A weekend of brainstorming, mysticism and red rock.
By Michael Saltzman, Product Lead, DADA
Last Friday, ten eager minds from around the U.S. traveled to Sedona, Arizona to collaborate around one simple goal:
What does the DADA of the future look like? It’s a simple question, but one without a simple answer.
We believe DADA has the power to unlock the world’s creativity and offer artists a guaranteed basic income -- two concepts tied to one another that our current economic structures don’t recognize.
Think about it.
Creativity is a sacred and shared pillar of human nature, an internal muscle that, when flexed, has shaped meaningful outcomes throughout history, from personal healing and fulfillment to major innovative breakthroughs responsible for entire industries and ecosystems. Creativity gives life meaning, an essence that exists within each of us. So let’s flex harder.
Do our economic and social structures recognize equality between the creators of value (artists) and both the robust markets and inherent emotional value spawned from their work? Unfortunately, no. And because of this, the demands of life eclipse an artist’s bandwidth to spend time creating their art; it falls to the wayside as they’re forced to make more conventionally tangible economic contributions that deserve remuneration.
In this process, most artists’ creative soul is neglected and withers away. For the few that can find the time at moonlight, making art is the most meaningful part of their day. Only a frustratingly small percentage of artists are able to sustain a living from their work.
We are here to change the former and scale the latter. Our goal in Sedona was to bring together not only the necessary talent and skills but the right hearts and souls that could act as ambassadors of the DADA community and shepherds of this ambitious future.
It is a great and worthy effort to build the bridge between the DADA that exists and the vision we wish to realize. Over the coming months, you will see a seismic overhaul to our current user experience -- as a creator, it will be easier and more beautiful than ever to navigate, draw and connect meaningfully with other artists through the visual narratives that are unique to DADA.
Additionally, we are focused on creating new experiences for collectors and art lovers to purchase, interact with and enjoy art in invigorating and deeply fulfilling ways. Ways that supercharge creativity and collaboration for everyone, undisturbed by the colorless nature of transactions.
Blockchain is a springboard for platforms like DADA to usher art into a new paradigm. It guarantees artists the protection of their intellectual property, it authenticates provenance, and its smart contracts can integrate a more just system of remuneration for artists.
It has paved the way for a total revision of our collective perspective on the role of artists in our society. But like any new technology, if control winds up in the wrong hands, we may not change direction and end up exactly where the world is heading.
At DADA, we see it as our responsibility on behalf of humanity to do this right.
