ARTS IN STORE:
Rethinking the relationship between Art and Business
by Michael Markowsky
Officially released June 27, 2009

"Should be required reading for every art student."
– Richard Halliday R.C.A. (Artist, Educator and former President of the Alberta College of Art)

Michael Markowsky's goal was to start a conversation about the relationship between art and business. He set out to interview the most interesting artists and entrepreneurs he could find: to get some practical advice on how artists can make a living practicing their craft, and what business people can learn from the artistic process. This book contains 8 of the over 30 interviews he recorded, including discussions with Visual Artists (Julian Hoeber and John Lapointe), a Musician (Mary Au), a Marketing Consultant (Robin Faulk), a Marketing Coach (Don Levy), an Etiquette Consultant (Lisa Mirza Grotts) and an Art Writer (Jan Tumlir). These frank and honest discussions – while always illuminating and insightful – are often laugh-out loud hilarious!

Also included are Michael's attempts to set-up his easel and make a painting inside of local businesses: "It occurred to me that it would wonderful to be pushing a shopping cart up and down the aisles of a department store, and just as you turn the corner by the vacuum cleaners, you stumble upon an artist working on a painting." View the proposal he sent to retail giant Target, as well as documentation from his successful residency in the courtyard of One Colorado, a historic retail space in Pasadena, California.

Michael Markowsky is an award winning artist and art teacher. His artwork has been exhibited throughout the United States and his native Canada. He is known primarily for his paintings, drawings and videos made while riding inside and on top of moving vehicles, such as cars, buses, trains, airplanes and speedboats.

WHAT PEOPLE ARE SAYING ABOUT ARTS IN STORE:

“Over the course of 25 years as a professional career counselor for creative individuals, this book is the best one I’ve come across.”
.............– Ruth Strick, Freelance Artist and Career Coach

“They should distribute it in every art school. It [addresses] a concern I've had for a long time about giving art students an idea of what to do once they leave school. Your interview format keeps it objective by collecting personal, professional experiences. You had a good idea and executed it well.”
.............– George Stoll, Visual Artist

“I find the book impressive and informative. Even though certain parts raised hackles, I like how you got people to say what they really believe. This is certainly stuff that needs to be discussed right now, wherever you happen to stand. So, what I want to endorse most is the controversial nature of what you're getting into.”
.............– Jan Tumlir, Art Critic and Writer

“Arts in Store is the quintessential guide for people with creative minds looking for ways on how to bridge the gap between creative ideas and commerce.”
.............– Richard Rossetto, Book Review on Arts + Culture

Includes over 60 drawings from 2000-2006, as well as 13 full color reproductions of oil paintings made in 2005 and 2006.