Some Scottsdale art galleries close doors

The art world is struggling to survive in these tough financial times, with an economy constantly jeopardizing its future.

With the economy going downhill, it is hard for art gallery owners to make it through the day. When people don't have money, the last thing most people will do is spend money on entertainment and luxury items such as jewelry, or pieces of artwork.

"Art is the last thing people buy. The art business is the first thing to go down when the economy goes bad," says Antonio Bartczak, a 55-year-old photographer and sculptor, represented by The Duley-Jones Gallery in Scottsdale.

Janice Bartczak, president of the Scottsdale Art Festival and director of retail operations for the Scottsdale Cultural Council, agrees that this time of year is the hardest time for any art galleries.

"The fall is usually the opening season for art; summer is completely dead and early winter is the best time, but this year, we didn't get any of that. It's all been the same," says Janice Bartczak.

Antonio Bartczak adds, "I believe this disaster is temporary. It will eventually get back on track."

In tough times, artists will present their idea using cheaper materials and cutting down prices and hopefully gallery owners will gamble on new artists to keep their gallery interesting.

"People rethink and artists redo their concept," says Antonio Bartczak. "That's how we will survive."

Priscilla Decker, a 26-year-old student art major and an intern at the Getty Museum in California, says, " The economy going down has not only affected the buyers in the art world, but the type of emerging artists as well."

Before getting recognition, most artists are typically anonymous, and struggle to keep their art as the main focus and passion of their lives, while working dead-end jobs until they make it.

Decker added, "With an economy going downward, we witness less and less originality within the types of artists who are willing to put themselves out there and risk big financial loss. Instead, we have more up-and-coming artists from well off backgrounds, who nonetheless have been affected by financial hardship, yet to a lesser degree."