By Jennifer Epperson
Executive Director, Imagiventure Foundation
Sedona AZ (August 26, 2013) – Ever since the nasty breakup scene a couple of weeks ago, when a hurt and angry population bowed and scraped before city council, begging council to be allowed to continue to provide hundreds of hours of free professional services, I have been thinking about what Sedona needs to become a city animated by the arts. The extraordinary new Sedona Community Plan, on which we will all vote next spring, puts forward the idea for Sedona to “be all that it can be”. If we, as citizens and artists, want to be a part of making this happen, we need to put on our big girl panties, stop whining, and create an arts/culture organization worthy of Sedona and independent of city government.
While we have moaned and moped in frustration over the impotence of our municipal government to be a leader in the arts, other cultural creatives and organizations out there (NAU, Sedona International Film Festival, Sedona Art Center, Sedona Library, Sedona Arts and Culture Collaborative, and the upcoming Illuminate Film Festival 2014, just to name a few) are steadily creating magnificent opportunities and programs for locals and visitors alike.
A variety of citizens, far more knowledgeable and concerned than me, have relentlessly articulated the problems and barriers that prevent our community from cultivating and celebrating art and artists. Anger and frustration has been directed at a very small hapless group of well meaning bureaucrats at city hall. While city staff are educated and experienced in government, they do not have the skills to lead our arts community. No two groups could have more different approaches to life than government employees and artists.
For better or worse, linearly focused bureaucracies exist to make rules, regulations, to avoid risks, and to keep basic services functional. In the past it has often been the position of Sedona’s government to postpone, restrict and obstruct; to fearfully devise all the reasons something CANNOT happen. And they are not doing this in a vacuum. A very vocal part of our citizenry is driven by fear, ‘this bad thing could happen, that bad thing could happen” and this keeps us from moving forward. In the recent past, Sedona abided by what the ever articulate Ron Swanson (Parks and Recreation, in the fictional Pawnee, Indiana) says about the job of city government: “to do as little as possible so as not to offend anyone.”
Conversely, artists approach the world with heightened senses; they exercise neural connections that others often overlook. They engage in the creative process. Imagination and creativity are amazing human capabilities, brain functions we all possess. Artists exercise this ability, and engage in the active “what if?” Writers, painters, actors, musicians, sculptors, and illustrators produce all manner of outward expression of this magnificient human capability to bring art alive. The willingness of artists to put themselves out there, to share the process, the failures and successful results of creative endeavor, enliven us as humans and stimulate connection.
There are scores of communities that have used the talent of their artists, art lovers, educators and supporters to revive and enliven socially and economically distraught places. Large metro areas like Toronto, Seattle, Miami, Chicago, New Orleans and Houston have transformed areas and economies with the grass roots action of their artists. Smaller cities and towns like Palm Springs, Santa Fe, Fort Worth, Jerome and Winslow have used the abundance of talent from their artist population to define their image.
Each community starts with particular challenges and raw materials—a derelict but important part of town, a wonderful historic building in need of repurposing, a group of dedicated artists and supporters, or an innovative museum whose curators are not afraid to shake things up.
What are Sedona’s raw materials? First, this is one of the most beautiful places on earth. We consider ourselves landowners, but we are only stewards of this magnificient place for a short while. This ancient spiritual place has historic, scientific, and cultural significance. We have clean air and water, along with fabulous weather. We live surrounded by ancient geology both reminiscent of and different from the Grand Canyon.
Second, by some counts approximately 25% of our population is comprised of artists; amazing, talented creatives who stand ready to enrich our lives, challenge our minds, and bring us pleasure.
Third, we have an amazing history of artists, and a living legacy of artists here–Ruth and John Waddell, Joella Jean Mahoney, James Turrell, Adele Seronde, Jim Bishop, Shondra Jepperson, Tina Mion, John Soderberg, and the list goes on and on.
