As a big believer that art and creativity are powerful tools for not only expression, but connection, I perked up when I saw a recent article in The New York Times titled, “Arts Leaders Urge Role for Culture in Economic Recovery.”
Let the eye-rolling begin.
I’ll admit that Shakespeare in the Park and esoteric sculpture are not likely to skyrocket the globe back to a thriving market and put gold in our pockets, but there’s something to be said about the value of bringing sometimes thought-provoking, often beautiful representations of culture to our world.
Seems like the sentiment is spreading. While writing this article, an email popped into my inbox: Petition to ask President-Elect Obama to Appoint a Secretary of the Arts. Apparently, Quincy Jones is spearheading the campaign. When I checked, there were 209,985 signatures… and counting. The idea, according to the Times article, is to encourage our new prez to create a position much like an “arts czar” who would oversee the nurturing of artistic pursuits, education and promotion. Oh, Quincy, you creative little devil, you.
Times are tough, and bringing a little inspiration to the masses through art and design is a powerful way to encourage spirits and connect communities. It’s also an important part of cultural representation and preservation. News archives hardly bring about the same visceral responses to humanity and history. Consider Picasso’s “Guernica” and its reflections of the horrors of war, “Venus de Milo” and the epoch-defining mythology that inspired her, or John Updike’s literary masterpieces documenting the realities of the Great Depression (R.I.P. Mr. Updike). Then there are pieces like the bronze sculpture of Britney Spears giving birth or actress Scarlett Johansson’s covers of Tom Waits songs. Great art (and often bad art) tells a story, and now is as good a time as any to splatterpaint our spirits and take to the record books.
Examples of organizations already on the ball: Theatre Resources Unlimited (TRU), providing resources and networking for stage producers in risk of losing funding. Or orgs like Art of Elysium who are bringing projects – from dance to songwriting to comedy workshops – to children with serious health problems. Museums offer endless classes, lectures and performances that let the Average Jane like me get cultured without breaking the bank. Documentaries let me see what’s going on in the world. Bad poetry lets me practice mind-wandering.
Everything seems to be intertwined, when you break down the numbers. The economy affected by the environment affected by fuel affected by war affected by poverty, yadda, yadda. Art seems like it may stand alone in its value and purpose. It would be a pity to watch it shrink into the shadows, particularly during a time when the world needs a platform to get our crazies out and our stories told. Sign that petition if you want your voice heard. And from yarn bombs to punk rock songs, happy creating.
