Comments on: DTMP: Section One – Arts, Culture, History http://scrutinyhooligans.us/2009/05/18/dtmp-section-one-arts-culture-history/ If ye love wealth better than liberty, the tranquility of servitude better than the animating contest of freedom, go home from us in peace. We ask not your counsels or your arms. Crouch down and lick the hands which feed you. May your chains set lightly upon you, and may posterity forget that you were our countrymen. — Samuel Adams Fri, 10 Feb 2012 17:18:32 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.2.1 By: greenasheville http://scrutinyhooligans.us/2009/05/18/dtmp-section-one-arts-culture-history/comment-page-1/#comment-30671 greenasheville Thu, 21 May 2009 23:37:03 +0000 http://scrutinyhooligans.us/?p=7990#comment-30671 whatever... whatever…

Rate this comment: Thumb up 0 Thumb down 0

]]> By: cecil bothwell http://scrutinyhooligans.us/2009/05/18/dtmp-section-one-arts-culture-history/comment-page-1/#comment-30658 cecil bothwell Thu, 21 May 2009 09:39:37 +0000 http://scrutinyhooligans.us/?p=7990#comment-30658 I should note that the above riff isn't meant to discount the intentions of the DTMP in regard to the arts, but to temper our expectations. For instance a Performing Arts Center may make good sense, but the history of the Civic Center should make us think hard about what it is we need to build. The events that draw significant numbers to the Civic Center are NOT the events imagined for the PAC. The boosters of the PAC envision high versus low culture (in the presentations I've seen). I'm all for highbrow stuff, but the audiences show up in droves for Phish, Panic, Haynes Christmas Jam, country idols, Tough Man, Wedding Planning, Food, RV shows, etc. - and things like the Southern Highland Handicraft Show which includes great artisanship but isn't a PAC-type event. Furthermore, one argument for the inadequacy of Thomas Wolfe may fade in the new energy economy. Right now we can't accommodate the large sets required by a certain class of traveling theater. In building for the future we should contemplate the future of mega-transport of traveling shows. The world is downsizing and we oughtn't build a 20th Century structure for the 21st Century. I should note that the above riff isn’t meant to discount the intentions of the DTMP in regard to the arts, but to temper our expectations.

For instance a Performing Arts Center may make good sense, but the history of the Civic Center should make us think hard about what it is we need to build. The events that draw significant numbers to the Civic Center are NOT the events imagined for the PAC. The boosters of the PAC envision high versus low culture (in the presentations I’ve seen). I’m all for highbrow stuff, but the audiences show up in droves for Phish, Panic, Haynes Christmas Jam, country idols, Tough Man, Wedding Planning, Food, RV shows, etc. – and things like the Southern Highland Handicraft Show which includes great artisanship but isn’t a PAC-type event.

Furthermore, one argument for the inadequacy of Thomas Wolfe may fade in the new energy economy. Right now we can’t accommodate the large sets required by a certain class of traveling theater. In building for the future we should contemplate the future of mega-transport of traveling shows. The world is downsizing and we oughtn’t build a 20th Century structure for the 21st Century.

Rate this comment: Thumb up 0 Thumb down 0

]]> By: cecil bothwell http://scrutinyhooligans.us/2009/05/18/dtmp-section-one-arts-culture-history/comment-page-1/#comment-30657 cecil bothwell Thu, 21 May 2009 09:26:21 +0000 http://scrutinyhooligans.us/?p=7990#comment-30657 I'm an artist and I can afford to live here. True, I only make part of my income from the arts, but relatively few artists, writers or musicians actually make a full-time living from their creations—anywhere. Actually, most of the artists I have known over 28 years in this community have either made their living in entirely other arenas or via functional art. Clay artists subsist on mugs, bowls and plates; photographers subsist on weddings snd portraits; writers make it through editing or reporting; musicians offer guitar and piano lessons; film makers shoot advertisements; and etc. This isn't new in Asheville or anywhere. The "starving artist" is a fixture in our cultural folklore. And in some ways, it is reasonable and necessary for there to be sacrifice involved in the creative process, because it focuses the attention wonderfully (in the manner that a death sentence is said to do). In the limited time I can find to paint, for example, I am constantly driven to exceed my previous best. I remember the self-indulgence of my early art efforts in the 60s and 70s, the "pure" creativity I expressed, and my embarrassment at letting anyone see most of the few relics I still own. The world has never been kind to artists and it has resulted in rebellious paradigmatic shifts and magnificent creativity. This doesn't mean we shouldn't include the arts in our planning and recognize their urgency, but I suspect it is approximately possible to force art to become financially successful for most of its practitioners. I’m an artist and I can afford to live here. True, I only make part of my income from the arts, but relatively few artists, writers or musicians actually make a full-time living from their creations—anywhere.

Actually, most of the artists I have known over 28 years in this community have either made their living in entirely other arenas or via functional art. Clay artists subsist on mugs, bowls and plates; photographers subsist on weddings snd portraits; writers make it through editing or reporting; musicians offer guitar and piano lessons; film makers shoot advertisements; and etc. This isn’t new in Asheville or anywhere. The “starving artist” is a fixture in our cultural folklore. And in some ways, it is reasonable and necessary for there to be sacrifice involved in the creative process, because it focuses the attention wonderfully (in the manner that a death sentence is said to do).

