Make an Artist a Millionaire Phase 3 (2012-14)

A multi-phase project designed to allow me to practice art full time, and to contribute to a discussion about the financialization of art. Donate by sending money to thedannelson[at]protonmail.com at Paypal.com or to @thedannelson at Venmo.

This phase entailed writing a letter to each of the people on the Forbes 400 list (i.e. the wealthiest individuals in the US) and asking them to donate to MAAAM. Rather than sending a form letter, I researched each recipient and crafted a personalized plea. This phase became more about sussing out human nature and how to get through to the kind of person who, on the surface, couldn’t be more different from the average artist: the business person. The same challenge of seeking patronage rather than an exchange that exists on the lower end of the scale of quantity–$1–was amplified many times in approaching millionaires and billionaires. As in many of my projects, I was taking on the impossible, with the odds stacked against me.

Make An Artist A Millionaire: 400 to 1: Anne Cox…

Make An Artist A Millionaire: 400 to 1: Anne Cox Chambers

Phase 4 of "Make an Artist a Millionaire" is called "400 to 1." It entails writing a letter to each of the people on the Forbes 400 list to solicit a donation. What at first seemed simply like a euphemism for "your project will never succeed" grew into, if not a more effective approach to getting the million, at least a challenge. More interesting than asking people over and over for a dollar, which in the end possibly just reinforced the idea of the artist as an undeserving beggar, someone who steps out of line when they expect a reward for their gifts.

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Make An Artist A Millionaire: 400 to 1: John Glen…

Make An Artist A Millionaire: 400 to 1: John Glen Sperling

Phase 4 of "Make an Artist a Millionaire" is called "400 to 1." It entails writing a letter to each of the people on the Forbes 400 list to solicit a donation. Rather than sending a form letter to each member of the Forbes 400, the intent is to research each person and craft a personalized plea.

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Make An Artist A Millionaire: 400 to 1: Kirk Kerkorian

Make An Artist A Millionaire: 400 to 1: Kirk Kerkorian

Phase 4 of "Make an Artist a Millionaire" is called "400 to 1." It entails writing a letter to each of the people on the Forbes 400 list to solicit a donation. My stepmom, who has a lot of experience and success in university development, collaborated on this project. It was she, in fact, who planted the seed for "400 to 1". After listening to me describe MAAAM, she made the offhand comment "Honey, it would be easier for you to get one person to write you a check for a million dollars than to get a million people to each give you a dollar."

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Make An Artist A Millionaire: 400 to 1: Sanford Weill

Make An Artist A Millionaire: 400 to 1: Sanford Weill

Phase 4 of "Make an Artist a Millionaire" is called "400 to 1." It entails writing a letter to each of the people on the Forbes 400 list to solicit a donation. The project is more about sussing out human nature and understanding how to get through to the kind of person who, on the surface, couldn't be more different from the average artist: the business person. The same challenge of asking for something in return for nothing that exists on the lower end of the scale of quantity--$1--is amplified many times in approaching millionaires and billionaires.

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