From: Wayong-AT-aol.com
Date: Mon, 12 Aug 2002 19:20:43 -0400
Subject: Re: PUPT: Maybe They're Right . . .or maybe wrong


hmmm... I wish this was so everywhere.
But, sadly the arts are not always considered a valid form of communication everywhere - even with children.

Unfortunately, I live in a state & town that doesn't recognise the arts. At all.  It's considered the lowest arts funded state in the country.  The 51rst. Yikes!
Not to mention that over here, we have the Number One State- Worst problem of substance abuse, the 3rd Highest drop out rate in the country. Gov' Owens just proposed a major slash in the arts budget. Start to see a trend? Meanwhile, the kids are a ragin' & they don't know what to do here!  The only thing they know is they don't want to spend the money.

I'm a member of various arts organisations here.  It's a mess.  I've never seen so much dispondancy since my frosh year in college.

I'm signed up as an artist that could come into schools to provide workshops & presentations.  However, the president of the organisation states her hands are tied because they can only rely on the teachers' wishes.  And they primarily wish for musicians to provide holiday entertainment.  I ask if there is any way the organisation can promote more awareness of the visual arts & puppetry.  We are not allowed to promote or suggest.  I said I'm willing to jump on the soap box myself & tried to pursuade people myself. Nope!  I am not permitted!

What local artists say:  'Nobody is interested in the arts here.'  'Arts are not respected.'  'There is no art for arts sake here.' 'The locals only see two forms of entertainment. Watch/do sports or get high/drunk.  They see the same for their kids & deny it's a problem.' 'Art classes are considered glorified babysitting here. I provide supplies & snacks - what babysitter does that?  And we are cheaper than babysitters.' 'Supply & demand. The reason why you don't have kids sign up for classes is supply & demand.' 'The kids here look for trouble because there's nothing to do after school.'
'As soon as I graduate from art school, I'm heading to sunny California!' 'I'm only getting 50 % employment next school year, but I consider myself lucky. I don't want to have to relocate to New Jersey.'

Over here, there's a major recession. The situation is terrible. I've been told it's going to get worse before getting better.  If it weren't for some very supportive people in my life, I would be homeless.  I WISH there was a Marquis Studios, Studio in the Schools or Project Zero here.  I wish that everytime that I went on a job interview & mentioned that I integrate the arts & visual-spatial & kinesthetic techniques into education & the therapies & that I'm a puppeteer that the interviewer didn't look at me as if I had 2 heads.  I wish people here did understand that puppetry & the arts are wonderful ways to work with children (and adults). I wish  the school district didn't totally oust me & say that they had no need for my services.
And in the same breathe, they don't understand why the old methods don't work with these kids.


It's wonderful to research & market, etc. etc. if you have spare money floating around.  If you don't have debts. If you don't have to worry how you are going to pay bills & overhead. If your aunt was going to give you a trust fund out of the blue. If someone put a crown on your head & granted you the MacArthur Grant. But for us peons who have to work & survive & try to figure out how to pay for Magic Sculp, paper clay & Sculptorcoat, or replace the scanner & printer, it isn't easy. (I'm not attacking these methods - it's just not realistic when one is talking about extenuating circumstances)

Ah, I feel the Pink Floyd's The Wall theme song floating in my veins.  Oh wait, Beatle's Revolution is coming on...

Wayong


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