Finally, we have a unique built environment exemplified by a quaint and historic uptown “village on the rocks”. It is filled with remarkable flora, many that yield apples and apricots, cherries and plums, pomegranates and peaches. Most were planted by some generous soul in the past. We have a treasure trove of historic mid century cottages, fences and walls. We share this place with eagles, herons, hawks, hummingbirds, bobcats, javelina, deer, brown trout, black widows, tarantulas and scorpions.
This, fellow artists is what we have to work with! Why do we then look to the city to lead us in creating an environment that is conducive for artists to live, work, play and visit? Would the city not make better partner than a leader for art? Why not optimize the new plan conceived by city staff, and create a more dynamic and powerful structure to launch art and culture?
This is not a new idea—there are abundant role models in cities all over the country. Artists have always been the leaders in transformation, redefining and reinvigorating places, people and culture. Artists provide the heavy lifting, the ideas and the energy –that part of creating that takes us from imagination to actualization. We have everything that we need to make this town thrive, except one very important element that has been lost along the way. That element is so important that it deserves its own column.
I urge you to begin to imagine how you can be a part of making Sedona a city animated by the arts. Some folks scoff at visions, concepts and plans. But how else can we truly accomplish anything? It is time we stop whining and blaming and get to work. If we lead, the small group of folks at city hall will follow.
9 Comments
You ask the question: Why not optimize the new plan conceived by city staff, and create a more dynamic and powerful structure to launch art and culture?
The program presented by staff and approved by the Council does not provide for any structure to launch arts and culture.
The program the staff has conceived to replace all the commissions, including the arts & culture commission consists of two parts;
1. more listening sessions (including use of the internet) plus
2. staff presenting to the council each year a short list of possible ideas the council may decide to have the staff study along with the possible involvement of citizens selected by staff. There is no guarantee that any arts & culture strategic plans will be on that short list.
The Council, in the 15 years I have lived here, has never initiated an Arts Or Culture strategic plan on its own and neither has the staff recommended a single one.
Staff’s job, rightly so, is putting the nuts and bolts in place to keep Sedona running well, i.e. balancing the budget, infrastructure, sewage and drainage.
In fact the staff/council interest in Art & Culture has been continually shrinking. When the city began 24 years ago, Arts & Culture had a department director, a decade later that was reduced to an A & C Manager, a couple of years ago that got reduced to a combined manager of human resources and A & C and a couple of months ago our government involvement was reduced to a part-time staff person whose main job apparently will be to make sure the arts in the classroom program works (because the city staff also just eliminated the outside contractor for that program).
Why is city government involvement in Arts & Culture important since we have so many talented individuals working privately? the answer is simple: government resources can move our city’s A & C forward faster.
Other cities our size have done it well. Given our geographic location we should by now have a city site for quality festivals (think Telluride) that attracts locals and tourists alike for pleasure and business/government income.
We should also have a right sized city performing arts center. How many times have performing artists asked for this?
But we don’t.
To move forward requires government focus that is both creative and imaginative. Our best change of getting there is with a revitalized Arts & Culture Commission and a City Council willing to work with it and not with our staff in the A & C driver’s seat.
Great motivation, Jennifer Epperson!
Jennifer….GREAT article…great insight…great vision. The community of artists in Sedona certainly could form a regional arts council…with representatives from each of the arts groups PLUS some local business leaders who understand the entrepreneurial spirit AND the importance of operating as responsible stewards of any donated funds. The regional council’s first order of business would be to develop a VISION for arts in Sedona….followed by a strategic plan which would lay out a long term program to make the vision a reality.
Each separate arts group would then need to also develop a vision and strategic plan which would map out each group’s individual role within the overall regional plan.
Then the council’s job would be to raise money from local businesses AND the City to support its efforts…with at least 60 percent to be divided among the groups as long as each was showing progress in implementing their separate plans. The City investment should be substantial as they come to understand that the arts ARE economic development. The arts draw people to the community with money to spend, and the amount they spend increases as the quality of art progresses. All you have to do is look at Santa Fe, Scottsdale, Vail, Aspen. All of these communities have invested in a vibrant arts infrastructure which has returned many times more to its investors than the original outlay.
