Fourth Fizzle: Fireworks going off in fewer places
[Lisa Millegan Renner, Jul. 02, 201o]
Valley residents have fewer options to watch Fourth of July fireworks than in past years.
Livingston canceled its show because it couldn’t afford it. Ripon and Delhi eliminated their shows last year because of a lack of funds.
“A lot of people are upset,” said Lynette Van Laar, Ripon city clerk and finance director, adding that the city government had paid for the displays in the past. “We had people who would send in a little bit of money in their water bills (for fireworks), but it wasn’t near enough. “
Fireworks still will explode this weekend at Modesto’s John Thurman Field, Manteca’s Big League Dreams sports facility, Don Pedro Reservoir and Oakdale’s Woodward Reservoir. Many valley towns also are planning parades and community festivals, and residents can buy their own more modest fireworks.
Turlock’s fireworks show fizzled out in part because Turlock Chamber of Commerce President Sharon Silva assumed that California State University, Stanislaus, would host them again as it did for 24 years. She hopes the chamber can help sponsor a fireworks show in 2011.
“People do care that we celebrate. Especially in today’s environment, we want to make sure that we celebrate our independence.”
With all the budget cuts in Ripon, Laar said the City Council couldn’t justify continuing to fund fireworks.
“We’ve got to keep the employees, so we’ve got to let some of the fluff stuff go,” she said.
Sam Garrett of the Modesto Jaycees, which sponsors Modesto’s Fourth of July celebration, said his group barely scraped together the money to put on the parade, hold the festival in Graceada Park and contribute to the Modesto Nuts’ fireworks show at John Thurman Field on Saturday. The group couldn’t put on a laser show at Enslen Park this year as it did last year because it didn’t have enough money.
It’s a truly heroic act for average citizens to send money in with their water bills to support a cultural celebration for all of Modesto, and several nearby towns, to enjoy. How could a hero help guide the city into harnessing this heroic community spirit.
Spots still open on culture board
The Modesto City Council is looking for applicants to the city’s Culture Commission. Two seats are open. The commission advises on matters pertaining to art, literature, music and other activities as well as the McHenry Museum and the McHenry Mansion. The position has been less fun in recent years, as the city has scaled down a small pot of money it set aside for culture grants.
Many people are more than willing to do something heroic. Many times their good efforts and intentions are simply thwarted by the red tape and obstacles put in the way.
Hope ride runs out of gas for now
I sat and watched roughly 2,200 motorcycles vroom by. It was the Sierra Hope Ride, which, from 1995 through 2009, has generated nearly $3 million for the Muscular Dystrophy Association.
No more, though — or at least not this year. Organizers Art Mitchell of Modesto and Karen and Allen Aldridge of Jamestown have canceled the event.
The number on the ride from Modesto to Jamestown ultimately grew so big that some folks along the way complained it gridlocked their towns and required too many police resources. Modesto, Riverbank, Oakdale, the counties of Stanislaus and Tuolumne, CalTrans and other agencies began charging for parade permits to cover police and other costs — costs that rose over the years.
“We went from two to nine permits, said Allen Aldridge who, with wife Karen — Mitchell’s daughter — manages Jamestown Harley-Davidson and helped organize the rides. “Cities that used to donate it could no longer because of their own financial situations.”
Oakdale charged nothing in 2006, the first year the ride went through town. Every year since, the city charged $380 for what amounted to a parade permit. And the Police Department — which dedicated 12 officers and 13 volunteers — billed the event $1,400 to cover costs each year.
Sierra Hope also paid more than $2,000 to shut down a segment of Briggsmore Avenue coming through Modesto.
Liability insurance costs also rose, with the cities wanting proof of insurance as the ride passed.
Then there was — still is — the recession. In 2005, 2,200 riders each paid the $50 registration fee to participate. For the ride’s first 13 years, it ended with festivities at the Mother Lode Fairgrounds in Sonora. Riders had to show proof they’d paid before entering the fairgrounds; those who hadn’t paid did so at the gate.
All told, the 2005 event generated about $355,700 in gross revenue and turned $314,000 — 88 percent — over to the Muscular Dystrophy Association.
