ASHEVILLE- It is hard sometimes to tell the difference between performance art and reality.
The Lexington Avenue Arts and Fun Festival ‘s (LAAFF) performance piece over Labor Day weekend has left the festival with the harsh reality of being $10,000 to $15,000 in debt.
Accordion player at LAAFF
“This year we really wanted to emphasize the art in our festival’s name,” said Jen Van Gogh, a staffer for LAAFF.
“We wanted to really live and breathe the life of the artist through our festival. I guess that not only meant striving to be misunderstood, but also going broke.”
Festival organizers blame the $10,000 to $15,000 shortfall on logistical problems in ticketing for Saturday’s Pub Crawl, which left the festival well short of the revenue needed to pay all 68 bands that performed at this year’s festival.
“Hey all I can say is we artists major in art for a reason,” said Van Gogh.
“Let’s just say math is not our strong suit. The miscalculation really leaves one with the urge to cut one’s own ear off. If you know what I’m saying.”
LAAFF is now asking for community donations to pay off the debt. Payment will ensure LAAFF organizer Arts2People’s programming in 2012 will continue as scheduled and LAAFF will survive another year into 2013. You can make a donation to Arts2People here to help save LAAFF.
Van Gogh is hopeful Arts2People will receive enough donations to put on the festival in 2013, which she says will be the best LAAFF yet.
“We have something really special planned for LAAFF 2013,” said Van Gogh.
“Next year we plan on having an artist simulator, where people can experience what it is like to be an artist. The festival visitors will be able to tour a real life artist’s apartment, which is about the size of regular family’s half bathroom. As you walk in you will be serenaded by an authoritative father figure’s voice, who says random things like, ‘What are you doing with your life? You should have gone to law school. How am I suppose to explain you to the neighbors?’ We may even raffle off government assistance at the door.”
Van Gogh is not only a LAAFF staff member, but also a local artist. You can purchase Van Gogh’s work here.