Truth And Beauty Bombs

 Courtesy of asofterworld.com.

Link: "Give A Flower To A Stranger" And Other Touching Artwork



Photo: artnet

I saw this article on Treehugger today and thought I would share. In it, three pieces of artistic expression are shown that celebrate the connections we share with each other and the environment.

Sometimes It Is What It Is: Why I Love This Poster

Before I start, let me thank Melissa Lojewski, for unknowingly let me steal this picture from her Facebook page.

I love this poster because it makes a strong and simple point: it is what it is. Why do we have to qualify everything? Sometimes a person is a person. Sometimes a phone is a phone. We love descriptions to the point where we often OVER-describe things. For instance, why does someone have to be “athletic for a woman,” “well-spoken for a black guy,” or “cool for a rich person?” Why can’t they just be athletic, well-spoken, or cool? 

People often describe me as, “the whitest black guy I know.” I always ask what that means. As of yet, nobody has been able to explain. While I love to play basketball, eat chicken, drink Kool-Aid, and listen to R&B, I also love to read, write, start and participate in conversation, volunteer, and travel. Do any of these activities make me more or less black or white? I don’t think so. Last time I checked black and white were both still colors, not sets of behaviors.

Just this past weekend, my mother (whom I see about once or twice a year) came down to visit. I showed her around some of my favorite spots. We started the day in one of the  most underserved areas in the city and ended at a wine bar. I felt comfortable in both.

Enough about me. Back to the poster. This poster is important not because it’s a “gay” poster, but because, well, it’s important. You can substitute “gay” within the poster copy for any other descriptor, (e.g., tall, short, disabled, black, white, emo, smart, athletic) and “marriage” for any other noun, (e.g., immigration, conversation, education), and it still makes sense. While there are many specific issues we need to address, sometimes we need to take a step back and see something for what it is. Sometimes it’s very complex. Sometimes it simply is what it is.

Liz Feldman is a comedian, presenter, actress, and writer. She is also the author of the blog This Just Out, which can be found here.

Shout Out: The Guadalupe Cultural Arts Center

Last night I was blown away by the performances of several teens in Insides Out, presented by the Guadalupe Cultural Arts Center. I can’t think of a better way to spend $5 on a Friday night. The production is a result of the Teen Arts Puentes Project. The description of the program, available on the Guadalupe Cultural Arts Center website, is:

The Teen Arts Puentes Project uses the arts to nurture the growth of adolescents in a positive environment where they can build individual talents, develop social awareness, and attain critical life skills. Tuition: Full scholarship provided for all students accepted.

Boy did these young men and women deliver. Their performance covered everything from isolation and drugs, to sexuality and education. The emotion their performances portrayed was remarkable. Each of these individuals deserves a round of applause, and it’s always good to see young people put their time and energy into something productive. Their program director Vincent Toro is very enthusiastic, approachable, and his love of art and making positive impacts is made apparent in his demeanor and the performance that took place. GCAC has several other productions coming up, and I definitely plan to attend. If you’d like more information about GCAC, their programs, or how to get involved visit their website and support their events. They are a wonderful group of people.