In 2009, 1,800 riders paid their fees, but about 1,200 more rode along without registering.
“Last year, there were at least 3,000 by the time we got to Jamestown,” said Mitchell, who owns Modesto’s Mitchell Harley-Davidson and Jamestown Harley- Davidson.
What happened?
A year earlier, organizers had tried to liven up the afterparty by moving it to Jamestown, where they took over the town’s quaint main street. They approached Tuolumne County officials about installing a temporary fence around the downtown but found it would be too costly. Consequently, they had no way to keep out those who hadn’t paid.
Last year’s event grossed only $155,000, with $84,000 — only 54 percent — going to the MDA.
Ultimately, these piker bikers helped kill the event, not only for the charity but also for those who paid and helped raise money.
It didn’t help that the Muscular Dystrophy Association closed its Modesto office and now coordinates its Stanislaus County efforts from a regional office in Sacramento.
“We still love raising money to help people,” Karen Aldridge said. “We have so many riders who are awesome people and want to help.”
Said Mitchell, “Nobody makes it easy — even to give money.”
Can we harness this energy of generosity? Can we give the people of Modesto an outlet to celebrating and supporting cultural, artistic, and charitable events?
ARTS & CULTURE CHALLENGE
- LEARN – Educate yourself about Modesto’ arts and cultural events, and the important role they play in the community.
- ACT – What can you do? Attend any two cultural or artistic events in Modesto. Find out if any other Super Heroes are attending the same events. You could carpool together (which would give you time to plan your upcoming community galvanizing activities), or if it’s not a free event, perhaps you could get a group rate.
- IMAGINE – Unleash your creativity and see how you can bring greater diversity and richness in arts to the people of Modesto.
- Ask A Mentor for Help
Learn:
I went to the website that was posted and saw a great deal of good things to watch or do! However being a poor college student such as myself I thought it would be better to go to an event that didn’t cost much -peers another direction- So… I went to MJC and found out that they were having a musical event coming soon and since I know people there I thought it the best thing to do!
Act:
Since the music event isn’t until later in the month I will have not gone to one by the time you read this dear readers! I have however gone to several musical events there in the past and I even went to a really awesome production entirely done by the students.. You heard me, ENTIRELY by the students. Costumes, makeup, everything was done by the students, even the backgrounds, and stage work all done by the students. They started with the small production called ‘Trial by Jury’ it was then followed by several shorts of various things including, Wicked, The sound of Music, and various other small numbers. The acting was great and with the low budget and work they did remarkably well and received standing ovations every night to a full house! That is what art is all about!
Imagine:
If I had my way, I would use my resources to help take down the cost of the art productions and help to get more people of all walks of artistic life to come here to Modesto and get involved. With all the other improvements that we’ve done so far I think that in this new Modesto the super heroes and I have made are more than perfect for getting the big names here and getting people to go see them!
Cave bear learns:
Lurking in the dark wet alleyway, cave bear listens to the bustle of the traffic on that street by the gallo arts center. There is a function going on and people are parking their cars in the garage, or having the valet park their Ferraris and ford pintos. Its some Russian composer called Thaichovsky. He must be famous because people are dressed in tuxedos and clown suits. Clown. I hate clowns. Some of my people have been abducted to the circus and made to perform. It seems that these functions serve a vital role in the community. I have heard about the larger city. They have huge stadiums with sports teams that entertain them. This bear is smart, he knows that these things are meant as entertainment so the masses can forget their everyday lives. They serve as social gatherings too, where people can mix and drink in public. It is sad that people need to entertain their lives away instead of doing something meaningful like prevent forest fires.
Cave bear acts L(I didn’t attend any events because I have two kids, work nights and go to full time school)
This cave bear attended this concert once I found a phone booth large enough to change into my dior tuxedo. I sat in the front row and was presented with a key to the city from the mayor. I growled and told him to cut the crap and make modesto a small business tax free zone. He laughed at me so I ate him.errr..well I wanted to, but really I left him alone…..there was this robot there, an evil robot that used his evil powers of disenfranchisement to make the people poor. He was sent here by The Man. I battled him with my fantastic-best-super-power-on-earth-better-than-any-other-superhero-skill the grizzly attack. The robot didn’t make it. But the man lives on.
