As a non-profit publishing company, we have certain restrictions on expressing political opinions. This leaves me in a lurch to describe my fears for the next few years. What I can express is my concern for arts, artists, words, and writers. Sometimes what we create goes against the norm; sometimes what we create goes against the government. Having an opinion, a point of view, to make a statement with our art is risky, and I can’t remember a time when this was in such sharp relief.
I told M.T. Pariti, Editor-in-Chief of The Scene, that I was at a loss for purpose. He replied, “This is when we need to persevere! The world needs art more than ever — local, community art that changes the hearts and minds of our neighbors.” He’s correct. And while I run a tiny zine with my itsy-bitsy non-profit org, I am a part of a larger group of creatives that need to speak up now, louder and longer than we may be comfortable with.
Solidarity, my creative friends. We stand with each other.
What’s your view on all this? What gets you out of bed each day to kick some ass creatively? And, sure, what can I do to help? My email is always open: [email protected]