influence on Economies:

A Branch of the Louvre Museum to be Built in Abu Dhabi

Chicago Landmarks Before the Lens

Selling Your Art in a Strained Economy

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Thomas Kinkade: The “Painter of Light”

Thomas Kinkade, popularly known as the “Painter of Light,” passed away in his sleep at the age of 54. His inspirational work touched the lives of many and will continue to live on.

Blessed with an ability to capture a moment in time, Kinkade preserved some of the most beautiful scenes of life in his paintings. Those who admire his work know that each of his paintings offer an escape from reality.

His idyllic settings, infused with radiant light, include nature scenes; gardens and seascapes, as well as nostalgic homes, cottages and cityscapes. He painted a classic America; one that many dream of and long for. Kinkade’s paintings depict the world that many people wanted to be part of – picture perfect in every way.

The painter once said, “My mission as an artist is to capture those special moments in life adorned with beauty and light. I work to create images that project a serene simplicity that can be appreciated and enjoyed by everyone.” He painted for the people, not for the critics.

Even those unfamiliar with Kinkade’s paintings can see that his work tells a story. The champions and collectors of Kinkade’s endeavors know there is more than meets the eye in each painting. For instance, the “Painter of Light” always included his wife’s initials. He also inserted his very first hero, Norman Rockwell, into many of his pieces. If you spot the boy working his paper rout on a bicycle in “Hometown Morning”, then you have discovered Kinkade himself, preserved in the moment he met his beloved wife Nanette.

Much of the inspiration for his art was fueled by his faith. Despite a less than ideal childhood, Kinkade always clung to his art. By the age of sixteen, he had become an accomplished painter. He studied at the University of California at Berkley and then worked as an artist for films.

Many people credit his time spent working on films as the experience that enabled him to grasp the effects of light, which he transferred to his painting. All of his paintings include a warm, radiant and comforting light that calls one back to a simpler time.

Thomas Kinkade’s life mission, to make art available to everyone that they might enjoy beauty, is still a reality. Though the talented and generous man is gone, he lives on through his paintings. Millions of people will still stand looking at his paintings, caught for a moment in the comforting and inspiring worlds he created.

http://www.artbythomaskinkade.com/thomas_kinkade.html

http://www.thomaskinkade.com/magi/servlet/com.asucon.ebiz.biography.web.tk.BiographyServlet

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Related articles

• “Painter of Light,” Thomas Kinkade dies at 54 (rhymeetreason.com)
• Is Your Thomas Kinkade Painting About to Increase in Value? (dailyfinance.com)
• Tribute to Thomas Kinkade (realmanure.wordpress.com)

Art Alive

If you’ve never been to the San Diego Museum of Art for their yearly event, Art Alive, this is the year you should participate. The San Diego Museum of Art challenges floral designers to make the artistic masterpieces housed in their museum come alive through their floral interpretations. This four day event, beginning April 12 and ending on April 15, will fill the museum with thousands of flowers and, hopefully, thousands of visitors. The pictures in this blog post are examples of what you can expect to see at Art Alive.

Floral designers of all levels, from amateur to professional, gather at the museum to create floral sculptures that mimic famous pieces of art. The sculptures of flower arrangements depict images painted on canvas, from portraits to landscapes. Throughout the four day-long festivities, these living floral arrangements will be placed beside the famous pieces of art they are interpreting.

The museum’s masterpieces truly come alive as they are interpreted by these creative floral designers. You will be surprised and delighted to see how imagination comes alive when flowers meet with paint. The floral designers make use of light, color, and structural ingenuity to make these canvas paintings take on a new dimension. Art Alive celebrates artistic masterpieces of all types.

The four day-long event will be packed with activities. The event begins with an opening celebration on April 12 and includes a dinner for guests and a sneak peek at the Art Alive floral designs with their painted counterparts. The exhibition is open to the public beginning April 13. The Art Alive exhibition will also included fun events for children and families. These events will be geared towards the idea that art is alive.

Flowers After Hours is another nighttime event in which guests can peruse the floral art exhibit while sampling tasty hors d’oeuvres and drinks. Behind the scenes, these floral designers are competing hard to create their own artistic masterpieces inspired by the famous works located at the San Diego Museum of Art.

If you plan on visiting the Art Alive exhibit at the San Diego Museum of Art, be prepared to pay an entry fee. Rest assured that this fee is going to a good cause–Art Alive is one of the museum’s greatest fundraising events. The proceeds will go towards special exhibitions, educational outreach programs, and art conservation projects.

Can you imagine a more perfect way to usher in Spring?

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