Carving out a living

Sculptor Amy Brier sets up her home much like she sets up her business. Half-carved blocks of Indiana limestone and work benches are the only furniture in the studio of her Smithville, Ind., duplex. Plastic covers the beige carpet and a fine cloud of gray dust permeates the air. A lamp in what would be the living room illuminates the top of a sphere where Brier has carved a relief of fish swimming in a stony sea. In a bedroom closet, a two-foot tall clay model of a paramecium for the façade of IU's Simon Hall waits to be carved into the building this spring. Next door in her other apartment, art prints decorate the walls and a computer and fax machine sit ready in Brier's office for her to update her Web site or apply to another juried art show. \n"I'm in the process of creating a product line and making a business plan," Brier said. "I've had to go and learn what they teach at the business school." \nFor many artists and performers, talent and artistic ability are only half of the equation for success. Being financially successful in the art world requires business know-how and persistence, which might not be taught in art school. For local artists, IU and the Bloomington community offer support for artists looking to take their passion or hobby to the next level. \nAn excellent art school and Indiana limestone brought Brier to Bloomington in 1994. Raised in Providence, R.I., she attended the Boston University Art School and worked mostly in clay. After discovering her love for working with stone during a trip to Italy, Brier learned the trade and became a professional stone cutter. She worked on several large projects, including the Cathedrale St. Jean in Lyon, France, and the Cathedral of St. John the Divine in New York City. Brier used her salary and a "small cushion of family money" to keep herself afloat financially, and understands how trying it can be for artists to get by. \n"I feel very lucky to have this trade," she said. "Trying to be an artist without some sort of support is very difficult." \nMost of Brier's projects in New York used Indiana limestone, which drew her to IU's MFA program. Here she established the Limestone Symposium in 1996, an event that draws stone carvers from all over the country to Bloomington. \nThroughout her career, Brier has exhibited her work in galleries and shows throughout the U.S. and Germany. Submitting work to juried shows is the first step in becoming a professional artist, Brier said. "(Juried shows) are a great way to build up your resume," she said. Art magazines list galleries or shows looking for new artists, and a quick Internet search can match artists with galleries that are right for them.\nRegional galleries are a great place to start, and can often lead to other opportunities, she added. \nThrough her gallery connections, Brier has received several public and private commissions. \nAfter living in Berlin for four years, Brier moved back to Bloomington last spring. Since returning, she has focused her time on starting a business marketing smaller cast versions of limestone balls featured in many of her shows. Currently, she is speaking with wholesale distributors and galleries about taking her pieces. \nFor aspiring artists, Brier has one piece of advice: take a small business administration class in marketing. "I think this should just be mandatory for artists," she said. "In order to become successful in the business world, you have to play their game." \nTo help local artists better understand the business world, the Bloomington Area Arts Council offers the Artists After Hours lecture series. The event is held once a month at the John Waldron Arts Center and addresses business and legal issues of special interest to artists, such as copyright and tax filing. \n"(The program) helps artists who want to take their work or business to another level," said Miah Michaelsen, director of the JWAC. "It's a way to connect artists with professionals in the community to help them meet their needs."\nMichaelsen is also the gallery director and schedules shows in the Waldron's two galleries. Artists can exhibit in the galleries or sell their work in the gallery shop. About 50 artists have their work in the shop with close to 100 during the large holiday art sale. The gallery takes 40 percent of every purchase, which Michaelsen said is a standard commission for a gallery. \nMichaelsen, said most artists learn about the BAAC and the Waldron through word of mouth and approach her about gallery opportunities. \n"January is a very busy time because I get a lot of people who say, 'This is it, this year I'm finally going to get my work out there,'" she said. \nIn addition to artists' inquiries, Michaelsen recruits talent through local art shows. Even if artists don't have art degrees, Michaelson says that most of the artists she works with began art as a hobby. Although selling their art does earn them money, most artists Michaelsen works with do not depend on the income to support them. \n"Most of them have day jobs," she said.\nThose just beginning a professional art career have many options, Michaelsen said. In addition to gallery shows, artists can also sell at indoor and outdoor art fairs. Wholesale is another option, in which an artist will sell work to a company that supplies gift shops with merchandise. Opening an independent gallery appeals to some artists who want more control over how their work is displayed or marketed. Most importantly, artists need to decide their priorities before embarking on an art career. \n"I ask people, 'What is your goal?' What is your comfort level?'" Michaelsen said. "If you want to travel to the five biggest shows in the country to get your work noticed, you've got to be willing to do that. If you want to do outdoor shows, you've got to buy a booth, show up early to set up and be willing to deal with people. Different decisions have different personal and financial ramifications."\nIn addition to working as a professional artist, the creatively-driven can also work behind the scenes at an arts organization. These include symphony orchestras, opera companies, museums and theaters, said Susan Sandberg, coordinator of the Arts Administration program at IU. The two-year Master's program combines business and management classes from the School of Public and Environmental Affairs with fine arts electives to prepare students for leadership positions in the arts community. \n"(Communities) tend to spend a lot of money on artists but don't spend the time training those who will hire artists," Sandberg said. "We train leaders that have the skills to shepherd arts organizations that help artists."\nBusiness skills are a necessary component for a successful arts organization, Sandberg said. Arts leaders just have to know how to use those skills. \n"It's a matter of knowing what you are selling," she said. "How do you take basic business principles and apply them to a different market?"\nMichaelson said no matter what career path artists choose, they can be successful if they combine talent and hard work.\n"In the end, how much effort are you willing to put into it? Every person is different, and needs to figure out their own plan"