My first exposure to Jennifer Schwartz was through her successful Kickstarter campaign, “Crusade for Collecting.” It was a great campaign and it turned out to be a touchstone to a great new chapter in Schwartz’ life. One of the results is the book, Crusade for Your Art (left).

I can fully appreciate when a project evolves into one that is life-sustaining as well as personally and professionally satisfying. Her Kickstarter project led to her traveling around the country promoting photography and her mission.

“So I decided to take this show on the road. I am going to go on a ten-week, ten-city tour in a little over a year where I do pop-up shows featuring the work of incredible emerging photographers from across the country…,” she wrote in the description of that seminal and successful Kickstarter project.
That project turned into Crusade for Art, which is described on her website as “Educating, inspiring and empowering photographers to engage new audiences with art.”

Crusade for Art now offers grants, programs and resources for photographers to pursue their creative
ambitions. The book is a logical extension of the person who also owns a gallery for emerging artists.

In “Crusade For Your Art” readers will be entertained and educated by her direct and personal writing style, which serves to take photographers through the maze that is fine art photography in the 21st century.

Fine art photographer Elizabeth Avedon notes in the opening comments that, “…Jennifer Schwartz has written one of the most comprehensive guides to date for both the professional and emerging fine art photographer to navigate the current world of photography.”

As more and more artists are lamenting the state of the fine art photography market, Schwartz notes
in her Introduction, “The truth is, we have the tools to take this upside-down art world and own it.
The Internet has leveled the playing field for everyone, and may the best photographers and galleries win.”

While many other books that attack this same problem are full of illustrations, graphs, and testimonials about the author’s prowess, “Crusade For Your Art,” is just words. Words that are written in a clear and concise manner, that explain in a one-two-three style and that address topics including: Making the Work, Set the Stage, Identifying Goals and a Plan for Your Work, From
Goals to Action, and everything else in between. Nothing is missed. Nothing is overlooked.

The book helps the photographer identify where she is now and how to get where she wants to be in her field. She is walked to the door and Schwartz opens it in an effort to offer a method of discovery and insights into a world of reward in the form of sales and satisfaction.

Twenty-five top industry curators, gallerists, editors, and photographers, offer their insights to contribute to a guide the gives you all the tools you need to make your mark on the art world.

Crusade for Your Art by Jennifer Schwartz

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