May | How do artists support large NGO’s?

I recently participated in WorldVision’s Acting On Aids Summit On The Hill and Sojourners Mobilization to End Poverty Conference out in Washington DC.  Both events were designed to ramp up people’s involvement with advocacy for the poor and to actually go meet with their states representatives to lobby for initiatives that benefit the poor nationally and worldwide. 

With Acting On Aids, I painted alongside fantastic Josh Garrels during an evening concert, painted with Scott Bessenecker from Intervarsity as he shared his thoughts on advocacy, and hosted a seminar with Josh about being a creative advocate.  This event was focused on college students from around the nation.

My involvement with Sojourners was a bit different. Their conference was a large event at the Washington Convention center and involved a lot of big named people from around the nation.  My part was small as Caitlin Beidler and I painted during the worship response time.  Not that I wasn’t thankful to be there.  It was a great pleasure to work alongside Martin Smith from Delirious and Vicky Beeching as they led in music.  Basically, good times all around.

Want I really want to write about was an interesting conversation that I had with Aaron Graham (one of the greatest people in the world) from Sojourners.  I’ve been thinking about this conversation and I would love some in put from you if you have any thoughts.

During my time in DC, I wandered down to the national portrait gallery and saw some amazing work. Currently they have a folk art exhibit that was very powerful in it’s portrayal of racism, sexism, and many other realities that we face in this country.  It got me thinking about the power of art and it’s role in society.  Along with that experience, someone shared with me this quote that I can’t remember word for word. But it’s by Daniel Berrigan and it’s along the lines of “if a movement isn’t creating/producing art, it’s not really a movement.”

So I’m talking to Aaron the last night of the conference and I share with them this quote and this thought: If this quote is true, and a group like Sojourners is doing a great work on poverty issues… trying to motivate the Church into action on such subjects, then how does and artist like me help with that? And how does a large organization like Sojourners utilize artists in their work?

Aaron had a great twofold response. One is that for most large organizations, the way in which they really only utilize artists is along the lines of branding and design.  This is a really good point, and I think a legitimate way that art can be a powerful communicator through things like film and design.  But as for artists like me and others, his second response is he doesn’t know. 

And I don’t know either.

Film and design are huge influencers in our society today, so maybe that’s all that large non-profits really need.  A lot of visual 2-d art like painting really just comes from the inspiration and particular desire of the individual artist.  There are paintings that we could probably just pick out that have to do with poverty issues that they could use to represent the work of a non-profit.  But it seems that great work really just comes from the artist wrestling with an issue and then trying to manifest that struggle. 

I guess large organizations could commission artists to do work, host art shows, stuff like that.  I’m sure there would be some push back from supporters wondering why they would waste money on art instead of directly putting it into the field.  Point taken.  I would push back and say a great part of the work of the NGO is to tell the story of why they are doing what they are doing and to touch the hearts of those who would support their work.  Artists are storytellers.  So they are utilizing the power of art storytelling. 

So that’s one idea. Anybody got any other ideas?

Questions I’m thinking about:

What does art from a movement look like?

How and why was it created?

Who made the work?

Who are our movement artists today?

 

A FEW THINGS…..

1. Thanks to Holly Strand (www.beautifulendings.com) for most of these great photos over the weekend in DC.

2. A film crew from WorldVision was at the conference and took me aside and did a little interview about being a creative advocate. Here it is….

 

UPCOMING EVENTS

June 1-31 | Art Show | Ballard Cafe Verite

I’ve been working for a couple months on new paintings. I will be showing at Cafe Verite for the month of June, most likely having an artist reception on the second saturday of June, during the Ballard ArtWalk

 

ROUND 50 | JULY 7 | THE TRIPLE DOOR, SEATTLE

Wow.  Round 50.  It’s been a long haul and the Round keeps getting better and better.  To celebrate, we are taking it out of the Fremont Abbey and going to Seattles swanky Triple Door. Here’s the line up:

Music: Damien jurado, Jesse Sykes, Seattle Rock Orchestra, and special guest

Painters: Glen Case (does the Easy Street Records murals, me, and one other painter

Poets: Buddy wakefield and Youth Speaks poet

 

Tickets $12 adv/$15 day. Click Here.

 

 

Cheers Ya’ll

 

Scott

April Showers Bring….

Busyness.

Sometimes everything just comes together at once…. and April has been that month for me. Above is a photo from a show I did with the Classic Crime at the Showbox at the Market.  Really cool guys… and a super fun show.  Mostly I paint with really mello bands.  But being on stage shaking it while the rest of the guys head bang and jump around was a great time.  Admittingly… I felt a little old.  But I’m fighting that disposition, so don’t worry about me.

Earlier this month I was down at the Grove Church in Chandler, AZ working with them for several days.  They put on a 3 day conference talking about how we can look to Jesus for spiritual development as individuals and a community, and I created two paintings per day while Joel Stohl spoke.  Then I stayed for Sunday morning painting during three services…. and then finished off the weekend by doing a commission painting at someones house on Sunday evening.  10 paintings in 4 days.  Needless to say I was a bit exhausted when I came home. Here are some pics from that time (all of these were created within an hour)….

(painting on the back porch of my friends house... with help from their kids!)

 

In the midst of all this, I’m also working on some studio work that will be shown in Ballard in June.  Here is a piece that is still in process for that show….

(acrylic on canvas, 48" x 48")

UPCOMING EVENTS

APRIL 14 | ROUND 47

Tonight! I’m painting at the Round tonight with awesome musicians and some great poets. 

VANCOUVER PROJECT IN GREENWOOD

The Vancouver Project is at the Green Bean Coffee House for this month.  If you haven’t seen it, stop by for a cup of joe and enlightenment.

