Every year, thousands of art festivals are held in the United States alone. They provide an opportunity for households to find new display pieces, aspiring artists to view a collection of creations of many different styles, and children to play and be exposed to art. But perhaps most importantly, they are an opportunity for local artists to display and share their pieces with the community. Art festivals are places where artists can ensure their voices will be heard and their creativity will be seen by the public. This is especially important nowadays as a career in art becomes more and more difficult to sustain with the rise in AI (Artificial intelligence) -generated art, and consequently, lowered appreciation of genuine art.

 

Ensuring Authenticity

Some art festivals have blind juries; meaning they have a panel that will grade the pieces of each artist and allow the ones with the highest grades to participate. Having a blind jury also ensures that only legitimate, trustworthy artists will get to participate. This is because blind juries are made up of professional artists who can distinguish authentic, human made art from AI. This can help vendors avoid having competition from “artists” selling AI-generated pieces. It also assures buyers of the sellers’ authenticity and uniqueness. It shows that they are practiced artists, rather than plagiarists, who have honed their skills over years. 

 

Why Not AI-Generated Art?

Some may be wondering; “Why is AI-generated art so dangerous for independent artists and their buyers?” This is a question that has three main answers. First, ethics and morals aside, it’s not financially fair. AI generation can be used by almost anyone, and for free. Selling AI-generated art relies very little on any type of practice or time, and therefore, is overpriced at any amount. Second, it takes business away from artists who have spent hours, weeks, even months making a piece of art. This makes it much more difficult to have a career as an independent artist. Third, selling AI-generated art takes away from the value of true art. But what is true art? According to the Cambridge Dictionary, art is “An activity through which people express particular ideas.” The emphasis here is on people.

 

Art is a way for people to express feelings, and convey their thoughts, through a medium we can enjoy with our own senses. So what do we consider to be art? For many art connoisseurs, there is a line drawn between art and AI-generated images. For this reason, having a blind jury to filter out the art allowed to be showcased prevents uncertainty about whether or not what is being sold is truly art.

 

Bayou City Art Festival

One particular example of an art festival with a blind jury is the Bayou City Art Festival. With over 300 artists and vendors each year, the Bayou City Art Festival displays a wide array of original pieces of all different mediums. The artists interact with their customers, sharing their experiences, and explaining the stories behind their artwork. Not only is it a marvelous place for small-scale artists to get business, but it also fosters a love and appreciation of real artwork and the people behind it.

 

The Bayou City Art Festival partners each year with local nonprofits such as the TJH (Thomas J. Henry) Active Imagination Zone, ARTreach, and Brave Little Company who are given a portion of all profits. By supporting the Bayou City Art Festival, we are giving back to the community in more ways than one. And at the same time, it’s a perfect opportunity to get out of the house and have some fun!

 

So, whether we are full-time art enthusiasts, or happen to have free time and live in the area, we might consider spending some time at an art festival. It can be a place for inspiration, learning, and of course, fun. But above all, it’s a way to support art for art’s sake.