The concert was nice, and I had a conversation with a lady wearing a diamond necklace about truffles. The music really did entertain me, almost as much as the bear naked ladies which as everyone knows is a pro-bear nature band. Everyone seemed to feel more important after going to the concert, like classical music elevated their status.
Cave bear imagines:
The robot that attacked the concert hall didn’t make it. It was however a great publicity opportunity. I got a picture of it, check below…also I got a great picture of the keys to modesto. These past events have taught me that evil robots don’t stand a chance against a twelve foot tall cave bear.
Learn: The community is very important for a city. Whether it be expressing yourself through music, painting, drama, or simply coming together for a common cause, community breeds a connection that is necessary for real growth. It seems with all the cuts being made that we seemed to have lost sight of this very ideal.
Act: It’s easy to support the community. There are tons of organizations that put on shows or have special events. Soroptomist creates a community Christmas tree every year to help those who are less fortunate during the holidays. It’s easy to sign up to help out by either choosing a kid to support or helping the organization itself keep everything running smoothly. There are also plenty of music shows going on in local coffee shops or even street musicians. Stop by and buy a cheap ticket or drop some money in their guitar case. Either way, you’re committing to the community.
Imagine: I decided to help the community by started a community run Organic garden. People volunteer their time to the garden so that any profits made can go back to the community. When the garden was ready, the goods were sold in the farmer’s market and the funds were placed in a special collection to go towards other community events that needed extra sponsoring. This can keep the community healthy and keep it thriving for years to come.
Learn: I was surprised about how much modesto got going on. personally i’m into the art galleries. Espcecially since I don’t have alot of cash. Modesto has everthing from plays, to workshops, to galleries, and to live performances. The artists farmers market is coolest sounding thing to me. Unfortunately budget cuts has taken it’s towel on the activities that are available. fireworks and even charitable events like the hope run are a no go due to the financial burden.
Act: People need to band together. I would encourage different church and community groups to participate, and take some of the financial burden off the government. I would also try to help advertise so that more people would attend, hopefully encouraging support.
Imagine: Now their is ay more people participating, and the church and small community groups have given the productions a much more personnel feal.
Learn- I visited a few websites and I learned about several upcoming events in Modesto. I found out that Disney’s Beauty and the Beast is being performed at the Gallo Center! I would love to go to see this with my daughter and husband. I remember I went to one play when I was in middle school on San Jose. I really liked it. I guess I never went to see a play again because my family is not the type to go to those types of events. There is also the Third Thursday Artwalk and art work being displayed at galleries like the Mistlin and the CSUS Student Gallery. Arts and Culture activities are important to a community. But I never realized this because my family has never been involved in community events. I am going to start going to these events because I want to feel that I am a part of the art community in Modesto and I want to teach my daughter about appreciating art (something that I don’t think I have learned fully even though I am an art major!) and to help her feel that she is a part of the community in Modesto.
My Eva doing some painting!
Act-In all the time I have lived in the Modesto area I have only been involved in a few art events in my community. I was in the Young Masters Art Show in Mistlin Gallery when I was in high school and I have submitted works in the TCAC Spring Juried Art Show. I have always felt that I should get more involved in the art community, I mean I’m an art major! I have never even gone to an Art Club meeting (I wanted to join this year but the meeting times interfered with classes I had or there were other things I had to do). I also have never been to a Third Thursday Artwalk! WTF?! Damn me and my excuses! I will go on November 18 to the Third Thursday Artwalk and to visit the Student Gallery. I will take my Eva, of course.
A woodcut I made of Eva.
Imagine- I, Monkey Woman, think there are good arts and culture events in Modesto. I just think people like me overlook the opportunities to attend these types of events. I think there could be more advertising about the events going on in Modesto. A lot of people, including my family and I, have no idea about upcoming events in Modesto. SO…I will use my money to do advertising for events going on in Modesto! How boring! I think more people should know that EVERYONE can be involved in art events even if they don’t see themselves as “artists.” I think this is my problem; I don’t see myself as fitting in in the “art community” even though I love doing artwork. I need to get myself and more people around me involved in the Modesto art and culture community. In five years I hope to get my family, the rest of the people in the Modesto area, and I to be more excited about being involved in the Modesto art and culture events.
