Sep 5 2022
Art Life: Podcast: Still in Romania
We're Still in Romana, and this seemed like a great time to update you guys on what's going on, since yesterday we completed everything we came here to do. We wanted to come to Romania, open a business here, get set up with phones and an official address, a bank account, and an accountant. We finished all of that just yesterday, so I can proudly say that we've accomplished everything we wanted to do, and have learned a lot along the way.Bucharest is still a hot mess. Graffiti covers most every flat surface and traffic and parking are dismal. But still, it's better. There are electric scooters everywhere, and Uber is a life saver. But I've confirmed my suspicion that I don't want to live in Bucharest. Right now, it is fairly inexpensive to buy land, and we have looked at a few properties while here in the country. We are focusing on two areas, close to Bogdan's relatives. The idea is that, if we need to return to the States for a while, or travel on the art fair circuit in Europe, we would have someone trustworthy available to watch over the place while we are gone. That has limited our search to Plataresti, and Campulung in Arges. Apparently there is another Campulung up north. Both Bogdan and I feel that it would make financial sense for us to invest in some property in Romania at this time. Prices seem low right now, and we feel certain that as the war in Ukraine resolves, and as the Romanian diaspora begins to return home, property values will rise. The whole idea of opening a business here was to afford me the ability to obtain a residency status here in the country. The residency would allow me to stay in the country for longer periods of time, as well as to earn money while here.A huge unanswered question for us revolved around the art community and art market in Romania. We attended an art exhibition reception here in the city, and spoke with the artist Mic Rasvan Dan, about his first solo show, and his work in general. We also met with two other artists, Catalin Tzetze Radulescu, and Iulia Paun. What we're gathering is that artists are more than willing to connect and develop friendships, but that there is virtually no community of artists established. Tzetze even told us "we are like gladiators". So the idea of stepping into an association of artists, or an organized networking opportunity is just not going to happen. I guess we could create something ourselves, once people know who we are._______________________________Season 2: Episode 13_______________________________“Art Life Podcast with John & Bogdan” is a weekly blog/vlog/podcast that creates a community, a conversation, between creatives in all sorts of fields at all sorts of levels. We want to discuss what we’re learning, what we’ve experienced, and whom we’ve met in our journey of running a freelance creative business. John Bishop is a visual artist living in Houston, Texas. His work is largely abstract, and explores how to turn mythic, archetypal symbols into individual experiences allowing us to see them in a new way, with fresh eyes. Bogdan is a videographer and fine art photographer who constantly seeks to stretch the boundaries of traditional photographic work, with the added flare of his artistic eye. Both artists’ work can be seen online, or at their studios at Silver Street Studios, 2000 Edwards Street, in Houston.John Bishop: http://www.johnbishopfineart.comBogdan Mihai: http://www.bogdanfotoart.comBogdan’s Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bogdanoninstagram/John’s Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/johnbishopfineart/Twitter: https://twitter.com/JohnBishopartPatreon: https://www.patreon.com/johnbishopfineartBuburuza Productions: http://www.Buburuzaproductions.com
