Goddard Got Art Committee T-shirts for sale

A large number of local artists who may have remained silent in the past are now beginning to speak out and want a change in Arizona leadership. Those I interviewed for this article told me they have become a lot like the fictional character, Howard Beale, in the old movie NETWORK…. “We are mad as hell and don’t want to take it any more!”

They stated to me that all they see coming from the present administration are cutbacks on anything to do with art and arts education. “ All non-profits that have anything to do with the arts are barely hanging on for survival.  Great public facilities like Access Tucson, arts organizations like the Tucson Pima Arts Council are having to cut staff and many programs that have been important to the community for many years,” they said.

To accomplish their mission they will be expressing it through the method they know best….their art. They have formed a Goddard’s Got Art committee, an Arizona political committee, and are soliciting project proposals from artists who wish to participate in their effort to elect Terry Goddard to the office of Governor of Arizona.

The group announced a competitive $5,000.00 fund for the creation and production of new works of art by Arizona artists.  The works are to be commissioned and premiered at an event in Tucson, AZ in October 2010.

Five artists will be granted $1,000.00 each for a political work of art that celebrates, motivates and excites the electorate with the purpose of electing Terry Goddard to the office of Governor of Arizona.

The goals of their program are as follows:

1.To use the works of arts to encourage the electorate to vote for Terry Goddard, a supporter of the arts in our community.

2.To encourage the creative endeavors and professional development of highly gifted Arizona artists.

3.To engage the arts community in the political process in order to build a larger voting base for politicians who support the arts and arts funding in Arizona.

4.To stimulate a broader knowledge of our arts community

For the artists wanting to participate in this event and to apply for the $1,000.00 grant, artists have to submit a proposal by September 1, by 5 PM for a work of art that they would produce to be shown at the Committee’s October event.  Artists who are eligible to vote are required to be registered to vote as a requirement for consideration for these grants.

The works of art can be from one of eight categories: installation, video, music, performance, 2D art, writings, sculpture or an open category, though only five grants will be awarded.  Artists will retain ownership of their work but will grant the Goddard’s Got Art committee and any designee of the committee possession of the work and/or a non-exclusive license of those works through the 2010 election season for use in any way deemed appropriate by the committee (including using images on web sites, posters, etc.).

Anyone wanting to apply or find out more details should go to their facebook site and click info.:

http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100001467502302&ref=ts

They have produced a T-Shirt with the message GODDARD, GOT ART, “Say Goodbye Jan Brewer.”  It will be sold to the public soon.

Chair of the committee, Susan Gamble, artist and owner of Santa Theresa Tile Works in Tucson, says, “The arts community in Southern Arizona is strong and our voice should be heard in this election. Artists are frequently asked to donate their work to causes.  This approach acknowledges the unique role art has in our society and its ability to reach across words and images to activate others,” Gamble explains. “We want to get the word out that artists’ involvement in this election is key to turning around this state.”

Throughout the history of the world artists have expressed themselves and have caused many societies to “wake-up!”  Looks like our Tucson art community is planning on doing that for Arizona. “Terry Goodard has a reputation for supporting the arts and education throughout his career,” they re-emphasized to me.  Sounds like Jan Brewer may have awakened “a sleeping giant.”