LEARN: Modesto and art culture… Huh, that’s a bit like trying to combine oil and water. By nature, based on what I’ve seen of Modesto thus far, it just does not seem like a city very conducive of an “artsy” culture.
I mean, honestly, read back through the last, ugh, 8 posts I’ve done about Modesto. Considering all of the other nagging problems facing the city and its inhabitants, I doubt people who are facing foreclosures and are loosing their health insurance really care anything about art or any other kind of cultural event. And really, can you blame them?
Granted, I’m the child of people so rich they could buy all of “art culture” and use it instead of clay pigeons out on the range, but I can still sympathize. I mean, my host is totally broke. Chronically. I would say terminally, but, yeah, don’t wanna be too grim. I might be a huge art fan, I certainly don’t put it on par in terms of importance when compared to the basic necessities. I might be a little on the broke side, but I’m totally a heavy reader. And you know what I’m reminded of on the topic of art culture. Can I get a “MASLOW’S HIERARCHY OF NEEDS”? Oh yeah, baby.
For all you lovely folks who weren’t blessed with the luxury of not being taught to tests and have no idea who idea who Abraham Maslow might be, I present to you… His wiki page on the subject. I’d normally take the time explaining it to you, I really would, but, eh there’s no point. Sometimes I get the feeling few people bother to read this far anyway. I could be rambling on and on about my totally rational and very justified aversion towards all things related to marmosets, and you know what? So few people will know anyway. You know what I do know? Marmosets know military formations and don’t like being shot. But whatever. What was I talking about…? Oh yeah, art.
( This is a picture of me at the Modesto Blues Festival. Probably. Like I said, I don’t like going to things because they’re expensive and not worth my time, but computers can change all that. Happy Memories, brought to you by Photoshop and Google Image Search.)
ACT: Hey, I really like that suggestion! I should go to Modesto! Do things! In Modesto! As in, get out of my car, in Modesto and breath Modesto air and walk amongst the Modesto hooligans! Oh yeah that is SO not gonna happen in this life time, bub. ;3 I don’t use emoticons in this blog often, so you know I’m serious.
You know why I’m not going to Modesto unless forced against my WILL? Because I do not like GOING to cultural events. Wanna know why art and culture is so anemic in Modesto? It’s cause no good jerks like me are bleeding it dry.
I am sorry (no I’m not), but I do not handle group like situations well. I think people for the most part smell of cheetos and despair and would rather not be around them. I like being a sexy lone wolf. And I’m not talking Hollywood lone wolf where they make them team up with a dynamically opposite, often times younger and scrappier partner to show the power of partnership, friendship, blah blah. Nope, I’m talking old school Professional lone wolf. Please note, this does not mean I am a hit man or the other kind of “professional” (I’m gonna let your mind do with that what it will. Let it stew around in the membrane a bit. Took me a while to come up with that).
I just personally don’t get the point of really caring about cultural events. I can barely pretend to stand most people every day. WHY would I willingly choose to subject myself to more people? I played along with this game when it came to relatively important stuff like health care and housing, but seriously? Art? Culture? Dude, come on. Again, we aren’t in kindergarten anymore. We don’t HAVE to do things as a “group”. With the Internet and stuff, we can afford to be individuals. If people don’t want huge festivals and other cultural stuff, eh, then the people of Modesto don’t get it.
IMAGINE: Honestly, I don’t see a problem. If the majority of people in Modesto don’t care about art or culture, I don’t care to force them. If the minority wants to experience things, well Modesto is close enough to other things that they can just go visit them. Honestly, art and culture should have been put up with leisure. When the necessities aren’t being taken care of, believe me, no one is going to care about art adn culture. It’s like covering manure in diamonds and ribbons. You’ve make it look pretty, but it still going to smell like sh-er, well you get it. Sorry, I just don’t get the point of putting my energies in trying to push others to do stuff something I don’t care about doing.