Sedona has so much potential but although it has a number of good events and some good public art (the most popular pieces being the interactive musical installation on 89A at the far end of Uptown, just before you enter the Canyon), it is falling far short of what it could do.
Sincerely,
Marcia B. Ellis
Founder & Director Emeritus, West Valley Fine Arts Council
I feel all these commissions should be non-profits, with by-laws, run by volunteers. That allows them to be free of Council “interfering” and they can raise the money they want. I do not think the Council has any innate abillty to run any of these commissions, as evidenced by the past few years. The Council does impose too many of their own “rules” so get away from them. I was on one and each meeting they came in to “preach” about what we could and could not do, a total waste of time to constructive thinking. Council can say what they would like to see on any given point but the Council should not be involved.
If some group has a big new idea, let them present it to Council (that is if they really need Council assistance).
Bill Eich
Sedona
Fascinating dialog going in Sedona.biz on this topic. Kudos to Jennifer for a very thought provoking and upbeat article. I have printed it out.
Great article, Jennifer. I, too, have been thinking about what Sedona would look like if it was actually “animated by the arts”. A lot of lip service is paid to art, but not much else. My gut feeling is that whatever animation occurs will come from the artists, not from the city. It’s got to be an organic thing, emanating from the creativity and passion of our residents who are driven to make something happen. That’s the only way it’s going to be authentic and sustainable.
Looking only to the city to solve the problems artists have isn’t going to create the kind of city artists want to live in. High rents and land prices are always going to be a barrier; the city’s most artistic period was well before Sedona became a prime retirement community for the wealthy. As more retirees moved into homes close to our commercial corridors, music became noise and the police are routinely called when anyone has the temerity to perform past Sedona’s bedtime. Potential performance venues like Barbara’s Park become lightning rods for angry neighbors who oppose the creation of anything that will result in traffic and noise.
What the city can do is look at its codes to see which should be changed to make it easier for artists to perform. I know that Kevin Snyder, Director of Community and Economic Development at the City, has been working with musicians, venue owners and residents to find a workable solution to the issues of music that impacts neighborhoods.
Telluride and other cities held up as models for Sedona have property and other taxes that help support a robust investment in the arts. City resources are simply not sufficient to address all the needs and desires of the city’s various constituencies. The city is a good partner; it cannot be the only game in town.
As a council member I look forward to working with the arts and culture community to make Sedona truly animated by the arts. Jennifer is right: we don’t need commissions to make that happen. Thank you, Jennifer, for a thoughtful letter.
Thank you for the thoughtful article that resonates with me on so many levels.
City Government is not meant to be the center of the universe. If it is for you, you will be sorely disappointed.
The center of our universe ought to be our soul. If it is for you, you will be free to choose what satisfies your soul which ultimately proves to be “art”… the art of living.
There is a movement in Sedona called the “sedona art and culture collaborative”. It’s vision is for Sedona to become more and more a learning community for arts and culture. It is soul work, a collaborative, free of fixed rules and ego driven decisions. Such a way requires constant vigilance to remain focused on the primary purpose of being responsive to others as we develop and deliver learning arts experiences to our community of residents and visitors.
Can you imagine such an endeavor flourishing within a government paradigm? I can’t and am amazed when some argue that the rigid boxes of existing form must be retained and honored, that there is no other way.
Government can play a supportive role, sometimes large, sometimes small in support of community led initiatives. It has done so to date with the collaborative.
So, thank you again for taking the time to share your thoughts. It is much appreciated and most helpful for thoughtful community members to offer their good thinking and questions to their fellows in the spirit of collaboration.
Anything a Council does that ignores and gets rid, or by-passes the Open Meeting Laws is just a Travesty and illegal. Could we get out of the clouds and back to Legal reality?
P.S. Mark D is correct in they are not the center of the Universe! They are supposed to be by-partisan and supposed to uphold laws and not put Staff in front of Citizens.