Mon, 04/13/2009 - 7:03pm - Posted by: William Sterr

On its surface, this forum sounds good. However, the article does not describe the "arts" pedigree of any of the participants. Are any of them practicing artists of some sort?

And anything involving the ultraconservative Marc Boldt is in my opinion suspect.

"What is art....And Who Decides it Is art?" is also a suspicious title. Analogously, "What is free speech, and who decides it is?" - and if someone decides, then is it actually free? The same thing can be said about art. If someone has to decide it is art, then that by definition limits it, and its free expression.

I hope this forum exceeds my expectation - I'll be there to see.

Mon, 04/13/2009 - 7:00pm - Posted by: Llewellyn J. Rhoe

Panelists include Vancouver/Clark Parks and Recreation Director, Peter Mayer, Evergreen School Superintendent, John Deeder and Vancouver Arts and Academics Principal, James O’Banion. Betty Sue Morris will facilitate the forum. Sponsors include SWCA and Clark County Commissioner Marc Boldt.

With the exception of James O'Banion, it's difficult to find anything on Google that even mentions their past work supporting the arts! Several of us have been asking ourselves what needs to be corrected with this picture?

Why are there no artists, no gallery owners, no working artists on this panel? We heard that they specifically didn't want any artists on this forum. Why is the panel filled with administrators and politicians?

Maybe the forum's title should be: "How can WE decide what is art?"

Please panel organizers, please do not confuse this one sided discussion with broad based arts advocacy. You can't really expect to have a forum on: "What is art and who decides it is?" when you leave the artists totally out of the equation. No artists, equals no meaningful discussion for this panel.

It is extremely patronizing to be shunned to the side in this way. We are not children allowed to sit in on your adult activity, only if we are seen and not heard. We suggest a change in your tack if you ever want to get that arts ship to sail upwind in the Couve! In case you haven't noticed several artists and arts organizations have been sailing upwind for a long time without any help from panels and forums.

And in the end it is not about building a hundred million dollar arts center, it is about advocating for all the arts already an organic part of our community. After twenty years of civic leaders and politicians attempting to get a building built, there's been not one performance given, not one painting hung, not one note played, not an event scheduled for this as yet, non existent arts center! It seems a little out of balance and disingenuous to us to support anything other than what is organically taking place.

So we hope the panelists, supporters, and sponsors of this panel come prepared to show us their artistic vitae credentials (that's like: show me the money) and evidence of their overwhelming past, present, and future support for the arts community in total... not just the schools, school districts and organizations they represent.

SHOW UP THURSDAY NIGHT...
LET'S STAGE A LITTLE ART EVENT IN SUPPORT