art scam - artists as obvious targets

[VisualThinker7@zzzzzzz]

People who create and are desperate to get some recognition, be  appreciated,
sell their work, are always targeted in this way.
In New York City there are a number of 'galleries' that require artists to
underwrite their costs by paying to have their work shown in the galleries. Why
 do artists do it? Because they're desperate, and they believe the promises
made  by the operators of these galleries. Most of these galleries have never,
ever,  sold a work of art for anyone.

When SOHO was the hot neighborhood for art galleries in NYC, there  were
quite a few inexpensive spaces in office buildings (560 Broadway was one  such)
which could be used for galleries. Some legitimate galleries got  started in
those spaces (Elga Wimmer, Andrew Kreps, Jose Freire, Anton  Kern are some
respected gallerists who got started there).
Mixed in were a number of 'vanity' galleries, which promised artists an
entre' into the supposedly 'closed elitist art world' if they'd pay up front,  and
delivered no real exposure, sales or critical notice (critics generally
decline to review the work shown in those places).

The same understandable desire for some form of acknowledgment  may also lead
some artists to be ripped off by the 'certified check'  scammers.

Remember, some artists spend years, and thousands of dollars, getting
worthless MFA degrees, too. And many borrow heavily to do it. I find that  very very
sad; and I'm glad that I dropped out of High School after the 10th  grade,
owing nothing.