Music Is Art - what happened?

Since Robby Takac announced last week the parting of ways between his yearly Music Is Art festival and the powers that be in Allentown, many of you have written, called, and posted comments voicing your concerns.

Let's get a forum going here - please send your opinions in, so that a legitimate discussion might be had concerning Music is Art's relocation to the Fairgrounds in Hamburg this year.

What will Allentown, and downtown in general, lose? Is this potentially a good thing for the long-term success of Music Is Art? Another example of small-minded politics trumping new and exciting ideas in Buffalo? What gives?

Comments

[Mike K]

This is a horrible development for the Music is Art festival. I don't see many benefits to moving the festival from the vibrant Allentown neighborhood to the sterile fairgrounds. To look at the glass half-full, this may be opportunity for people that would not normally go anywhere near the festival when it was in the city to attend. Now that I said one thing positive, let me leap back into why this is a bad omen for the survival of the festival. Character counts! Allentown has a surplus of old buildings that ooze character and charm. The fairgrounds have old people, which can be interesting as well but in a way that is different than what one experiences walking around Allentown. I live in the 'burbs and enjoy it but having the Music is Art festival there just seems like a mis-match, like Clay Aiken singing death metal or Michael Jackosn and Lisa-Marie Presley. There is no reason these two festivals (3 festivals if you count the more local art festival right next door) could not coexist. They appeal to two different types of creativity, music and art. I would have liked to see the two festivals coexist. Just another example of someone younger trying to change things and having the old guard of Buffalo shoot it down. Why not have the festival in Delaware Park?

[John]

I was also very disappointed when I heard the news. To me the two festivals really complimented each other and having the Music is Art Festival to relocate to the fair grounds is a terrible idea. I agree with Mike, it’s just another example of the old guard shooting down something new.

[Rich]

Having been a volunteer for all of the MIA events, I am disgusted at the city for this. Why would you send anything out of the city when the idea is to get people INTO the city? This is so typical of Buffalo. Short sighted are the only words I can use here that you will print. This will hurt MIA, which did not hurt the Allentown Art festival at all. Don't get me started on the "world class festival" comments, either. It has dwindled to almost nothing more than a large craft show (but that is a discussion for another time). Thanks for the forum to sound off.

[Taylor]

I can't believe that the city of Buffalo would not want to be a part of this festival. I have attended it every year and it is usaully the highlight of my summer. The fair does not seem to fit MIA's vibe, it was perfect in Allentown. Robby puts so much effort into this festival and I just hope that it works out at the fair.

[Mark Weber]

I've never been to the Music Is Art festival, but I appreciate that it exists and I think it made a lot of sense for it to be where it was; however, the people putting on the Allentown art festival made it real clear that they didn't like it as a neighbor, so in my opinion, there were two things that could have resulted: change it to a different day or weekend during the year and leave it where it is, or change its location. Perhaps it will be a great event as part of "America's Fair." Perhaps it will end up taking place back in Allentown some other year, ideally during a time when there's not a lot of competition like May or September. Buffalo has many great musicians, and Music Is Art is an integral part of our social fabric. We should be thankful it takes place, and not fight over where it takes place.

[Buffalopundit]

It's yet another example of parochialism run amok in this city. MIA was a great addition to that weekend of festivals in Allentown. Basically, the Allentown Village Society disagrees about the very principle of music being art. That makes them small-minded, petty _and_ ignorant.

[kitty]

It's not that city doesn't want it! It's the stuck up organizers of the Allentown Art Festival that get a bug up somewhere every time something different goes at the festival. It's time for these people to realize that the Allentown Art Festival does not belong to them...it belongs to the people of Buffalo!! Sorry Robbie...we appreciate your efforts even if the old f-rts don't!

[kitty]

Had to sign off earlier but to continue: The organizers of the Allentown Art Fest do a great job in terms of putting the festival on the street. However, it became obvious years ago that they are very much out of touch with those very streets! A few years ago they tried to prevent Allentown businesses from opening their doors during the fest, especially if they sold food & drink. Excuse me if my idea of a meal is not fried dough!! Then when a group wanted to put a children's art area into a parking lot (giving the parents a place to rest for a bit) the pres. of the Allentown Village Society said she didn't want it because "children don't attend the festival." WHAT??? The festival has evolved, it has grown, it has changed. Having the MIA festival nearby was a wonderful thing, giving it new life and its own soundtrack! I hope these disputes can be smoothed over and in the future, MIA can return to its birthplace once more.

