Who Makes the Rules Anyway?

Last Sunday was the perfect fall day - warm sun, stunning tree colour, blue sky.  A perfect Alberta Day.  As I drove along with the windows down and the radio playing I noticed a sign by the side of the road. It read:
                                                            ART SHOW  (Juried)
                                                            Sunday,  1 - 5 PM

I pulled into the parking lot and walked toward the entrance  -  eager to find a special treasure just waiting for me.  The show itself was sponsored by a Local Art Organization.  Two members of the club greeted me and pointed to the stairs leading to the second floor.

 I climbed the stairs and was pleasantly surprised to find over 35 paintings - mostly watercolours. - in all sizes. The subject matter was indeed diverse - flowers, landscape, a few people, the odd house - some local scenes and others depicting holidays and travel to exotic places.

As I walked around the first time I examined the colours and subject matter carefully. While the subject matter of each painting was unique, there was certainly a sameness in the overall quality of the painting.  I had experienced this sense of sameness in other local artists shows in other places.  There were no outrages brush strokes or strange markings in any of the work. Nothing really stood out and yet it was evident that the each of the paintings was well done by an accomplished  local artist.

The second time around I found myself less intent on the paintings themselves and more intent on wondering why these specific pieces were juried into this show. What made them a good choice? .  The more I pondered the work,  more questions were forming in my mind.   I wondered if there was a set of rules that the jury members applied to each painting?  I wondered what the rules might be.  When were the rules developed?  Are they written down or passed on by instructors and mentors?  Is a jury able to maintain a specific standard of painting in that club?  I also wondered what pieces were not chosen for the show and why!  Could they  be part of another show?

My thoughts continued as a moved less quickly around the room. I  began to think about what impact a jury has on both individual painters and the nature of painting itself.  By applying the rules is the jury actually limiting the personal creativity of the club members?  Do the rules actually keep the club and its members from growing and changing and exploring new avenues of art process and method? . For example, if the general rule says that you should  place the primary object of your painting in a specific place on the canvas/paper what happens if the maker decides not to follow that rule and places the object in the top right hand corner?  What happens when a painter consciously decides to do something that goes against the rules?  Is the work juried out of the show as a result of their well thought out and deliberate action?  Who makes the rules anyway?

My aunt used to say that rules are made to be broken. Many people believe that rules are a necessary evil and if you do not follow the rules you do so at your own peril. Others think that without rules there would be anarchy.

I wonder if great painters, musician, athletes follow the rules?  I wonder if they follow some rules but not others and I wonder how they decide which ones to follow and which ones to break? I wonder if you have to break rules if you want to make a significant difference in your life, your family, your community?



What do you think? Are you a rule breaker or follower? How often do you make the rule?
Let me know

                                                               

Rural Towns are my Cup of Tea

I love to visit Alberta communities especially on market day or when there is a special event being sponsored by the town or hamlet.  Over the years I have become adept at knowing how to determine what communities are  healthy and vibrant by observing each communities surroundings.  It seems that the main street is a barometer of the vibrancy and health of a community. Choose a community you recently visited and ask yourself where you think it would fit on a scale of 1 -6 (1 vibrant and growing to 6 dying). Here are some observations you can make to help you.

As you enter the community
                       a) Is there a colourful and eye catching sign that welcomes you?
                       b) Are there rundown junk yards and abandoned businesses as you drive to the middle
                           of town.?
                       c) Is there a Walmart, large chain stores and/or  endless parking lots on the outskirts
                           of the town?

What do you see on main street?
                     a) Numbers of empty rundown storefronts?
                     b) Few people on the main street but lots on the outskirts?
                     C) Trees and flowers and colourful signage?
                     d) The town history painted on walls and written on sidewalks?
                     e) Historical buildings are still standing and have been maintained?
                     f) Open lots that are cared for and host community gardens?
                     g) Can you find a gathering place on mainstreet that seems to play host to the whole
                         community?

If you check the community bulletin boards what do you find?
                    a) Lots of programs and services encouraging folks to join?
                    b) Local business adds and flyers?
                    c) Museum, arts, and sport organization flyers?
                    d) Empty boards, signs limiting community use?

Finally, stop for a coffee/tea and ask a few questions of the locals. See what response you get. Are they friendly and helpful? Do they go out of their way to provide information and direction?  In one town I visited I asked if there was a washroom I could use. They said no but did nothing to point me to a place where one might be available.  When I asked for further directions they simply said they did not know and went on stalking shelves.  This kind of response certainly gave me pause for thought and I am sure I won't rush to go back to that town.

Creating healthy vibrant communities requires residents, champions and leaders who understand that maintaining a strong mainstreet is essential to building the future of the town. Moving shopping off mainstreet and into large stores on the periphery of town does nothing to build the town's future. Of course economics for a town's future is important but it is not the only thing that will maintain a town. Champions, leaders, local business owners, pride in the town's past and updating and vision for the future are all necessary and essential factors to take into consideration when you are building a community to last.

I sure hope there are others who recognize this and continue to work to build vibrant unique communities with strong working mainstreets.

Write and tell me about your community. Do you think it will be around in 50 years?  What are you doing to ensure this will happen.

     

                 

A Community Waltz

I took dancing lessons for a number of years. When I close my eyes I  can still feel the "to and fro" of the music as I danced across the floor - forward and back --- forward and back, twirl, twirl.  Once you catch the rhythm it is easy and you learn quickly that when one step is completed you wait for just the right amount of time before taking the next one.

In many ways working in a community is very much like dancing with a partner. You choose the partner - hopefully one that won't step all over your feet and has some idea of how to dance.  Next, you both stand together waiting for the music to begin.  A little stiff and a bit awkward. (OK really stiff and awkward)  While the first steps might be a little shaky it does not take long to feel the music and how the person with whom you are paired  as you begin to move. After a few false starts your awkwardness begins to dissipate your anxiety lessens. You laugh a little and  actually begin to look at who you are dancing with. Your arms loosen and your jaw softens a little. With a little practice you begin to enjoy yourself - with the taste of success fueling your growing sense of achievement.

You realize that as you step forward the other person steps back and vice versa.  Your recognize that it is important to move both forward and back - then sideways together.  You take your queues from each other even though one of you is supposed to lead.

I believe that, like dancing, much of community work is an art. Of course there are classes that can definitely add depth and understanding to what you are doing; however, much of the success comes from basic hard work, relationship building, and knowing when to move forward and move back.  I think that understanding the motion of forward and back is perhaps one of the essential components of creating success in community.  Stop and think what happens when someone moves toward you. Most often you respond by moving back. Try it with a friend. Ask them to move toward you.  What do you do?   Now if we as animators constantly move toward a community what do you think will happen?  Is this the action we want to happen?  Will teaching a community to move back continually get you where you want to be?  Now take that same friend and ask them to move toward you. What do you do?

In dancing as in community we want to create a wonderful dance in order to be as successful as we can. To do that we need to remember what makes dancing real fun and really successful.  Choose a partner, look into their eyes, put a smile on your face and listen for the music. At the right time, begin swaying to the music and take that first step.   Wow  You are a successful dancer!  Hooray for you.