I’m mysterious, I’m cool, I’m wickedly amazing, but the one thing I don’t do well is deal with people. Modestoians and the people in the world in general can do their little festival or gathering thing if they want, they can make galleries and museums if are so inclined, but if I want to stay at home, do my own thing, leave me alone. Maybe my disinterest in spending time with total strangers is just the new culture. Deal with it.
Learn: Oh how I can remember when I Fierce Dreamer was a little youthful child how excited I would be to go to different events at the parks and recreation centers and make seasonal arts and crafts. On top of it being fun it was always free to attend the events at local parks, but boy are times changing. Arts and cultural events are extremely important especially when it’s around the holidays. They just seem to get everyone in the holiday spirits. Even if it’s not around the holiday season arts and cultural events are a great way to get people involved within the society.
Tis the season to be jolly… Fa a la la la la laaaa! Oh goodness gracious it’s almost that time again to go caroling throughout the city, and participate in all the vigorous seasonal events that Modesto has to offer.
Act:
Oh I can’t help but get excited for the holiday season. As it gets closer I figure that I will partake in some of the upcoming events. The first thing on my list is to catch a play at the Gallo Center. It is so surprising to me that almost every week they have a new play available to watch. I mean how great is that never having to rewatch the same play each week. Okay.. Okay just kidding what can I say I am a wishful thinker. Of course most people can’t afford to go watch a play every week, but I mean going like once or twice a year can be very entertaining and beneficial for the whole family. On a cheaper note of things the other event on my list will be to attend the Annual 25th Light up a Life Holiday Tree Lighting. It’s always joyful to watch a big tree being lit up with gorgeous lights and on top of that there will be free refreshments available. I mean come on people what’s cheaper than FREE!
Imagine:
So I Fierce Dreamer have a great master plan on an activity that is definitely going to bring the community together in celebration of art and culture. First I will cause all the city employees and those with extra money to share to enter a dream like trance where they will envision a park and at the part there will be the people from some of the plays at the Gallo Center performing the Nutcracker for free and then there will be different booths where children and adults will be allowed to make various arts and crafts for free as well. At my FREE! Park event I will advertise the lovemodesto next event in hope that people will support and come out and help.
Ah! It has been a good 5 years and people are attending my FREE! Arts and cuture day at the park. It’s so nice that these city workers and actors from the Gallo Center are very supportive and all the marvelous people that gave donations to make this event still possible. If it continues at this rate I don’t think there will ever be a problem with arts or culture anymore.
LEARN: Art and cultural events in Modesto are crucial. They’re not just important in our hometown. Let’s face it, they’re important everywhere. Everyone should be exposed to the arts in my opinion. However, so many people are not. I find that very sad.
I was sitting in my American Music course and my professor expressed his sorrow for people not recognizing popular show tunes. I agree. As I was sitting there, I realized that I knew many of them because of my upbringing. As a child, my mother was very into theater and still is. I was exposed to theater at an early age and have performed in shows my entire life.
My family travels to the bay area to see musicals, the ballet and plays all the time. We travel to Sacramento to see touring groups perform. I’ve been to NY and watched Cats, Phantom of the Opera and Les Miserables on Broadway. We love to go to Las Vegas to see Cirque du Soleil shows and other main attractions. And yes, we attend shows at Gallo Center for the Arts. It’s so much fun and we’re exposing my children to the arts at an early age as well. My daughter really loves it and it’s great having three generations sharing the same passion.
ACT: My daughter has a great interest in art. I know, I know…every mom thinks their child is creative, but mine really is. She amazes me more every single day. I recently took her to the Mistlin Gallery and The Chartreuse Muse. She loved it. I really want to get her involved with art as much as I can. I subscribe to the Mistlin’s newsletters and noticed that art classes for children will be offered during the holidays. I’m so excited to take her!