[SULLY]

JUST ANOTHER EXAMPLE OF POLITICS GETTING IN THE WAY. BUFFALO SHOULD EMBRACE CHANGE AND NEW IDEAS TO BRING PEOPLE INTO THE CITY INSTEAD OF DISCOURAGING IT. TAKE A PAGE OUT OF AUSTIN TEXAS, IT ALL HAPPENS ON SIXTH STREET AND AUSTIN CITY LIGHTS IS FANTASTIC. NO WONDER OUR POPULATION IS DWINDLING. THE POLITICIANS ARE ALL IN IT FOR THEMSELVES AND REALLY DON'T CARE WHAT THE PEOPLE WANT. IT IS REALLY SAD.

[Patty]

I am late to this discussion, but I would like to give the perspective of someone who earns a living at art shows. Although it is cool to insist A'town is full of yard art, that just isn't true. Really look. Allen West, the renegade show that attached itself to the coatails of the main event has a more "eclectic" mix, but the main show is fine art and craft, tightly juried. They are unrelated venues. Both have a place in a festival like this. A'town is regarded within the art community as one of the best in the nation. That is because, as unpopular as the organizers are, even among the exhibitors, they put on a great show. When Robby 1st insinuated himself inot an event that has been ongoing for 50 yrs, there was little warning and the art show had to quickly move artists, give refunds, re-do logistics they spend a year firming up. They lose artists every yr because of the impact of MIA. It changes the demographics of the crowd, impacts the general atmosphere of the festival which is considered by most of us to be a serious buying event. I know 4 artists in my immediate circle of "show buddies" that are not coming back.To attract quality artists you have to give them a professional platform. As vistors, we all love the funky, music-filled, child friendly, wide open "festival". Serious artists and artisans avoid them. Elmwood is an exception to the usual rules about art shows. They also don't get the same level of artistry. There are all sorts of festivals. You can't make all of them the same to fit your personal idea of what is fun. This will not be a popular opinion, but it is true for many of us looking at you from inside the little white tents. My question is why Robby has to piggy back onto an existing event. His studio is in the neighborhood, have it a week or 2 later. It will draw a great crowd and impact the area for a second time instead of just bloating a weekend already full of activity. That never seems to be addressed. I know his heart is in the right place, but his need to glom onto an event that already did all the work is a bit annoying.

[Kitty]

OK, maybe it's me, but Patty's comments seem to have a bit of attitude, a looking-down-the-nose-at-the-outsiders kind of flavor, or perhaps it could best be expressed as "I don't want to associate with that kind." OK, maybe I'm not considered a "serious" buyer of art because I'm not buying $5000 paintings. Maybe my opinion as a consumer is considered less than that of an ARTIST (emphasis on the ART!) But without the consumers like me, this festival would go bust, to put it in ordinary terms. I would bet that there are a lot more small purchases made than major ones, and that adds up. Anyway, why someone would object to somebody playing music a couple of streets away is beyond me. How, exactly, does it change the demographics? Seems to me I read that the festival attendance has gone up each year for the past several years. But if some artists are selling less than they used to, how about looking at their prices? A lot of artists have priced themselves out of my budget, and I seriously doubt it's only me. However, there is much more to be found at this festival besides still life paintings and marble sculptures, and that is all to the good. As somebody else commented, there are a lot of "craft" items. If the definition of "fine art" can be stretched enough to cover lawn chairs made out of raw branches and the iron shepherd hooks that every 3rd festival patron ends up carrying, then it can stretch far enough to cover music. I have to ask: if the MIA festival wanted to include the BPO, would that suddenly make it "fine art"?

[Patty]

No, Kitty, I am not a fine artist. My work is considered "fine craft" and my prices are really reasonable. And I love the GooGoo Dolls and all they do. I'm in no position to look down my nose at anyone. The question was posed about why this was a problem for the Art Festival and I'm just responding with the viewpoint of the folks who need these shows to make a living. It's hard work (altnough many don't believe it )and shows liked A'town are hard to find. We have so many in the Northeast most are unaware that for much of the country the industry is dying off with the baby boomers. I doubt the art fest will go "bust" since it's been doing fine for 50 yrs, but we should respect it and the effort made to keep it a respected and fun event. That's all. I still don't understand why Music is Art can't be on its own weekend. It should be in the city.

[Doug]

The biggest sham about the MIA and the Allentown Arts Festival was the noise factor. Allegedly, the noise would spill out into the Arts Fest. Plain and simple, you could "barely" and I'm mean "barely" hear the music from the corner of Franklin and Allen (the closest the two festivals would get together). Yet the Art Fest folks would say that it was way too loud and would drive away artists... The Art Fest people have a great way of taking a grain of truth and making it sound as if the world is coming to an end. I think the real shame is what some of the artists charge for very subpar work...and what's up with all the crafts? I see the same crap there year in, year out. The Allentown Arts Festival is the best (art, A-town neighborhood) and the worst (short-sighted people) of Buffalo. Long live MIA and other events such as the Elmwood Arts Fest.