April 26th, 2012

It's been a rough decade for the arts in California. But the sunrise is on the horizon. 2012 and 2013 constitute a magical "political window" to affect major change.  No Child Left Behind sunsets, a new Common Core Standards are entering schools along with the Smarter Balance test, and we have unprescentented support from politicians currently in office. 

Enter the Create California movement, a coordinated effort of arts, education, government, and business leaders to retore the arts to California classrooms.  

Young Audiences of Northern California, whose eloquent executive director Kris Murray is quoted in this article, is just one of the voices of Create CA.  Click here to find out how to lend your voice, your time, and your skills to this effort to give art back to California kids. 

April 2, 2012

I’ve spent quite a bit of time with puppets recently. Because I am neither a performer nor a parent of a very young child, this is unusual for me.  Last night, I saw The Muppets—a rebirth of Jim Henson’s delightful troupe of crazy fleece-covered characters.  And while in New York City, I experienced War Horse, an extraordinary play at Lincoln Center that focuses on the life of a horse—played by a steam-punk life-size metal puppet. 

What was extraordinary about both of these experiences was that, in each case, I spent the first few minutes of each of the performances marveling at the ingenuity and technical expertise that had gone into these puppets.  War Horse’s main “character,” Joey, is a 7 feet tall structure of metal, mesh, and fabric that requires three adults to bring it to life but can carry the weight of an actor as a rider.   The Muppet’s main character, Walter, is an expressive bundle of fleece that sits on sits on the hand of a puppeteer and can ride a bike.  Some might think that I had to suspend disbelief in order to enjoy these shows.  I disagree.  I didn’t suspend anything—I substituted entirely new beliefs, thanks to the artistry of the writers, stagecrafters, and performers. 

I believed that Joey the horse felt pain, fear, and joy.  I believed that he loved other animals and people he encountered.  I believed that he was a magnificent (and living) animal, worthy of the devotion of his owner.  I also believed that Walter the Muppet experienced debilitating angst, that he and his human brother shared a rare and wonderful relationship, and that he found his own success to be a wonderful and happy surprise. As I walked out of both theaters, I found myself commenting on how much I loved Joey the horse and how I hoped that Walter the Muppet would continue to be happy with his new Muppet friends.  It feels silly to write these things, and yet, that is what I experienced. 

I wouldn’t have thought that The Muppets and War Horse would have much to do with one another.  And I wouldn’t have thought that two puppets would be among the most memorable characters I had experienced in theaters this year.  But good art is powerful—it can elevate the mundane and make the ordinary extraordinary.  Just ask the folks seated near me in War Horse about the crazy lady who shouted “Nooooooo!” when Joey was in mortal danger.  Or ask the folks near me in The Muppets about the crazy lady who shrieked “Yesss!”  when Walter finally found his voice.  And then try to tell me that these were just puppets. 

Contributed by Executive Director, Kris Murray

March 22, 2012

 In a city as expensive as San Francisco, it can be rough to raise a family.  Housing costs, troubled public schools,  communities weakened by family flight, and the difficulties of transportation (Have you ever tried to get on the 49 bus with a stroller?  Or looked for parking around Dolores Park? Then you get my drift.) all combine to make having kids in the city seem impossible, or at best, inadvisable.  So, why would anyone try?  

One good reason is that art is all around us in San Francisco, and raising a child in the presence of music, murals, and performance art is an inspiring endeavor.  As my one and a half year old and I traipse through the Mission District where we live, she points out murals to me and we bask in their colorful glory.  A simple trip the library could find an impromptu circus happening on a sidewalk, a long gaze at a creative window display, and an interaction with a real-live street artist, creating right before our eyes.  

The best way to raise a child who appreciates art is to create art yourself, and the Bay Area offers many opportunities for adults to unleash their inner Frieda or Judith Jamison.  For instance, in my daughter’s short life, she has seen her dad perform music onstage at local venues, her mom dance in an ODC student showcase, and her parents perform together at an art gallery.  Whether we are dancing in the streets with her on our shoulders at Carnavale or the Dyke March, singing hymns at church, or participating in chalk murals at the park, we are exposing her to creating art on a daily basis.  
Our hope is that art won’t be seen as a hobby for her, but a form of expressing herself that is as natural to her as speaking.  In that way, we are raising her bilingually, with the language of the arts as her native tongue.  So, whether you live in the ‘burbs or in the city, take the time to expose yourself and your child to the arts daily — your soul will thank you now, your child will thank you later. 

contributed by Rhea St. Julien

Rhea St. Julien is a freelance writer, expressive arts therapist, youth programming consultant, wife and mother living in the Mission District of San Francisco. To read more from Rhea, check out her insightful, thought-provoking, and inspiring blog at http://thirtythreadbaremercies.wordpress.com/.

March 12, 2012

There is much to be excited about this week–spring blossoms, St. Patrick's Day, March Madness.  In addition, Congress has singled out a topic for a week's worth of recognition and celebration: arts education.

Today kicks off National Young Audiences Week. The United States Senate and House of Representatives have issued resolutions designating this week to honor the contributions Young Audiences has made to schools nationwide through its arts-in-education programs and to encourage Americans to recognize the importance of the arts to society.

Young Audiences is the oldest and largest arts education organization in the country.  Since its founding in 1952, YA has served over one-hundred million children across the US.  Young Audiences was the first arts education organization to receive the prestigious National Medal of Arts, in 1994.   

The Senate resolution states that arts education, “including dance, music, theatre, media arts, literature, design, and visual arts, is a core academic subject and an essential element of a complete and balanced education for all students.” The resolution also emphasizes that the arts not only foster academic success, but also support personal growth by developing critical thinking, problem solving skills, creativity, discipline, and cross-cultural understanding.

Please join us in recognizing and honoring the importance of art education this week. How? It's easy–just tap into your creative side.

Take a little extra time to make or view art, or connect with a local arts community.  Here are just a few ideas to get you started–let your imagination guide your own celebration!

1. View work from one of the core art disciplines: visual arts, dance, theater, or music. Bonus points if you can see all four!

2. Connect with your local Young Audiences community at Cocktails and Creativity on March 13.

3. Listen to Kermit the Frog sing the "Rainbow Connection" every morning.

4. Catch an episode of "Great Performances" on PBS, or an "Art 21" on Netflix.

5. Spend a hour sitting at your kitchen table with your child, a stack of drawing paper, and a box of crayola markers. There are no rules–just draw.

6. Go dancing.

7. Fill out your NCAA bracket only by color combinations you find appealing.

8. Locate your closest museum, theater, or concert hall. Now, go to their website. Is there anything there that you could see this week?

9. Close your eyes and remember back to making art in your childhood school. What did you do? How did it feel? Do you still remember those lines you performed onstage, or the lyrics to a song you learned? Now, consider whether or not you'd be in the 11 percent of California school children today who are getting the recommended exposure to the arts.

10. Support your local Young Audiences affiliate in any way you can.

Contributed by artsfan