Vote Like Your Life Depends On It

Whose Values Count?

Election eve thought on the role of artists in public life...

There's a lot of talk in the press about "value" and "values." Value in the sense of "what is something worth" in economic terms and "whose values guides the politics and policies that decide what something is worth?" It seems that the financial and general press is learning something that we knew all along - that not everything with a big price tag is"worth" a lot of money and things that seemingly have no value on the stock market really do have tremendous value and meaning. What drives creative people to create and what is the "value" of what they create is worthy of study here. Lewis Hyde wrote "The Gift - Creativity and the Artist in the Modern World" in 1979 and he was on to something when quotes Joseph Conrad - "The artist appeals to that part of our being...which is a gift and not an acquisition - and, therefore, more permanently enduring." and then goes on to say "The art that matters to us - which moves the heart, or revives the soul, or delights the senses, or offers courage for living, however we choose to describe the experience - that work is received by us as a gift is received....The spirit of an artist's gifts can wake our own. The work appeals, as Joseph Conrad says, to a part of our being which is itself a gift and not an acquisition." This resonates with arts marketing studies by large foundations and hard-working consultants who endeavor to guide the arts industry in making a stronger case for itself with the public and politicians. These studies discount the economic impact of the arts and revive a conversation about the intrinsic value of the arts and creativity that, while hard to measure, is the real distinctive power of the creative process. But the market place says we only measure what matters and that Wall Street experts and Blackberry punching M.B.A.s RALLY know how to assign value in this society. How's that been working? But this conversation about who gets to value what is a prelude to my real concern around "values" - namely that people who live and practice the creation and exchange of intrinsic value, America's artists and cultural workers, have been absent from the political discourse and so have been unable to transfer their values into governance. So if we are cringing that taxpayers will spend $750 billion to bail out Wall Street firms, banks and potentially General Motors. If we are livid if taxpayers spend $123 billion to bail out AIG and then it spent $440,000 on a lavish executive retreat. And if we just shrug our shoulders when we see that the National Endowment for the Arts is budgeted for a pathetic $145 million for 2008. (Don't even mention the estimated $3 trillion cost of the Iraq War). If these facts - these expressions of what America "values" don't jive with yours, then, “The fault, dear Brutus, lies not in our stars, but in ourselves if we are underlings.”

Government Says Educated Folk Work More, Earn More

The Department of Labor's Employment and Training Administration says that the more you go to school, the more you earn and the more likely to you will work (providing the entire global financial system doesn't slide into the sea along with the polar ice cap). So we need a smart and well-educated nation. People need the motivation and means to go to college and, especially, access to the sciences and engineering schools. I'd also argue we need a nation of creative and innovative thinkers.

"First Vote" - an Irreverent Celebration Honoring First Time Voters

ONE NIGHT ONLY!!!
Epic Theatre Ensemble in partnership with John Jay College of Criminal Justice present
Kathleen Chalfant, David Strathairn, Nilaja Sun, and many more in

FIRST VOTE '08

Are you prepared?

An Irreverent and Celebratory Event Honoring First Time Voters

ELECTION EVE: MONDAY, NOVEMBER 3rd, 7:30pm-8:30pm

THE GERALD W. LYNCH THEATER
at JOHN JAY COLLEGE OF CRIMINAL JUSTICE: 899 Tenth Avenue (between 58th and 59th), New York, N.Y. 10019

On the night before they vote in their first election, a remarkable collection of 25 FIRST TIME VOTERS are honored by some of today's TOP WRITERS & PERFORMERS - including Tanya Barfield, Mia Barron, Stephen Belber, Leila Buck, Julia Cho, Kathleen Chalfant, Colman Domingo, Melissa Friedman, Alexandra Gersten-Vassilaros, Rachael Holmes, Teri Lamm, Craig Lucas, Godfrey L. Simmons, Jr., Nilaja Sun, David Strathairn, James Wallert, Sarah Winkler, and David Zellnik -- with an evening of satirical, scandalous, and inspiring short plays, songs, sketches, spoken op-eds, and toasts. Gordon Elliott will be the non-partisan Master of Ceremonies!

This event is a Benefit for Epic Theatre Ensemble's innovative, civic-minded in-school and after-school education programs.

REGULAR TICKETS: $50/$25 - STUDENT TICKETS: $10

Every year Epic Theatre Ensemble stages a multi-partisan election-eve event honoring student alumnae from Epic's innovative, civic-minded education programs voting for the first time the next day. This one-hour benefit weaves together a collection of short plays, spoken op-eds, music, comedy sketches, and toasts that take a satiric, passionate, and most often personal perspective on citizenship, democracy, and the experience of voting. Many extraordinary artists have contributed to previous First-Time Voter Nights including Eve Ensler, Tony Kushner, Warren Leight, Daphne Rubin-Vega, Emily Mann, The Petersons, Tamara Tunie, Chris Durang, Austin Pendleton, Ariel Dorfman, Amy Redford, and many more.

