Artist's Statement

So.
I'm hoping to use my project to say something to a number of people, and to give them something to think about. I'm still developing my ideas but I think I'm pretty set on using love and commercialism (what love really is vs. the consumerism of Valentine's Day) in my main idea. I may talk about self-love/self-esteem.
I'm pretty sure (though my idea may change a bit in the next few days) that my goal is to get people to examine their definition of love and maybe how that relates to themselves.
I'm going to make Valentine's Day cards for my message(s). Since it's fairly close to Valentine's Day and I will be talking (or writing) about love, it will all kind of tie in together and I think that will make my message stronger.
A big challenge for me (after working out exactly what it is I want to say) is actually SAYING IT -- putting my words out in the public for others to see.
I'm not sure how it will affect people or if it will at all, but I know that by following through with the project, coming up with what to say and distributing my work, I will have succeeded greatly.


I also may consider this data when writing my content:

NRF 2005 Valentine's Day Consumer Intentions and Actions Survey, [by BIGresearch] found the average consumer will spend $97.27 on Valentine's Day, down slightly from $99.24 last year. BUT 61.8 percent of consumers plan on celebrating the holiday, which is up from 59.8 percent one year ago. February, these stores sold $2.1 billion in merchandise
In all, 2005 Valentine's Day spending was forecasted to reach $13.19 billion. Valentine's Day Average Spending
The average male plans to spend $135.67.
The average female plans to spend $68.64.
Combined male and female consumer spending is expected to average $100.89, $3.62 more than last year.
Consumers aged 45-54 plan to spend more than any other age group, at $128.78 each, up from $118.11 last year and $88.96 two years ago.
Consumers aged 18-24 plan to spend $81.89 this year, a decrease from $83.50 last year and a dramatic drop from $154.65 two years ago.
62.0 percent of consumers plan to purchase at least one greeting card. 47.1 percent of consumers plan to buy candy. 42.1 percent plan to spend on an evening out. 10.9 percent of consumers plan to give gift cards or gift certificates. 52.3 percent of men and 14.9 percent of women plan to buy flowers this Valentine's Day. 22.4 percent of men and 7.3 percent of women plan to purchase jewelry. 5.3 percent of men and 12.6 percent of women plan to purchase clothing as gifts this Valentine's Day.
Consumers purchased an estimated 180 million roses for Valentine's Day in 2005 with 74 percent of rose purchases for Valentine’s Day being made by men, according to the Society of American Florists. Valentine's Day is the number one floral market holiday, capturing 35 percent of holiday transactions and 34 percent of dollar volume, also according to the Society of American Florists. In February 2005, jewelry stores in the United States sold $2.4 billion worth of merchandise, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. Approximately 180 million cards are exchanged industry-wide (excluding packaged kids' valentines for classroom exchanges), making Valentine’s Day the second largest holiday for giving greeting cards, according to Hallmark. More than 36 million heart-shaped boxes of chocolate are sold for Valentine's Day, according to the Chocolate Manufacturers Association and National Confectioners Association. Valentine's Day is the fourth biggest holiday of the year for confectionery purchases, after Halloween, Easter and Christmas, according to the National Confectioners Association.

GBP180,000 Spent on Beauty Products in a Lifetime

More than 40% of all women do not feel comfortable describing themselves as beautiful
Only 2% describe themselves as beautiful
5% feel comfortable describing themselves as pretty
9% feel comfortable describing themselves as attractive