this page was last updated
July 12, 2003
Talk Back to Jack:
give peace a chance
michael hermiston on Hunter Street
photo by Laurel Paluck
Howdy JACK,
As the organizer of the Peace Tapestry , maligned
in Ms. Stucky’s recent
piece, I offer a few thoughts.
We are talking about art eh? Is there good art, bad art?... It’s
in the mind of the beholder.
I wondered why there wasn’t more of an outpouring of interest within
the arts community for this project. Compared to say, the Hot Belly
Sunday Silly Fest? Political, social activist art is more difficult
to create and watch, than heart, guts and intestinal art?
If one turns down the opportunity to be involved in assisting and
contributing to a project, is there merit in bemoaning the poor
quality of the event? Is that bemoaning born of guilt?
The Peace Tapestry intention was to offer a space for all
those interested in expressing their opinions, artistic visions,
and desire to collaborate on a short term project related to peace
issues. Maybe because it was a sunny day, maybe because the war
on Iraq was over, maybe because it didn’t sound like fun, but there
wasn’t much desire for the same day creations. However people had
stuff to say and do, the event happened and will lead to Peace
Tapestry 2, probably with a more clearly defined focus and with
a substantial portion of commissioned pieces.
I see no point is carrying on a generalized debate about the merits
of amateur/semi professional art. If you want to discuss a specific
piece in a constructive creative manner, I ’d be into that. To throw
out a label of "malaise", as applying to the Peace
Tapestry and some of the PND
Emergency pieces, isn’t constructive, doesn’t support the
local arts community, and isn’t particularly useful. We learn stuff
by creating works, and in the end, the experience of learning is
the only thing which counts... all art will rot and be gone eventually.
Finally, what a cheesey intro, Miriam, you won’t give peace a chance?
Have you resigned yourself to the "war is inevitable"
paradigm? I’m surprised at your pessimism, you’re still so
young.
michael hermiston
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