Can we afford to support the arts during a recession? How can we not?

[Mark Land]

Disclosure No. 1: I am not an artist. I wouldn't even be allowed to play one on TV, considering that I can't draw a straight line or a round circle, and all my people end up looking like misshapen sticks.

Disclosure No. 2: The love of my life IS an artist, one of the many talented, passionate people trying to leave their creative mark on the soul of other people and this community.

As I've watched her prepare for this weekend's Stutz Artist Open House, I find myself alternately envious, amazed and angered.

Envious at her ability to lose herself, often for hours or days at a time, in her creative passion.

Amazed, even after all these years of watching her artist's mind spin, leap and sprint, at the seemingless endless well of ideas and the skill with which they are brought to life on canvas.

Angered that when public funds get tight, the arts are dismissed out of hand as some sort of indulgence we can do without in difficult times. I know for a fact that for many of the nearly 90 artists who will share their works this weekend at the Stutz, art is not a hobby. It's their vocation and their avocation, and without a thriving creative class this city is a little less the place we all want it to be.

I know I'm preaching to the choir here, but maybe our job these days is to sing a little louder to be heard over the cacophony of gloom and doom. Those of us lucky enough to have had our lives touched by the arts understand their transformative power. Maybe we all can do a little bit more to spread the gospel through our actions.

Attend the Culture Matters rally downtown tomorrrow. Catch a great play at the Phoenix. Take a class and/or become a member at the Indianapolis Arts Center. Drop in on a local band at an area club. Spend a wonderful evening or afternoon this weekend touring the Stutz.

The list goes on but you get the idea. Bring a friend. Or two. Or 10. Spend a lot of money if you've got it. Spend a little if you can.

Or just take a moment to tell your favorite artist, musician, actor or other creative type that his or her work touched you in some way. I know I plan to do just that.

[Marty posch]

I agree with all you are saying and have many friends that are artists here in town. I do believe though that arts organizations, along with other organizations should never set themselves up that they are reliant on funding from the government, or from any one way of funding. If you are an arts organization, and you know that when times get tight that you are going to be one of the first ones that see cuts, then why is this an issue? I think that better planning needs to go on with some in the arts so that they arent affected by this. Again, i am not by any stretch slamming anyone....but if i run a non profit, and a donor gives me a million dollars a year, and then the donor doesnt do it one year and i have to close my doors, thats not the donors fault, its my fault for not planning for that day to come and putting something in place so that i am more sustainable.

[Mark Land]

Marty:

I completely agree. I'm not suggesting that arts organizations become reliant on government funding, just that the attitude toward the arts by government often is unfortunate. More than anything, I was just trying to bang the drum a little for things we all can do to help create an echo chamber of support for the arts in a difficult time.

[Marty posch]

Oh i completely agree and know that the arts are such a vibrant part of any city, giving it its true culture. I am not bashing any of it at all, I think something that we can do is to support our arts by volunteering and donating, both in a random donation way, or donate your talents....join a board of one of the smaller arts organizations, make ties with organizations, get more companies and support involved....

[Deanna Sipe]

Thanks Mark for the post. Here is a thought for our readers and non-creatives:

Art? Support the arts or don't?... well lets see. Let's play with the idea for a minute of a life with out the arts. Music, that's arts cut that, not only at the theater, but on the radio. Where do you think most of those folks learned to play the instrument or sing? So radio would have little music for you... I guess there would be a lot more talk radio!

Sculpture, that's art cut that. That includes beautifully designed pots for plants and trees inside and outdoors downtown etc, as well as sculptures like those all around the base of the monument, OH and the monument it's self since it would be considered art in architecture.

Wedding rings, that's metalsmithing and that's art, cut that! Flat simple bands hammered out by ....uh the plumber, yea he works with metal and pipes, they are round!

Wall paper, rugs, colorful paint, beautifully carved and designed wood products - nope! That's an artisan not just a carpenter, where do you think he studied line, shape, form, design?

Stamps - all those works of art we like to buy in tiny little squares, cut that, it's art. Go back to flat white color with the value amount printed on it.

Stationary, desk top backgrounds on your computer, don't for get no music for you, movies, books, paintings, interior decor or all kinds, including the fine artistry in the capitol building, the sleek box your iphone comes in, plus the rest of the creative boxes, gift bags,etc. With out artists, with out money to support the arts your gift wrap and boxes are brown paper as is the rest of your life.

I think too often people take the arts for granted because they don't realize that the artists are a part of everything that is made in our lives. Art is not just those hippie types who hang out at summer art fairs and studio buildings and push around colored goo on canvas with sticks with animal hair on them. Art is the coffee table, the car, the music, what's on the tv as well as the design of the tv. And all of you businesses out there who need fancy brochures... forget about it! Oh and no pretty pictures either. That would be photography - that's an art. ARE YOU GETTING THE PICTURE! (Does making you laugh count as creative?)

Last of all - cut money for the arts, and just guess how much money you take back out of the community businesses for all the supplies we buy! Printing, wood, fabric, paper, canvas, wire, paint, tools, camera's, frames, hardware supplies of all kinds! And then with no way to support themselves artists could become the new burden on the community budget since they will qualify for financial assistance.

(While I am being a bit cheeky, I don't want to offend anyone, so please forgive me if I have)