Dear Tacoma. I've spoken to a lot of artists lately who feel a little underappreciated.

Well, underappreciated is the wrong word.  More like taken advantage of.

I know Tacoma sells itself as an arts town. We have several "world class" museums, whatever that means; one hard-working arts council; a few struggling non-profits dedicated to supporting the arts; and some crazy people that keep trying to make Tacoma into Lil' Georgetown. Which you'll realize isn't that cool if you've ever been outside of the state.

Once you go to other so-called arts towns, you'll see one or two things that Tacoma doesn't do so well. First, artists often get paid for their work. If they don't get paid, they at least get a chance to expose their work to people who might buy it. Or appreciate it at the very least. Sometimes their work gets appreciated by people they've never met before. As opposed to, say, the same small group of people who show up repeatedly out of duty or social obligation. Or the people who just show up to drink, and never really look at the art.

In so-called arts towns, artists are generally treated with the same respect as any other professional. I know - artists deserving to be treated like professionals? Really? Yes. At least the ones who operate like professionals.

But many organizations in Tacoma seem to think that artists are some sort of free resource.

Around here, the complaint often goes like this: "Some organization asked me to create something for them. They offered to pay me a pittance/wanted it for free.  You know, for the community. This non-profit/organization/charity/community organization had me work with a committee to create something, and I spent a lot of time creating what they said they wanted. They didn't use it because the committee couldn't agree whether they liked it/outright didn't like it/couldn't make up their mind. They did something themselves, and canned my work."

Sometimes it goes like this: "I joined a group that is putting on this event/providing a community service/trying to start a movement. They said they didn't need much. I spent a month killing myself to help them make their event/service/movement appear more awesome than it really is. I didn't get any help - just a lot of demands, changes, miscommunication, confusion and grief."

This is a scenario that plays out in a lot of small- to medium-sized cities that are in the midst of re-inventing themselves. They fill up with artists looking for cheap rent and a little pond to play big fish in, the artists work their asses off trying to do what they love to do, organizations capitalize on their energy and willingness to create for the sake of doing what they love - and then drains them dry. And then they leave. Or drop out. Or give up.

And I don't blame them.

That said, I encourage all artists to be on guard. Be on watch for people or organizations who appreciate art only because it helps them sell their products, or promotes their organization, or helps them raise money. And beware - arts organizations often are the worst offenders.

"Come on ... we're in this together ..." they say as they feed.

And recognize that community service is valuable, even laudable. But what happens around here, often, is more like usury. Learn to tell the difference.

Joe Malik is a jaded, ornery, "power to the people type" that can't help but comment on all the stupid and or questionable stuff he sees within the arts community. The Volcano doesn't always agree with what he says, they just like to stir the pot.