09/16/2021
Thank you Sebastopol Living Magazine for the article and immense support of local artists!!
Link here: https://symmetryed.com/blog/
On a related note- I'm using this opportunity to share some of my thoughts on our current arts culture:
Creativity is the greatest form of rebellion.
Creativity= imagination. Imagination is the driving force behind all human evolution, if we can imagine a new circumstance or solution then change is ultimately possible. It opens up new worlds of possibility, with deeper compassion, cultural re-inventions, scientific breakthroughs, political revolutions and all things that shift the societal norm.
Rebellion=freedom. Rebellion is synonymous with independent thinking, re-working the status quo and deep reflection of assumed realities that can lead to personal/societal healing.
It's becoming more urgent to come together on a local level to solve big picture problems. Currently, our local arts scene is struggling, artists are moving away due to increased cost of living, dance and movement studios have closed by the dozens while performance venues, galleries, museums and arts organizations are intermittently closed and when open are severely restricted. However, the greater tragedy looming over us as a result of these facts are the missed opportunities for human interaction, the in person experiences, chances to network and actually exchange a smile. Sonoma County touts a reputation of having a “vibrant arts scene” according to an article on sonomacounty.com. In reality, it seems we’re becoming more narrow and specific over time about what and who is included in this scene, possibly excluding a variety of mediums and entire demographics outside of what is considered “mainstream art”.
Many of our local artists are being left behind, right alongside small business and real grass roots cultural organizations. People need places to dance, make art, play music, connect with like minded individuals, share stories, feel inspired, play with their children and express themselves. I’m addressing both the creators and the observers, the painters and the buyers, the teachers and the students. All of us. I’m not blaming, shaming or even complaining, I’m simply asking how, if we value the benefits and experience of our local arts scene, how can we re-ignite this movement? How do we start to rebuild our community with opportunities for medium artists and movement instructors? We, as artists, are all teachers as well as creators, passing along our knowledge and unique expression to enhance life’s tapestry. Historically, we have always faced financial and cultural challenges, being an artist is vulnerable and a life of great risk, in hopes of great reward. In my opinion the greatest reward will always be the opportunity to express myself fully while healing my personal, familial and cultural chaos.The gifts extracted from genuine expression are endless and sharing with others in this journey is an opportunity to pass the inspiration on to the next.
The last year and a half I have been actively trying to figure out new ways to infuse creative ideas into the community, but every avenue seems to have roadblocks. I have contacted local city councils, art grant programs, creative resource organizations, park departments, non-profit sectors and other institutions that felt relevant, with little to no success. Pre-Covid had already presented challenges with narrow access to grants and funding, which are oftentimes hard to find in the first place, leaving the awards to a pool of previously considered artists. To compound these facts, I recently received feedback implying that it may be difficult to convince the deciding board that what I do is “considered art” for a particular community engagement outreach grant. This statement directly impacts not only myself but the countless artists that I work with when booking gigs, as well as many others that represent the alternative artistic communities. Conversely, and despite these drawbacks as a local artist for over 20 years, I have been staying active as a creative this past year, making new art and performing as opportunities arrive. Every time I interact with clients, I hear the same message. We need this. Although work is sparse, I’m grateful for every occasion. I also receive weekly phone calls, emails and in person requests for more opportunities from community members asking about activities for themselves and their children. Culturally, we are hungry for activities that engage us wholly, not behind a screen. I feel like my hands are tied at the moment and I wish I could help more, do more, interact more, so here I am, asking for help on behalf of thousands of people who may feel the same. We are feeling Zoom fatigue. Social media and constant news bombardment are not healthy for the human psyche. We need places and events where we can connect and share inspiring moments. We are in a time of cultural renaissance and we desperately need platforms for expression that don’t live behind a screen.
What about looking at options for affordable housing, warehouse spaces, studios, park usage, sidewalk events, connecting wineries/businesses with artists, allowing representation directly from the artistic community as decision collaborators for grants, events and brainstorming. We should also be considering expanding programs for children and accessible opportunities to engage our under-privileged, struggling socio-economic populations. This includes the wider disparities felt by our marginalized, unheard racial and ethnic minorities, disabilities and those with low access to the resources it demands to participate in democratic consideration. Shouldn’t this be a time of removing outdated models of regulation to support new infrastructure geared toward success for our larger community? How do we begin to even out the playing field and distribute content that the artists are excited to make and that our community is enthusiastic to participate in?
As we continue to come together to protest against something we no longer accept, I relentlessly envision a society where we gather, more often FOR something. Taking our power back through inspiration and conversation is absolutely imperative.
These are just some avenues of hope, of a brighter future and empowerment for the people. I believe in the healing powers of expression and human interaction more than I believe in the idea that we are powerless. Maybe I’m a dreamer, but I’m not the only one -JL.
