Wednesday, August 23

ok.. I have a peeve..

ok.. I have a peeve about people who sell ATC's. They are called Artist TRADING cards for a reason. When started, the ATC was intend to be TRADED. They are not to be sold.

"the concept of ATC is the person-to-person trade, as well as trading by mail. the most fun is to trade person-to-person though. the basic idea is the card-for-card trade."

"it is important that you meet other people in person to trade - i.e. it is ok to trade by mail or to participate in editions but the main purpose of this performance is the trading session and the personal meeting. It's not about money: participants in trading sessions and editions should not be charged any money: the point of the project is the exchange of cards as well as personal experience."
-ARTIST TRADING CARDS
A COLLABORATIVE CULTURAL PERFORMANCE


Profit was not, and should not be the goal of the artist in regards to ATC's. It is the experience, the relationships, the contact with the other artists that is fundamental.

OK. I'm done. PLEASE, if you are going to sell art that is 2.5" x3.5" then don't call it an ATC.
Thanks.. Call it an ASC. (Artist SALES card or APC..Artist Profit Card)

5 comments:

Ces Adorio said...

I saw the ATC definition on Wikipedia. In fact I have never heard of them before until I started blogging and reading some blogs. I think the people who sell the ATC cards are not really into profit. The problem is the artists are so far apart and therefore cannot trade in person. I suppose they can trade by mail. However, if they want to sell them they should be allowed, and to be true to the concept they can call them as you suggested.

I have never made an ATC and have never traded any, so I can say I am being objective about this. :-)

Abbie said...

Thanks for the comment Ces! I know, it really isn't that big a deal, but sometimes I just have to vent somewhere!
:) Abbie

Tammy said...

It's a good vent! I agree with you. My peeve about ATCs is that people like to trade copies. I only trade original for original! I do a lot of by mail trades, and it is a lot of fun! I won't send anything but an original, and expect the same in return! The local meet-up group does copy trading, and I won't go! So there! :)

Anke Martin said...

I don't have a problem with poeple selling their work, but I think they should call it different and not ATC if it's artwork that seize. I alos think it's more fun to trade and there are quite some forums out there you can get connection to trade with other people around the world.

Willie Baronet said...

You tell em Abbie! :-)