Benefits of Being an Art Locavore

The biggest PLUS of Buy Local: you can get to know the artist. This goes way beyond making a fascinating new friend. Your connection to, appreciation and understanding of a piece is SOOOO enhanced by spending time with its maker, getting into the head of that artist, hearing about what he or she seeks to express.
Now it's true, some gallerists are more articulate explaining a given artist's work than the artist himself… But it's generally more FUN to hear directly from the brain that made the work.
Don't be shy, take an artist to lunch.
Believe me: most artists LOVE to tell you about their work, particularly a specific piece.
They live to create, they want you to "get it."

Mixed media wall sculpture, "Pantao Alley" by Tracey Snelling