In the limited time I can find to paint, for example, I am constantly driven to exceed my previous best. I remember the self-indulgence of my early art efforts in the 60s and 70s, the “pure” creativity I expressed, and my embarrassment at letting anyone see most of the few relics I still own. The world has never been kind to artists and it has resulted in rebellious paradigmatic shifts and magnificent creativity.

This doesn’t mean we shouldn’t include the arts in our planning and recognize their urgency, but I suspect it is approximately possible to force art to become financially successful for most of its practitioners.

Rate this comment: Thumb up 0 Thumb down 0

]]> By: Gordon Smith http://scrutinyhooligans.us/2009/05/18/dtmp-section-one-arts-culture-history/comment-page-1/#comment-30655 Gordon Smith Thu, 21 May 2009 03:15:35 +0000 http://scrutinyhooligans.us/?p=7990#comment-30655 I would have let him live with me. I would have let him live with me.

Rate this comment: Thumb up 0 Thumb down 0

]]> By: Doug Gibson http://scrutinyhooligans.us/2009/05/18/dtmp-section-one-arts-culture-history/comment-page-1/#comment-30652 Doug Gibson Thu, 21 May 2009 00:44:11 +0000 http://scrutinyhooligans.us/?p=7990#comment-30652 If he was still alive, I'm pretty sure Satchmo could've afforded to live here. If he was still alive, I’m pretty sure Satchmo could’ve afforded to live here.

Rate this comment: Thumb up 0 Thumb down 0

]]> By: greenasheville http://scrutinyhooligans.us/2009/05/18/dtmp-section-one-arts-culture-history/comment-page-1/#comment-30647 greenasheville Wed, 20 May 2009 14:34:47 +0000 http://scrutinyhooligans.us/?p=7990#comment-30647 if you gotta ask you'll never know. ~ Louis Armstrong ~ if you gotta ask you’ll never know.

~ Louis Armstrong ~

Rate this comment: Thumb up 0 Thumb down 0

]]> By: Gordon Smith http://scrutinyhooligans.us/2009/05/18/dtmp-section-one-arts-culture-history/comment-page-1/#comment-30645 Gordon Smith Wed, 20 May 2009 12:58:41 +0000 http://scrutinyhooligans.us/?p=7990#comment-30645 Jenny, The anarchy media player is broken. Link? Jenny,

The anarchy media player is broken. Link?

Rate this comment: Thumb up 0 Thumb down 0

]]> By: Jenny Bowen http://scrutinyhooligans.us/2009/05/18/dtmp-section-one-arts-culture-history/comment-page-1/#comment-30644 Jenny Bowen Wed, 20 May 2009 03:25:49 +0000 http://scrutinyhooligans.us/?p=7990#comment-30644 Greenasheville: How do you define a 'real' artist? Greenasheville:

How do you define a ‘real’ artist?

Rate this comment: Thumb up 0 Thumb down 0

]]> By: greenasheville http://scrutinyhooligans.us/2009/05/18/dtmp-section-one-arts-culture-history/comment-page-1/#comment-30639 greenasheville Wed, 20 May 2009 00:37:27 +0000 http://scrutinyhooligans.us/?p=7990#comment-30639 too bad real artists cant afford to live here;) too bad real artists cant afford to live here;)

Rate this comment: Thumb up 0 Thumb down 0

]]> By: Gordon Smith http://scrutinyhooligans.us/2009/05/18/dtmp-section-one-arts-culture-history/comment-page-1/#comment-30635 Gordon Smith Tue, 19 May 2009 23:07:57 +0000 http://scrutinyhooligans.us/?p=7990#comment-30635 Thanks, Jen! Thanks, Jen!

Rate this comment: Thumb up 0 Thumb down 0

]]> By: Jenny Bowen http://scrutinyhooligans.us/2009/05/18/dtmp-section-one-arts-culture-history/comment-page-1/#comment-30628 Jenny Bowen Tue, 19 May 2009 18:44:47 +0000 http://scrutinyhooligans.us/?p=7990#comment-30628 Gordon - have you seen this nifty link? It is the DTMP presentation & discussion at Council last Tues: http://media.ashevillenc.gov/council/formal5-12-09.wmv The discussion begins around 2:00:00 & around 45 min. Gordon – have you seen this nifty link?
It is the DTMP presentation & discussion at Council last Tues:

http://media.ashevillenc.gov/council/formal5-12-09.wmv

The discussion begins around 2:00:00 & around 45 min.

Rate this comment: Thumb up 0 Thumb down 0

]]> By: randallt http://scrutinyhooligans.us/2009/05/18/dtmp-section-one-arts-culture-history/comment-page-1/#comment-30615 randallt Tue, 19 May 2009 00:04:28 +0000 http://scrutinyhooligans.us/?p=7990#comment-30615 Well said Gordon. As a street performer, I see it first hand. I have many repeat visitors year after year who come to watch while taking their kids to regional camps. We talk and everyone always mentions that the downtown scene is one of the biggest highlights of their visit. That kind of advertising for Asheville is priceless. Well said Gordon. As a street performer, I see it first hand. I have many repeat visitors year after year who come to watch while taking their kids to regional camps. We talk and everyone always mentions that the downtown scene is one of the biggest highlights of their visit. That kind of advertising for Asheville is priceless.

Rate this comment: Thumb up 0 Thumb down 0

]]>