This year we are expanding this event in many directions. For the first time our honorees will be working with Epic's artists to register voters and increase awareness of the election throughout the fall. They will also be contributing writing that will be performed alongside the professional contributions. In addition, we are partnering with John Jay College of Criminal Justice to identify honorees, contributors, and present the culminating election-eve event at their Gerald Lynch Theater.

TO PURCHASE REGULAR & STUDENT TKTS: go to www.TicketCentral.com or call 212-279-4200 - TO PURCHASE VIP* TICKETS: email SarahWinklerEpic@aol.com or call 212-239-1770

*VIP tickets includes a special pre-show reception with the artists and honorees from 6:00-7:15pm, as well as priority seating and recognition in program (for inclusion in the official program VIP tickets must be purchased by October 12, 2008)

Brit Artists Form Coalition "to have a strong collective voice"

A new organization, the Featured Artists’ Coalition launched last week in Manchester, UK to campaign for the protection of performers’ and musicians’ rights. Formed by some of the best-known names in music, the Coalition will give artists the voice they need to argue for greater control over their music.

Brian Message, co-manager of Radiohead and Kate Nash said: “It is time for artists to have a strong collective voice to stand up for their interests. The digital landscape is changing fast and new deals are being struck all the time, but all too often without reference to the people who actually make the music. Just look at the recent print MoU (Memo of Understanding) on file-sharing between labels, government and the Internet Service Providers. Artists were not involved. The Featured Artists’ Coalition will help all artists, young and old, well-known or not, drive overdue change through the industry in their interests and those of fans.”

Where Do Candidates Stand on Science & Innovation

Use this handy widget from Scientists and Engineers for America to find out where your candidates stand on issues relating to science and innovation.

Innovation 2008

Find your candidates,
ask where they stand.

Zip Code:

New Show Make Science/Engineer Nerds Cool?

Could this new show on the Discovery Channel make engineers cool?

"In a warehouse on an island in San Francisco Bay, a team of engineers and PhD's are inventing the future one prototype at a time. From finding solutions to today's problems, to conceiving cool machines that are just fun to have around, the Prototype This crew imagines and then invents the future by using emerging technologies to build the craziest, one-of-a-kind prototypes of tomorrow.

Tune in Wednesdays at 10 e/p for loads of zany brilliance, hi-tech wizardry, and a inside look at some of the latest tools and gadgets that just may change the way we live and work.

CHECK THE TV SCHEDULE

First episode: MIND CONTROLLED CAR - October 15 @ 10 e/p
Our team of inventors attempts to prototype a car that utilizes biofeedback sensors to restrict a cars performance as its driver's agitation level increases. Joe and Zoz will use cutting edge biofeedback and mind control technologies as the brains of the prototypes while Terry and Mike retrofit the test cars for an extreme test to prove the concept: a demolition derby where road rage is inevitable.

Obama Speaks to the Arts, McCain Silent

According to the Americans For the Arts Action Fund, the Obama campaign has a robust arts and culture policy platform, while the McCain campaign says nothing about the arts. Their report documents Senator McCain's repeated votes to weaken or eliminate the National Endowment for the Arts. Check out "Arts & Creative Industries for Obama."

"Power of Culture" - Global Cultural Policy

The Power of Culture is a website about culture and development. Culture is not a peripheral matter. The ideas, ideals and creativity of people are the driving force behind development towards more political, economic and social freedom. The Power of Culture reviews art and cultural expressions in conjunction with human rights, education, the environment, emancipation and democratization. The site offers a list of projects, initiatives and objectives of Dutch organizations active in this area. The site also reports on the part played by cultural organizations in Africa, Asia, Latin America, the Caribbean and South-east Europe. News and background information illustrate how culture is inextricably entwined with ethics and policy. The Power of Culture also points the way to other internet sources, media and organizations.

Online Introduction to Organizing from an Expert

Marshall Ganz joined Cesar Chavez and the United Farm Workers; over the next 16 years he gained experience in union, community, issue, and political organizing and became Director of Organizing. During the 1980s, he worked with grassroots groups to develop effective organizing programs, designing innovative voter mobilization strategies for local, state, and national electoral campaigns. This rich online learning tool is open to the public - share Mr. Ganz' decades of experience in social change and political organizing.

Funding of Arts Sucks, War - not so much

Deep Throat told Bob Woodward to "follow the money." Following the money in America tells you what's important. National Endowment for the Arts funding for 2008 - $144.7 million. Cost of the Iraq War to date - $559 billion.

"Creatives as Civic Leaders" Workshop at AAC Conference

At the 2008 conference of the Alliance of Artists Communities in Seattle....

Creatives as Civic Leaders

Led by Thomas Tresser, consultant, producer, educator, and trainer on creativity and civic engagement, this workshop will explore the connection between one’s private or professional role as a creative or generative person and a civic identity and civic responsibility.

This workshop is open to the public. Artists, arts administrators, cultural leaders, and others are welcome to attend.

Saturday, November 15, 2008
9:00 - 10:30 am

Henry Art Gallery
University of Washington
15th Avenue NE and NE 41st Street
Seattle

Workshop fee: $30 - Click to register.