I want to see more children get involved in art! Heck, I want to see more adults take interest in art! I would love to set up a Summer Art Camp for kids. Parents are more than welcome to attend and get involved with their children. There will be workshops on painting, drawing, sculpture, clay and mixed media. Local galleries can get involved as well as professional artists and schools. I would incorporate museum tours as well as an exhibition featuring all of the artwork made during the session. Lunch would be provided. Local restaurants can gain exposure and donate for the event. Even local performing groups like Townsend Opera Players, MPA and the Gallo Center for the Arts can get involved, too. It would be so much fun! It’s all about exploring and getting exposed to art. What a great activity for Modesto’s community. Supermom wants to see this happen.
IMAGINE: The Summer Art Camp for kids was a huge hit. Businesses, schools, performing groups, galleries and local artists all gathered together to make this wonderful event happen. It’s been 5 years and the community is seeing a much larger appreciation for the arts. Local galleries are seeing more traffic and schools are helping to promote the arts more. With this new interest in art, performing companies are seeing more families involved. People who would have never been exposed to art are now loving it. This mission was a success!
Corrupt Angel Investigates: Hey this super hero isn’t uncultured!! I enjoy all forms of the arts and am a HUGE believer that the Arts are beneficial for making a well rounded, happy, productive society. Modesto is full of cultural expression…… IF you know where to find it, that is. Sadly, much of the events that would be considered culturally beneficial are not available in the areas that need it the most, or cost too much for many who need it. Anyone remember the International Fest that happened annually out at Graceada Park? That was always fun and something that was educational and FREE. I was looking forward to it this year and when this super hero got all fueled up with excitement in its anticipation, that excitement quickly turned to disappointment. That’s right…..no International Fest!!! No money = no festival. Now to find other ways to get cultured…….
Act: My search for everything and anything cultured was long and cumbersome. Lets just say this super hero’s wallet quickly becomes a problem. I thought “Hey I’ll get some culture by seeing a show at the Gallo Arts Center”. That didn’t pan out…..live theatre in such a classy venue costs some major dough. So I settled for something I’m familiar with……going out and seeing the work of some local artists in some of the downtown galleries. I headed out to the Mistlin Gallery and (my favorite) The Chartreuse Muse (that name alone is awesome!). Seeing local artists inspires me and I can drag my boyfriend along to show him what other artists are doing. Lets just say I really recommend seeing the work at The Chartreuse Muse….its BEAUTIFUL. My alter-ego was even inspired to pick up watercolors again.
Imagine: This super hero says that the downtown free art walk is an excellent idea that should happen more often and should partner with schools. Secondly, the International Festival needs to come back. Every year that I went it was always a fun experience and I noticed that this festival might be one of the only ways that many under-privileged children are exposed to art and other cultures. Well, I’m going to use my super duper mind warp to get plenty of money to advertise more for the Art Walk and fund the International Festival. I will also organize with local schools to make an art activity and culture field trip day for all schools, so that they can experience the Arts and other cultures at a young age………
five years later….. The Art Activity and Culture Day has become a huge hit with parents and kids throughout Modesto. Students are even participating in the Art Walks and International Festival and have become inspired to create their own artwork. Modesto now embraces all cultures and has made the International Festival a well-organized, city-wide event.
Here is another awesome comic documenting my efforts to give Modesto a big dose of culture:
Modesto is a home to a diverse community of cultures and by giving the people ways in sharing to others who they are and what they are, can open many minds and take away the unknown that often causes the hate amongst people. Modesto should continue encouraging and promoting city events, parks, having major art events and bringing plays which contributes to the learning experience. We have many talented people here and giving them avenues to express themselves can encourage them to strive for more. When we take those avenues away, then we start seeing the negative effects on the city and community because they will leave the city and or if they remain here, then we might lose the chance to see something great. When you allow people to feel like they are a part of that community or part of that culture the city thrives in all aspects and we see nothing but positive growth.
Hmmm looks like the 4th of July fireworks is an issue here. I am from Livingston and every year I went to watch the fireworks at the park. This event should be brought back because last year the city just seemed dead for the first time in my life on 4th of July. Not much was going on that day, and to me, people did not seem into the 4th of July spirit as I have seen before. If Modesto could bring an extremely big show this year, or next year, and continue to pull it off every following year I think the community will be pleased that they got themselves a firework show. Before the actual show they can have events at a park just like how Livingston used to bring out the fair with rides. That would bring back a ton of childhood memories, and it will also make the children happy. I remember one year Livingston decided to have the circus instead of the fair which was also petty cool. Well, I was a kid back then, so of course I was going to enjoy it.
