Street Art Vendor Culture

On Monday, September 15th, we (Naomi and Alexa) spent roughly four hours in union square park trying to emmerse ourselves in the artist vendor culture. We initially felt the best way to immerse ourselves would be to set up our own stand, but as we soon learned that would be a nearly impossible feat as you must have a registered tax receipt in order to set up shop. Our second best idea was to ask the already set-up vendors if we could spend part of the day with them and see what it was like behind the scenes. We offered to help out with whatever they needed. Some of us just let us stand there and observe, while others allowed us to be more hands on and interact with the customers. At one booth, we even helped to sell a painting for $50. Altogether, we helped out at four booth, but ended up spending the majority of our time with the "bicycle lady." She, more than anyone, seemed most eager to give us information about arist vedor life and all that it entails. We learned from her that if you are a successful enough street artist, you can afford to store your work in a storage locker on 13th street, as as not to have to lug your stuff back and forth everyday like she had to. If it is raining and you cannot get home or cannot get your stuff to the locker, most people use shower curtains as a backup emergency plan. Regardless of weather, Saturdays always seem to be the most profitable day.
Another woman that we sat with told us that she and others came to union square because "all of our studios are very close, in the east village and what not, so it is convenient. And we all know each other. So it becomes like our own little community."