As the U.S./Canada trade war escalated this week, artists on this side of the border are being hit with 50 per cent tariffs on artwork being sold to Americans by Canadian artists. Sudbury artist Mark Gagne said Tuesday that an already tough business just got tougher, and he is encouraging the government and citizens to support local arts. Gagne said the trade war in the last year has effectively ruined his online art business. “My immediate reaction is frustration and anger,” he told CTV News. “You know it’s been kind of difficult during the last year with all the back and forth.” Gagne, a graduate of the Cambrian College Fine Arts program, calls his style of art cute and creepy. Tariffs are ‘devastating’ “I do like sort of little fantasy creatures, and I do original illustrations of those and I insert them in sort of old thrift store paintings to give them new life and keep them out of landfill,” he said. Among the Canadian art facing 50 per cent tariffs are paintings, drawings, collages, sculptures, original prints and bone and antler works. Gagne said that’s devastating to him, since most of his work is sold south of the border. “Generally, about 80-90 per cent of my total sales are to the U.S., which is definitely going to hurt me with the tariffs,” he said. “Myself and a lot of other artists and creatives are kind of at a loss (about) what to do. We are worried and stressed (about) our livelihoods.” Gagne would like to see the Canadian government support and invest in the arts more, adding that the basis for any great society is the arts and how it’s supported. He is also encouraging Canadians to support small businesses and local artists.
