Artistic Encouragement
I grew up in Lancaster Dutch Country, and moved to Western NY when I was twelve. After returning home for college, I began using both my weaving and writing skills to try and earn an income.
No such luck for several years, but yesterday I was up at the Castellani Art Museum to learn about the Art Services Initiative and the arts community in the Western five counties of Western NY.
For a brief review of Western NY (and New York state in general) you first need to realize that New York City makes up a very small portion of the entire state. It's something like less than ten percent in all honesty. That particular area is referred to as Downstate and includes anything below the northern NY/PA border. Western NY can be a looser term, but it typically is everything west of the Genesee River, or the eight Western counties of NY State (Niagara, Orleans, Genesee, Erie, Wyoming, Allegheny, Cattaraugus and Chautauqua.
This area is rich in natural beauty, history and crazy tales. Major American events have happened in this area such as the McKinley assassination, and subsequent inauguration of Teddy Roosevelt. According to the local jokes, Buffalo is a drinking town with a sports problem. Others see us as the Eastern end of the Rust Belt, populated by farmers, blue-color workers and people uninterested in the arts.
Few people realize the rich artistic culture that exists in Buffalo and the surrounding counties, but the news is changing, and yesterday's meeting discussed many of these avenues from the economic to the health values.
It is never easy being an artisan or artist, no matter your location. We are micro-enterprises trying to make it in a world where cheap is better. Art isn't simply a passive reaction of purchasing pieces of artwork, though that's a part of art. It challenges us to think about other viewpoints; to see the world in a slightly different angle. It's the pausing to enjoy life, and finding the little bits of surprise as we go through life.
Art is both enjoying the beauty of the Falls, but also focusing on the beauty of the river. It is enjoying a great play or book, but also the time afterwards where we contemplate the message. For me I read a book, watch a play or visit a museum, and life goes on from there. Later, sometimes days or weeks later, something I'm doing reminds me of the book, play or artwork I saw, providing new insights to the original piece, and the current situation.
This is art: the continual edification and enlightenment of life. It is the comfort of old friends, and the rush of new love. It is staring over the edge of the Falls, but it's also walking through a city to enjoy the architecture.
Art and culture permeate our lives; culture is what makes my family different from your family, and my region different from your region. It is what makes America different from France. We might share a similar heritage, but there are elements that change. Art goes over all of that, and settles down over the culture to provide a language we all can understand.
We need art much like we need air, and it is encouraging to find a place where others feel the same way.
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| Niagara River Above the Falls |
For a brief review of Western NY (and New York state in general) you first need to realize that New York City makes up a very small portion of the entire state. It's something like less than ten percent in all honesty. That particular area is referred to as Downstate and includes anything below the northern NY/PA border. Western NY can be a looser term, but it typically is everything west of the Genesee River, or the eight Western counties of NY State (Niagara, Orleans, Genesee, Erie, Wyoming, Allegheny, Cattaraugus and Chautauqua.
This area is rich in natural beauty, history and crazy tales. Major American events have happened in this area such as the McKinley assassination, and subsequent inauguration of Teddy Roosevelt. According to the local jokes, Buffalo is a drinking town with a sports problem. Others see us as the Eastern end of the Rust Belt, populated by farmers, blue-color workers and people uninterested in the arts.
Few people realize the rich artistic culture that exists in Buffalo and the surrounding counties, but the news is changing, and yesterday's meeting discussed many of these avenues from the economic to the health values.
It is never easy being an artisan or artist, no matter your location. We are micro-enterprises trying to make it in a world where cheap is better. Art isn't simply a passive reaction of purchasing pieces of artwork, though that's a part of art. It challenges us to think about other viewpoints; to see the world in a slightly different angle. It's the pausing to enjoy life, and finding the little bits of surprise as we go through life.
 |
| American Falls from the Canadian Side |
This is art: the continual edification and enlightenment of life. It is the comfort of old friends, and the rush of new love. It is staring over the edge of the Falls, but it's also walking through a city to enjoy the architecture.
Art and culture permeate our lives; culture is what makes my family different from your family, and my region different from your region. It is what makes America different from France. We might share a similar heritage, but there are elements that change. Art goes over all of that, and settles down over the culture to provide a language we all can understand.
We need art much like we need air, and it is encouraging to find a place where others feel the same way.
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