***  Haus der Kulturen der Welt: Forum1 Archive  ***
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   [Date]: Thu, 18 Nov 1999 09:56:13 -0600
   [From]: "Chris Drew" <cdrew#@orion.it.luc.edu>
     [To]: "Cultural Exchange via Internet" <forum1@hkw.kbx.de>
[Subject]: Re: [forum1] Re: Fw: Censorship


-----Original Message-----
From: Pablo Helguera <PHelguera@guggenheim.org>


Thank you Mr. Pablo Helguera. Yes, this is a dialog. I will be very busy
trying to do some of the creative problem solving you suggest at the end of
your response. This will limit the time I have available. I invite others to
explore aspects of this dialog. How are the forces we write of related to
your experiences?

The Internet allows a fast paced discussion.
To make the discussion more valuable - more voices build increased value. I
am an instigator. Later, at this fast pace, I may reconsider my thoughts as
needed. We do not live in a simplistic world and there are not over arching
generalizations that will explain everything in existence. There are forces
at work. I only wish to identify some of the forces and explore our reality.
Reality? I think it will take all of us a long time and many opinions to
come closer to what that is.

I can only speak to my experience. I see hundreds of millions of dollars
spent on art in our city and after twelve years of organizing artists from
around Chicago to exhibit their work in communities where the underserve
citizens exist, we are not able to find support. While a few - and few is
very few - suddenly find excessive support almost without effort and little
track record. Why is this? The reality appears to be a tight circle of
decision makers at work. I suspect that tight group has its own aesthetic. I
suspect elements of racism, ethnocentrism for those who are squeamish, have
an effect in decision making as well. Given the history of our nation - none
of this should be news. We need to be able to talk honestly to improve this
system of art encouragement and in order to build a better community art
infrastructure so that there can be smooth transition path ways from
community art involvement to prominence.

Yes, due to our experience, I have given up on the established structure to
do this for us. We are, as stated, attempting to be proactive, and working
to find a way to build the needed structures. Will the well endowed forces
that exist help us or not? Let us take an example from Chicago and this
moment. What follows is an editorial I wrote and then a statement of
explanation.

Percent for Art Programs Hidden Opportunities
This week the City of Chicago must respond to a lawsuit important to artists
and all who cherish culture in this world class city. A lawyer, Scott Hodes,
who represents many artists pro bono, is suing Chicago under the Freedom of
Information law. He wants to get the records of how the monies from the Art
Set-Aside  Program are spent. On all new construction in Chicago, 1.3% of
construction costs are set aside for public art.  Mr. Hodes wants the City
of Chicago to publish detailed income and expense statements annually and
provide reports for the past three years.

As an artist and an arts administrator, I would suggest this should be
expanded to include color photographs of the public art purchased, artist
bios, and lots of information for tourists and Chicagoans to learn about our
art treasures. The report could be used on the Internet to attract tourists
and conventions. If the people were made more aware of the art we own, it
would not get lost to view in warehouses as some our public art has. This
annual report should be a brag rag, proof that Chicago is the world class
city we claim it to be. It would be a way for everyone to review the results
so this wealth can be distributed in wise, fair ways to encourage increased
art activity in Chicago. It would spark local artists' imaginations on how
they could further contribute to our city. This report would offer proof
that the city respects its artists, and its citizens who respect culture. It
would show Chicago to be above board in its dealings, and would inspire an
air of democratic discussion over cultural issues. Lets hope Chicago decides
to take another step toward world class status soon.

Comments
In Chicago, the Chicago Artists Coalition puts out a newsletter exploring
issues of importance to artists. They are against the idea of reporting the
expenditures and income of the Art Set Aside Program, also called the
Percent for Art Program, because they do not want local artists to be able
to question the selections made by a smaller, much smaller, circle of people
in Chicago. I was told by their Executive Director that their board decided
not to touch this issue. She said "We like it like it is. We do not want all
this money to be spent on local artists." Their members come from artists
around Chicago and they do not want those member to even be able to know how
much is spent and on what! We never made a call for 100% of those funds to
be spent on local artists. We ask that local artists have a chance to know
what the opportunities are. The element of democracy is nearly nonexistent
even where it should be the law. These are all public funds. By law they
should be reported. Why is this not the case? This is because small art
circles are vehement about controlling the culture of our cities and this
nation. We need to admit this is happening in order to confront it and make
changes. We need to make changes because art, at the ground level, is not
being supported as it should and our society is ailing due in part to this.

Chris Drew       <mailto:umcac@art-teez.org>
Uptown Multi-Cultural Art Center
http://www.art-teez.org   We dress Chicago and the
Internet in t-shirt art.  Come get some! 773/561-7676