Who’s buying art? Creators prepare for Rockford’s Spring ArtScene

ROCKFORD, Ill. (WTVO) – Spring ArtScene is this weekend, and thousands of pieces of art will be displayed at multiple locations in Rockford.

Artists say they expect customers to come from multiple demographics during the two-day show.

“A lot of the newcomers that are here, we tell them, ‘Be prepared to sell your art,'” said artist Savon Blosser, who owns Bennie’s Cleaners with her husband, Bob.

Bennie’s is one of ArtScene’s premier gallery spaces. The venue sells about $70,000 worth of art every year.

“People come out to art shows to buy art,” Blosser said. “I believe they come out to see what new artists are out here.”

Of course, a lot of art is bought by collectors. There are also loyalists who know exactly what they want.

“There are definitely art patrons who just love art,” said artist Joe Zimmer. “It’s their passion. There are kind of groupies I’ll call [them], for certain artists. These are patrons who will follow that artist and seek their work constantly.”

It’s not just collectors who are buying. It’s not uncommon for those who know very little about art to spend top dollar for locally created pieces.

“And if someone buys a piece, it means a lot to the artists,” Zimmer said. “Because if you are that moved that much to buy the piece, that’s a big statement to the artist himself.”

It’s also not unusual for artists to sell their work to other artists.

“Knowing how much goes into it is a big thing,” said Chris Hoessrich, who’s showing his body of work at Bennie’s this weekend and has his eye on a new pieces he likes. “[I also want] to support fellow artists knowing how hard it is to create sometimes and the work that goes into it.”

The art community is close-knit.

“Certainly, artists are always intrigued by other artists’ work because it’s like a kinship,” Zimmer said. “Artists just think similar.”

Hoessrich added that because the market is a broad one, getting in front of as many people as possible is the key to being commercially successful.

“Art is so subjective that no matter what you make, there’s probably going to be a market for somebody,” he said.

ArtScene spaces are open 5-9 p.m., Friday, and 4-9 p.m. Saturday.