Letters From the Creative Bureaucrat, continued

I write a monthly column in Northern Arizona's arts and news monthly publication, The Noise. My column is called "Letters from the Creative Bureaucrat." Here follows "part two" of the March issue column... Click here for "part one." And be sure to pick thee up a copy of this month's Noise, will ya?

~continued from earlier...

However, “excellence” is not some abstract sense of quality that remains only known to those who work in art galleries or academia. It has to be something that can be appreciated through different eyes and many perspectives. There has to be recognition of that excellence even if you don’t like the work in question. Maybe that’s one of the “markers” I’m hoping to find in determining artistic excellence. If those who do not particularly like the work of an artist can admit to the quality of that same artist’s work, have we not found something important there? And yet…

The more I explore this thought, the more I’m convinced that what I’m seeking is a moving target. As soon as a point of criteria becomes clear, I’m sure an artist’s work will present itself which challenges us to move that criteria. Last month, I wrote, “Rejection is in the eye of the beholder.” Maybe I should have just started there with “excellence” and avoided this column altogether.

Oh, and I never got back to the “what is art?” question. I danced around it like a boxer who fears his opponent. I suppose if I were a better writer, I’d give you some neatly wrapped article that circled around and met the question I posed at the beginning with some kind of insightful and revealing finish. Did you really expect that, after I invoked Andy Kaufman? Ha!

Cheers,
JT

Letters From the Creative Bureaucrat

I write a monthly column in Northern Arizona's arts and news monthly publication, The Noise. My column is called "Letters from the Creative Bureaucrat." Here follows "part one" of the March issue column... tune in Monday for "part two" and the thrilling conclusion (or pick thee up a copy of this month's Noise, will ya?).

~~~~~

If I started this column with the question, “What is Art?” would you immediately turn to another page and never come back? That’s what I would do. I hate that question.

And yet, I feel compelled, just ever so slightly, to go there.

Let me start at the beginning. The organization I work for hosts the Viola Awards. The Violas are like the Oscars, but for the arts in Flagstaff. For the past two years, we have hosted a glamorous gala event (well, glamorous for Flagstaff) to hand out 10 unique awards.

Last month in this space, I talked about art juries and what rejection means to the artist. For the Viola Awards, the Panel that chooses the award recipients works on a different level. Rather than selecting a variety of work for a show, they are pinpointing one artist to celebrate in each of several categories.

For criteria, we tell our Panelists to choose on the basis of excellence, considering both the work of the artist as well as the artist’s service to or impact on the community. The terms “service to community” and “impact on community” are fairly manageable when looking at the accomplishments and work of an artist or organization.

But what is excellence in art? Everyone certainly has different tastes about art. If we attempted to select winners on the basis of “art we like the most,” every Panelist would likely come up with a different name. Popularity cannot be the sole guiding factor in determining excellence, obviously. Commercial success is somewhat similar in notion to popularity. While the work of those who make a living primarily on their art certainly must be of some measure of quality, it does not always equal excellence. Working in the world of the arts every day as I do, it hurts to admit that. I wish many more artists could survive, or thrive, off of their work as their primary or sole income. But most cannot, even though they may be deserving or create excellent work.

The point is: when trying to determine which artist should receive a Viola Award, commercial success is more likely to create a fuzzier picture than to clear up the matter altogether. Sometimes great art is not altogether popular. In fact, some great art expressly has the ability to challenge people’s notions of themselves, of life, or of reality. Remember some of Andy Kaufman’s performance “pranks”? He said that he wanted his audience to have an authentic reaction – or rather, interaction – with his work. And if that meant he was making them angry, at least it was a genuine response and not just the drone of a well-mannered but lifeless – and disconnected – applause.

~to be continued...

The Amazing Violas

One month prior the event date, the Viola Awards Gala has sold out.

I'm looking at that sentence, reading it again, trying to figure out what we did right. I've been working in the arts and cultural industry for over a decade - I've been event planning for longer than that. But I've never been part of an event that has drawn the interest, attraction, excitement and power of the Viola Awards.

Now I am aware that we are only talking about a 300-seat venue for this dinner-and-awards-gala event. And our ticket prices are not too high compared to other non-profit fund raiser galas in town (most prices are $75 - $150, and the Violas are priced at $50).

However, there's a certain level of passion for this event that goes beyond just selling out. First and foremost, folks get it. They understand the concept of the event - an awards program to recognize and celebrate the quality art that is happening in and around Flagstaff. They understand that it's a huge value to do this, not only for the nominated and winning artists and organizations, but also for the whole art scene in Flagstaff. It helps to raise the bar.

At last year's event, we weren't sure about this. But quickly, as the room filled up, we realized that the arts community was taking this event as their own. There was a celebratory, party-like atmosphere in the room that night, one that had the aura of support and respect for the nominated artists and organizations, win or lose. There were standing ovations for the winners, hoots and hollers for the nominees, and a lot of hugs, smiles and handshakes. Flagstaff artists respect and support one another ... without the tired sense of competition or jealousy that I see stunt other communities' arts scenes ... and it makes for magic. The Viola Awards have become the place where this magic is in action, real, tangible, touchable.

In short, the Viola Awards had been a long time coming. I know this because while we are only in our second year of producing them, people talk about them as if they have been around for a decade. People want to be there. Supporters want to see the event live in perpetuity.

I'm not writing about all this to self-congratulate FCP or toot our own horn. I'm in awe of the passion for this event, and I'm observing and participating in it. I find it inspiring in a way... to see the arts community here come together and rally around a celebration event like this one. It says a lot about who and what we are as a community. I like what it says.

Cheers,
JT

(Photos from 2009 Viola Awards Gala: at top, Don Bendel receives the Lifetime Contribution to the Arts Award; at bottom, Joe Sorren receives the Visual Arts award from emcees Karen Kinne-Herman and Julie Pastrick.)

Viola Awards

It's that time of year once again. We are currently accepting nominations for the 2010 Viola Awards - to be held on March 4, 2010. The Viola Awards are given to artists, organizations, galleries and individuals who have a significant impact on the arts, and who do excellent work in the arts.

Please take a few moments to recognize some of the great work in the arts in the Flagstaff area! It is truly an honor for an artist to be nominated.

We are accepting nominations in the following categories:

• Visual Arts
• Performing Arts
• Music
• Literature

(the first four categories are for individual artists, or groups like musical acts - not organizations)

• Organization of the Year
• Arts in Education (individual or organization)
• Philanthropy (individual or organization)
• Arts Event
• Lifetime Contribution to the Arts (individual or organization)

Anyone can make a nomination for a Flagstaff-area artist, organization, gallery, business, musical act, or individual. No self-nominations are allowed, nor nominations of recipients of last year's awards. Nominations are due by December 15, 2009.

The nomination form is online here. You can also send us an email or nomination through the mail. The picture shows last year's recipient of the Mayor's Award for Excellence in the Arts, ceramic artist and teacher, Ellen Tibbetts.

Cheers,
JT