APRIL 25-28 | MOBILIZATION TO END POVERTY | WASH D.C.

I will be participating with Acting On Aids’ Summit On The Hill and Sojourner’s Mobilization To End Poverty.   I will be painting at various events and will be hosting a seminar on how utilize creative arts in the way of advocacy.

JUNE | CAFE VERITE BALLARD | ART SHOW

New work for a great venue.  Art opening to come….

 

For more info, pics, and other calendar events, you can go to www.thetranspireproject.com.

And I’m now on Twitter. If you want to get updates about my exciting life (whatever) you can add me at www.twitter.com/scottthepainter.

 

Word up.  Keep it really real.

scott

Dwell Together

( I Will Be The Glory In Her Midst, 20"x20", acrylic on wood)

I was asked to participate in an art show in December of 09.  The theme of this show was to be around spiritual art.  Most art in my opinion is spiritual in nature.  Not that it has anything to say mind you… and not that it’s not crappy either.  But to create is to participate in a Divine activity.  yadda yadda yadda….

The show was cancelled unfortunately and rescheduled for February.  The show was nothing much to talk about… mostly a “growing as a human being” experience…. but I did work hard on these four images and I thought I’d share them with you.

(I Go To Prepare A Place For You, 20"x20", acrylic on wood)

My theme is based out of the meta-narrative in the Bible that God’s overall intention is to dwell with human beings on this earth.  It’s not about “going to heaven” and trashing and ditching this place and people in the process, but that His intention is TOGETHERNESS here.  This world. These people.

These four images represent specific passages that talk about this.  If you want to read more about the background of these images, I expounded on my thoughts in my blog -  click here.

(The Word Dwelt Among Us, 20"x20", acrylic on wood)


(Home In Its Branches, 20"x20", acrylic on wood)

Keep it real homies.

Scott

Conferences, Ponderings, and an Upcoming Show

(48"x36", acrylic on panel, painted in 70 minutes @ Portland youth conference)

I’ve been traveling a lot these past two months doing a number of different things… from painting at a marathon in Carlsbad, CA to riding in a van with the Robbie Seay Band during an ice storm in north Texas.  Although at times my job can be frustrating for the uncertainty of constant paychecks, it certainly keeps me on my toes for providing an adventurous journey.  And for that I am thankful.

 

I was recently in Portland, Oregon for a youth conference where I was working with my friend Logan Martin and the good people in his band. This whole group is a delight to work with… and when you have down time in a different town, it’s nice to have good friends to spend your free time with.  One night we were at BJ’s restaurant, I was talking to my friend Brian who plays the rhodes in the band.  We were talking about a range of things… usually our favorite thing is new bands we are listening to… but Brian brought up the paintings I was making at the event (shown above and below). He dabbles in paint and he was going on about how much he loved watching me work.  Now painting is just old hat to me because I do it all the time. I see a talented guy like Brian who plays the keys amazingly and I think “sheesh, wish I could do that.”  What I’m trying to say is that we have a mutual admiration for one anothers talents.  He then was saying what he likes the most is that not only did he think my images were great and meaningful, but he loved that I was making them in front of 800 high schoolers. 

“Your art actually changes peoples lives.”

 

(48"x36", acrylic on panel, painted in 65 minutes)

 

Now please understand that I think that what I do is good for the context in which I do it.  But every artist has this voice in their head that tells them to “stop wasting your time and get a real job” and says “everyone is better than you”.  So I want to assure you that in no way do I think I’m some superior artist. But Brian’s words rang in my ears all night and throughout the weekend.

 

As I talked with students and encouraged those who are artists to make good art in their lifetimes, I  heard from them that they appreciated what I was doing and they appreciated me being there and giving value to their giftings.  Even the leader of the event told me that I had a part in the impact that the whole event was having on the students.  As I’ve been home (sick in bed) the last few days thinking about it, I have a huge sense of gratefulness in me.  I’m grateful that all this hard work over that last 5 years is paying off.  I’m grateful that my prayers have been answered in the way of wanting to be an artist but wanting to also to make work that in meaningful in the lives of others.  I’m grateful that allowing others to see the process of making art isn’t just some “neat” performance, but in some way it is connecting with people in a deep way.  

 

 

(48"x36", acrylic on panel, painted in 70 minutes)

 

 

Maybe you could care less about this and sorry for possibly being too self reflective in this post.  But I think all of us have a deep desire to know that we are not wasting our lives with the hard work we are doing.  In a field that has little to no monetary appreciation put on it, it’s a very hard journey to keep carving out time and sacrificing parts of my life to make sure that I keep making a space to create.  I’ve become convinced that this is what I will ultimately spend my life doing… no matter what.  And that’s a bit scary now at 31 seeing that my ladder to climb is something that I will have to create.  There are no outside structures providing a road map to success… or assisting me in that journey. But Brian’s words were an unbelievable booster for me to know that all this “un-knownness” is worth it. It’s doing something. It’s fulfilling something. It’s fulfilling.

 

So thanks Brian.  

 

(interactive response mural at conference)

UPCOMING EVENT

 

 

February 20 | Art Show | Seattle

I will be showing at the Phinney Ridge Neighborhood Center through the Art on the Ridge program.  The theme is: “Think, Grow, Be…”  and I will be showing with other local artists. I will have all new work up and  it should be a cool event (no promises). Maybe see you there.

6532 Phinney Ave N. Seattle

Phinney Neighborhood Association Rm #3

5-9pm

 

 

 

SIDE NOTE

Most of you know this and have probably already seen this but I was on the Price Is Right game show ten years ago and I finally put it up on line.  You can click here to watch it.

Until the next time… make space for art.

 

scott