Undoubtedly most artist do not create in order to compete 5
for first place. Yet artists work in a society which thrives
through individual ambition. Capitalist economics believes that
through entrpreneurial self interest in onen competition resources
will be used efficiently and prices kent low (Adam Smith's “Invisible
Hand''), Society grants the artists individual freedom, likewise,
to produce a wide range of art goods from which the Consumer, as
King, may choese. The artist is ina buyer's market where demand
for his product is determined by taste and price of informed consumers.
But 'taste' is a difficult measure, and the public enjoys the
judging process, or oninions of eritice and dealers hecause these
provide a certain 'Stamn of Anproval' and so helns inform the
public on what 'aood taste' may he. Artists as ''sole traders"
usually have a low advertizing hudget and nerhans believe it is
bad ethics to mold their consumers taste directly. Nevertheless
they do enjoy being noticed with prize winnina honours and present
their history of private and public shows as a tyne of credential.

The dominant end hy which artist justify comnetition is that it
dives them an opportunity to display their work publicly. Innortunrities
to connect publicly are limited because onen aallery spaces are
not available. Those who have a genuine interest in nromotina art
are tied by financial limitations. %ne can understand the select-
ivity of the dealer who risks his canital investment and his living.
With public collective shows the mechanism of taste is also emnloyed
to limit quantity to manageable nronortions. frtists do not nec-
essarily believe in the taste of judaes or dealers, but they will
submit themseles to such evaluation hecause they may he lucky. ‘The
judges taste and their own inteaqral taste may corcur, allowina the
chance for nuhlic showina and nossibly prize money. Like the
beauty pageant contestant who believes in her/his own virtue, the
artist submits to the judaina nanel. The motivation mav be an
authentic desire to connect nublicly or it may he alory, money,

Rolls Royces or mink stoles. At hest the artist will accent success
with humility though not subservience, or will accent lack of
success with a stoic indifference. Winner and loser remain aood sports.

What are the alternatives to comnetitive art qame nlayvince when
seeking public access? It is nossible for the individual to organize
one's own gallery space, nerhans in arwharehouse or “th the' studio.
Cooperatives are a realistic method for increasina financial resources.
Based on the one member - one vote princinle smace can he obtained
and used coonerativelyfas in the Concourse Print Show where each
artist ts allotted ahout six feet of wall snace) ®illknards can
he used to either advertize or show work (enlaraed ty commercial
artists, as was done by London, Ontario artists) © Oraanizations
such as CARFAC heln motivate and orcanize lohhvi'nd nressure on
aovernment. seekine increased sunport for artists.