C Drew - Street Artist Adventures

We brag greatly about how free we are in this nation. This makes me think deeply about how free we really are. What is the quality of our democracy? What are the obstacles that limit the public discourse? As an artist, I believe artists contribute uniquely to the public discourse.

How are we encouraged and what constrictions reduce artists’ abilities to interact with the public? How do Chicago’s policies affect my ability to show and sell my art? Is your right to view and support artists in your midst reduced to a minimum? How? Why? Can you imagine a policeman, hand on his cuffs, telling you that you can not give me money for my t-shirt art? What is free speech in a free society and, again, how free are we?

Welcome to C Drew, Art Adventures. Come with me as I sell peace patches in Chicago. My goal is an artist friendly city attracting artists from across the midwest. To attract artists there must be creative opportunities at the first rung of the community arts latter to support creative individuals who seek them out. An open city that encourages artists to be seen, heard, and encouraged to sell their arts in the parks, on the streets and anywhere possible as long as the public saftey is not threatened or the public’s way blocked. A simple policy change such as that would cost the city nothing but would attract artists from the region and beyond. It would make Chicago a much more attractive tourist and convention destination, too.

Explore the challenge of the street artist in Chicago by following my posts.