For any social movement to succeed, it must have an art component!
Life as art! Life without art would be awfully dull, whereas life with art takes on a richness, an existence with meaning.
Maybe
that is why people of all extremes, left and right, conservative and
liberal, old and young, the literate and illiterate, they all come
together under the banner of art.
The art may be music,
sculpture, jewelry making, fashion, writing, drawing, painting, dance,
baking, quilt making, needlework or landscaping. Whatever it is, art
draws people together as a thing of beauty, most often. But art doesn't
have to be beautiful. Sometimes it unites people with what many would
term as ugly, but it is still artfully done.
I have noticed that
in most great movements in the USA, the ones that saw success were
often buoyed up by art.....billboards and posters, poetry, songs,
dance, theater. These works reached into places within humans that
sheer data and arguments could never reach. The art reached into the
heart, whereas the data and arguments sometimes reached the head.
We
social activists often want to get to the bare tactics and go on to win
on an issue. And likewise, often we meet with failure instead. My
theory on why we lost is because we didn't have an important role for
the artists in our campaign.
At one time, I noticed that the
Catholic Church lasted so long because of the magnificent works of art
that have been utilized by the hierarchy. Leaders in the church would
bring people into the faith and the people would stay in the faith,
while also passing on the rich artistic story in writing, storytelling,
painting and sculpture to succeeding generations.
I once started a project a few years ago that brought art into the environmental arena. In theory, the project, called Wishes and Wisdom, took
the wisdom of elders and the wishes of children to environmental
issues. After exploring the issues, some hopeful (such as organic
farming) and others challenging (such as mountaintop removal), the
older people and the younger people would form an integrated team,
bring their insights into the artistic realm. They were to write
poetry, create a play, a dance, a painting, a song, all to show what
came from their heart after witnessing issue or practice.
I
still hope that I someday get a chance to see this project through to
its completion. I was called to another job after it was started a few
years ago. But it was abandoned when the organization that was
overseeing it had to close their doors.
Nevertheless, I am
convinced that the artists are the real shakers and movers in this
world. Many love art simply because it is art. They may be purists; art
for art's sake. No purpose, no particular objective. They simply want
to explore the wonderful world of art!
But we social activists,
we want change. Often our artistic talents are lacking, so we have to
develop collaborations with the artistic community. Artists are people
too. They suffer from dirty air and water. They are often victims of
injustice. If we can raise their awareness of the importance of
improving social conditions so they can pursue their artistic goals
unfettered, a mighty team can be born with the purpose of building a
better and enriching community.
Art adds the Spirit to social
change. Bring art and artists into your efforts. With them involved,
your chances for success will be multiplied. And you'll end the
campaign with hopefully good friends for life, and a better
appreciation for art in all facets of life at all times.
So go
out there and draw a picture or sing a song with your grandchild today.
A budding artist today may one day develop into a terrific change maker
as an artistic activist 20 years later.
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