Went to the College Gallery found some cultural art works which are quite amusing. Is good to have more cultural art works to be showcased in Modesto to make the city be more diverse
I believe that so much of the youth nowadays are really blind to the beauty of the community that they live in. My goal is to actually create a cultural center for the arts in Merced, California. I believe that the youth should be exposed to different cultures and understand how diverse our communities are. The cultural center would serve as a medium to progressive educate not only the youth, but adults and of course, the community. With this place, we will be able to give our children a better understanding of art and music and culture. I, personally, grew up very unaware of the arts and I honestly feel that I want it to be more of a place where the youth and adults can mingle while enjoying community events. Now that I’ve grown up, I really want to give everyone the opportunity to explore the wonders of our vast communities.
Here is the link to my video:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6K6ITZ5NllM
Game Design Basic
For my Play A Game 4, I choose the Express Yourself mission, or the arts and cultural mission. I think the most important thing about this mission is as the title says, Express Yourself! Art often times are made by individuals that is why it makes it so interesting, everyone has the opportunity to create art if they’re passionate about it. It is subjective, you like to paint, you paint, you like to design dresses you design dresses. This is why art is something that I don’t see dying ever, so long as people continue to express their art, their culture, their food, their anything, art will never die.
I play this ARG by being an Art student, so I know first hand what expressing yourself is. I am part of this years graduating BA/BFA exhibition group, meaning my art is currently being displayed in the school’s gallery. So long as we continue to express ourselves and get our work out there for others to see, art will never die in my opinion, that’s the beauty of it. I currently don’t have a photo, but I’ll take a picture of the gallery next time go in.
LEARN: I know for a fact that a lot of art programs are getting cut, it’s never sports or any other subject, it always starts with the art’s area. My sister is a elementary school teacher, and she told me that they don’t get money for color crayons or other art supplies that they usually do get in previous years. And I know that the choir teacher would get the sack first if a school has to downsize. Why do we want to raise our children up in a world where expressing yourself is not even possible because the lack of funding? I know that arts help keeps children off the streets, and I study has shown that if a child is to learn an instrument he or she is more likely to perform better academically. Cutting funding for the arts is something schools should think about before doing so.
ACT: I am a participant in the BA/BFA exhibition group this year. Like I said, I think we just got to keep putting ourselves out there, get people to come to these galleries and show them that art really do play an important role in society, it is a subject that really shows us who we really are, something that everyone can take away from as well as contribute.
IMAGINE: Of course, funding for schools is where it is at. If I can have all the money in the world, I would make sure that education doesn’t get the axe when people in our government needs to downsize. Education as well as art is vital to all children and should be made readily available, it is something that us as adults should be obligated to, to provide the best education possibilities to kids so they can grow up and be productive individuals who will in term, give back. It’s a cycle, and it has to start somewhere, why don’t we start it?
Here is a video of how we can make a street in Modesto more artsy. I had to re-size the images though in the animation because they would not want to upload for some reason.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A6rjUAeFR2g
I experienced the Modesto Art walk. The galleries that are part of the art walk play an important roll in the city’s community in the addition of culture. There are not only galleries of professional, working artists, but also students from the Stanislaus State University. I feel that even though there are some art galleries in place and have some good work showing, Modesto as a whole could use some more galleries for its size.
Here is my take on what Modesto could use to help enhance the art community. This would be another art gallery, which I feel that Modesto needs, but not just any kind of gallery. This gallery is for vintage wallpaper. It has “Art” as the front sign to express that these wallpapers are in fact art. They may not look so good on someone’s walls anymore, but they were once popular and beautiful. It would not only be exhibiting art, but also give some historical reference to the Modesto community.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sHvV72p3uM0
I redid my video animation. Here is the link!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OJCFMFkAfoA