I would like to submit an Art Studio Manifesto in this issue. Somewhat tongue-in-cheek, it still contains our goals and purpose, and clarifies our intent and means to get there. I hope you enjoy the ride.
But first — I hope all will come to the Shop-O-Rama Dec. 1 and 8. The invitation should be in your hands as we speak, and you can expect amazing work from local artisans, crafters and artists. In these times of Amazon overreach and mail order everything, it is refreshing to find something unique from a person you know or will know and have a face behind the work.
The job of the Studio is to help preserve the autonomous craftsperson and their work. Art is the quintessential process that defines us as humans, and it is of utmost importance to support and preserve this amazing and ancient tradition of transforming raw materials into objects of beauty.
We would like to give a shout out to the good people at Del Papa Distributing who since September have generously provided us with a variety of craft beers from their warehouse here in Beaumont. We hope you enjoy the new collection of refreshments during the openings.
Also, a thanks to Frankie Randazzo from Madison’s restaurant and bar for offering us a chance raise some funds and have a good time while allowing us to introduce The Art Studio to a new audience. The Beernefit raised more than $600.
Tickets are now available on Brown Bag for “The Beaux Arts Ball: Moulin Rouge,” set for Jan. 19. Channel your Impressionist muse and don your French period attire from this provocative time in artistic history. Burlesque dancers will be the stars of the show along with an auction, great food and, of course, the thing that makes the Ball, the Ball — YOU. Don’t miss this chance to impress!
The Art Studio Manifesto:
As artists, dedicated to the occupation of the majority of our lives to that end, we hold that creation is a gift we’ve given ourselves and each other. We love art! Covered in mud or paint or ink, hoarse with the joy of singing, hands cramped creating music, bodies exhausted in the reveries of dance or theater, numbed by the craft of words and phrases. Creating art, seeing art, building art, showing art, sharing art, teaching art, living the life of art, living in a community of art, raising our children with art, bases our beliefs on the beauty and persistence of art.
A world without art is a cold, repressive, barren environment filled with inhabitants that fear life’s innovation, diversity and rareness, who repulse in fear from the unique unusual and intimidating challenges that are part and parcel with the daring and fearless act of creativity. They hold deep worthless prejudices, are stupid about themselves, ignorant about others, lost in a world of sadness and relegated to an empty existence.
To love art is to love humanity, the flora and fauna and the beauty of all the elements of the visible and invisible world and all the stimulations to our senses and minds. These are our human condition, our recognition of self, our markers of the great advance we call life!
•We believe the heart of humanity has been based on our images — painted, drawn, printed, filmed and digitized.
•We believe the heart of humanity has been based on our objects (functional and nonfunctional) — sculpted, thrown, carved, cast, performed and constructed.
•We believe the heart of humanity has been based on our performances — composed, played, sung, acted and danced.
•We believe the heart of humanity has been based on our words, spoken and written — poetry, prose, essays, manuscripts, references, blogs and texts.
•We believe these disciplines have bound the world as unified through the acceptance of art as a universal language.
•We believe art raises our mind. No culture is bereft of some form of creativity based on belief, beauty or function.
•We believe art is imperative to our intellect.
•We believe art is indelible in the soul of people even when it is not utilized.
•We believe art makes children brighter, mentally agile and far more capable to face the world.
•We know a society, with a strong cultural base, is happier, more secure and innovative.
•We believe that to affirm this idea and support our efforts to create a society that can proliferate the notion that arts are essential to your wellbeing, you have made a first step to a community that is viable, strong and compassionate.
The Art Studio is committed:
•To help artists to realize their full potential as creative beings through exhibitions, teaching, workspaces and moral and practical support.
•To preserve and proliferate traditional art techniques and practices while embracing new and innovative art processes.
•To provide opportunity for the artists to interact with the community as a whole through exhibits and education.
•To offer our youth an atmosphere of creativity, support and knowledge in a safe and secure environment.
•To realize the highest potential that a young person can achieve to compete in the world as an artist or, at the least, a well-rounded, open and intelligent adult.
•To making it clear that art has everything to do with economic and population growth through positive community diversity based on race, gender, religion, income, origin or profession.
•To doing our utmost to champion the right of everyone to artistic expression.
•To applying our best skills and abilities to maintaining an institution that provides a bastion of hope and support for the arts.
•To offer our services through knowledge, equipment or presence, to aid those educators committed to bringing the arts to our children.
•To expanding and growing this organization through all means possible to better serve the local community.
•To making this organization deserving of your support.
Revolt against the ordinary. Stand against the tyranny of the banal. The mundane world offered by our oppressors is intolerable to the creative mind. Hold against the gruel of mediocrity fed to us as if it were ambrosia from the gods. Rise up to high ground as we stand above the lost souls who turn their eyes away from the light of creativity. Bask with us in the loving radiance of arts salvation gained through years of dogged determination.
We have the passion to persevere through adversity, the single-minded focus to realize our goals, and the sheer will, though hard work and dedication, to foster a vision of hope for the future for our community committed to the cultural health of our precious corner of Texas.
There is a critical player to this art precipice — your participation! The presence of community is imperative lest we hold in our hands a mere building, an empty box of bricks.
Greg Busceme, The Art Studio, Inc. director