When I was in college, I met my first politician: a local real estate agent was running in a local race. The election campaign hosted a barbecue, and I went with my family to talk to a budding politician about his platform.
Barbecue sandwich in hand, I turned to be introduced to the candidate.
Hi. My name is Crorey Lawton. I am Mac's son.
Hi, I am 'Eddie Haskell'. <Pause.> Where are you in school?
I am at Wofford.
Ah. Well, you know, I am FOR education.
And after another uncomfortable pause, he wandered off to find someone whose vote he could successfully court.
To nobody's surprise, 'Eddie' did not win the election.
But I have come back to that statement throughout my life. What does it mean to be "for" something? It was a monumentally stupid thing to say, because who in their right mind is against education?
Of course he was for education. So is everyone. But being 'for' something but not having something to say about it is equivalent to me being a fan of the Smashing Pumpkins. If I can't come up with a single song, if I have not been to a concert, if I have not expended one dime on their music, then I am not much of a fan.
I support the arts.
Same statement. Except worse.
By supporting the arts, do you mean you like it? Or do you go to the local student art show? Do you pay to see the locally produced play? Do you go to the art gallery and buy from local artists? Do you have tickets to the symphony? Do you go on ceilidh night at the bar and drop a 20 in the musicians' jar?
Do you REALLY support the arts?
I also don't mean buying tickets to the >fill in the blank< arena rock band when they come to the House of Blues. I love James Taylor, and would go to see him in a heartbeat, but it is not the same thing as supporting musicians.
A good friend of mine and I lived through an interminable month of listening to a teenage garage band next door working their way through a very loud version of Sweet Child of Mine. Those parents supported the arts in a very real way. So does anyone who pays for art lessons, or listens to a saw-off of 'Twinkle, Twinkle' for the 900th time. Or covers their fridge with artwork from a grandkid or does any of the thousand things that you do to support children as they develop their interests.
But the real payoff is, well, when you pay. When you buy art or buy access to music, you make it possible for artists to make a living. When you visit an art show, or find a cousin's online store and buy her gorgeous handmade cuff links or earrings, you support the arts. When you find a friend's online shop and buy a piece of art, that is when you really do it.
A couple of dear friends of mine can easily afford to fill their house with whatever they want. They could go with antiques or pieces from their travels or the ..... and they collect local art. The result is nothing less than stunning. Local artisans retrofitted an antique door. Original photographs cover their walls, and original sculpture on their shelves, and paintings and music and.....
These friends support the arts.
I support teachers. I support the troops. I support the police. I support local radio (OK, that sticker you only get after a donation, so, I guess it is OK).
But talk is cheap, guys. Next time you go to say "I <3 (Y)", stop and think. Do you? Are you putting your money where your mouth is? Or are you just in favor of money going to the arts? Empty words. If you are just saying it, step up your game.
Go to your local art gallery. Go to your local live theatre or arthouse theatre. Go to the craft fair. Go and buy gifts there.
You have a family member's birthday coming up? Instead of getting www.1800FLOWERY to deliver non-descript flowers to your mom, why not buy some local art?
Say you support the arts, and then get in and do the hard work.
Barbecue sandwich in hand, I turned to be introduced to the candidate.
Hi. My name is Crorey Lawton. I am Mac's son.
Hi, I am 'Eddie Haskell'. <Pause.> Where are you in school?
I am at Wofford.
Ah. Well, you know, I am FOR education.
And after another uncomfortable pause, he wandered off to find someone whose vote he could successfully court.
To nobody's surprise, 'Eddie' did not win the election.
But I have come back to that statement throughout my life. What does it mean to be "for" something? It was a monumentally stupid thing to say, because who in their right mind is against education?
Of course he was for education. So is everyone. But being 'for' something but not having something to say about it is equivalent to me being a fan of the Smashing Pumpkins. If I can't come up with a single song, if I have not been to a concert, if I have not expended one dime on their music, then I am not much of a fan.
I support the arts.
Same statement. Except worse.
By supporting the arts, do you mean you like it? Or do you go to the local student art show? Do you pay to see the locally produced play? Do you go to the art gallery and buy from local artists? Do you have tickets to the symphony? Do you go on ceilidh night at the bar and drop a 20 in the musicians' jar?
Do you REALLY support the arts?
I also don't mean buying tickets to the >fill in the blank< arena rock band when they come to the House of Blues. I love James Taylor, and would go to see him in a heartbeat, but it is not the same thing as supporting musicians.
A good friend of mine and I lived through an interminable month of listening to a teenage garage band next door working their way through a very loud version of Sweet Child of Mine. Those parents supported the arts in a very real way. So does anyone who pays for art lessons, or listens to a saw-off of 'Twinkle, Twinkle' for the 900th time. Or covers their fridge with artwork from a grandkid or does any of the thousand things that you do to support children as they develop their interests.
But the real payoff is, well, when you pay. When you buy art or buy access to music, you make it possible for artists to make a living. When you visit an art show, or find a cousin's online store and buy her gorgeous handmade cuff links or earrings, you support the arts. When you find a friend's online shop and buy a piece of art, that is when you really do it.
A couple of dear friends of mine can easily afford to fill their house with whatever they want. They could go with antiques or pieces from their travels or the ..... and they collect local art. The result is nothing less than stunning. Local artisans retrofitted an antique door. Original photographs cover their walls, and original sculpture on their shelves, and paintings and music and.....
 |
| My ego wall has art from my friends. |
I support teachers. I support the troops. I support the police. I support local radio (OK, that sticker you only get after a donation, so, I guess it is OK).
But talk is cheap, guys. Next time you go to say "I <3 (Y)", stop and think. Do you? Are you putting your money where your mouth is? Or are you just in favor of money going to the arts? Empty words. If you are just saying it, step up your game.
Go to your local art gallery. Go to your local live theatre or arthouse theatre. Go to the craft fair. Go and buy gifts there.
You have a family member's birthday coming up? Instead of getting www.1800FLOWERY to deliver non-descript flowers to your mom, why not buy some local art?
Say you support the arts, and then get in and do the hard work.
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