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About The nugget. (Sisters, Or.) 1994-current | View Entire Issue (Jan. 30, 2019)
Wednesday, January 30, 2019 The Nugget Newspaper, Sisters, Oregon Commentary... A community’s identity with art By Chris Morin Correspondent Small towns in America typically aren9t associated with art. Their identity is usually based on one of the follow- ing: remote location; nearby job-related industry such as agriculture, mining, ranching, logging, commercial fishing, or manufacturing; serving as a bedroom community to a nearby larger town. When the identity shifts, due to loss of the original causation, the town will wallow and gradu- ally stagnate, or it might attempt to gain a new identity, which carries a certain risk. Small towns that are art destinations rarely start out as such, they evolve into it. Twenty years ago, John Villani authored the book <The 100 Best Small Art Towns in America. < A back- cover summary of a small art town: <[It] is the type of com- munity people love visiting on a weekend getaway. They might stay at a gorgeous B&B, have dinner in a great (but undiscovered) restau- rant, wander around art gal- leries, antique shops, and flea markets. <A small art town is the sort of place urbanites move to after selling their condo and finding a renovated farm- house on five forested acres. On weekends these new resi- dents enjoy art gallery open- ings and local musicians per- forming at cafes. On week- nights there are concerts and dance programs at the local arts center. <A small art town is the sort of place where people can find a true sense of com- munity. Families value small art towns because they have a high priority on neighbor- liness and security. Kids can walk home from school in safety. Crime rates are reas- suringly low.= Visiting an almost <ideal= place is one thing; living there brings a greater dose of everyday reality. Nonetheless, the kernel of truth in this glowing perception is pal- pable. Art as a command- ing presence genuinely does exist in a small percentage of towns and helps influence the atmosphere of these locations toward the kind of place envi- sioned by Villani9s book. For a community to be considered an art town, per capita, a fairly large number of artists call it home. Works of art are out and visible in the community. Performing art venues have been set aside and dedicated to music, dance, or theatre perfor- mances. Opportunities annu- ally occur for individuals to study, learn, and practice various art genres. Finally, art galleries and antique stores offer take-away works. The iconic small towns of the American West are always noted for having three things: 1. amazing outdoor scenery that provides rec- reational opportunities; 2. a strong cultural component with an art community as one of those foundations; 3. a wide selection of good-to- great restaurants. Thereafter, each has a unique quality that makes it distinct. Jackson Hole, Wyoming, is renowned because of the nearby wild- life; Sedona, Arizona, pro- vides the mystical energy angle; Durango, Colorado, has the Old West persona; Taos, New Mexico, offers the deep heritage of Pueblo and Spanish cultures. These locations have a wide range of locals, with a plethora of attitudes, life- styles, and perspectives, but overall, they exemplify those initial three qualities. They have learned how to make the alchemy of egalitarian and unified coalesce. This, in turn, attracts visitors who seek out those very things to include a lack of monochro- matic thinking, which is more indicative of generic small towns. These attributes are also likely to influence who will consider moving to these locations. Other iconic towns offer much different unique iden- tities. One is known for a massive motorcycle gather- ing, which provides a certain persona and attracts a differ- ent crowd. Yet another town is developing its image to include being a cannabis des- tination, due to the change in recent state laws. Another town, in the heart of red rock canyon country, annually holds 18 major, town-filling, traffic-altering weekend fes- tivals or events along with an equal number of smaller ven- ues. Locals there have come to resent this town9s popular- ity on those weekends. Yet, none of these popular locales are viewed as art destinations. A town can gain the art identity accidentally or through guided effort. Taos and Santa Fe, New Mexico, became art centers in the early 1900s after several art- ists relocated there over a period of 30 years. It wasn9t planned. Whereas some com- munities, particularly ski towns of the West 4 Aspen, Squaw Valley, Telluride, Deer Valley 4 sought out art fes- tivals and art galleries so as to infuse this aspect into their identity. Ouray, Colorado; Poulsbo, Washington; and Homer, Alaska, began as mining, agricultural, and fishing communities, but eventually faced a downturn in those industries. Each reinvented itself as a small-town desti- nation, though not as an art community per se. They9ve become highly respected des- tinations where art is recog- nized as playing an important and respected role. If a com- munity could be said to have a <soul,= then it would be fair to say that spiritually, in addition to economically and culturally, these three towns have been prospering over the past 30 years. Sisters, Oregon has a solid identity driven by the out- doors, the Western frontage motif, and three major events. These factors might very well be sufficient and sustain- ing as the town continues to grow, and growing it is. The foundation exists for it to also become a true art community. Whether or not to attempt to direct the progress of Sisters in any direction, let alone an art community direction, would be debatable. After all, contentious debate serves as the norm for anything any- more. Determine, fate, acqui- esce, status quo, intervene & these are fancy words for saying hands-on or hands-off. However, every town has, at the very least, hands in place around it, be they interested or passive, proactive or reac- tive. Whatever hands there are in place around this com- munity, whatever they may or may not do, let them hold a healthy, positive desire for the future of Sisters 4 in its entirety. Our agents are ready to meet your insurance needs As life changes, so should your policy Call or come in today for a free Farmers Friendly Review 541-588-6245 • 257 S. Pine St., #101 www.farmersagent.com/jrybka AUTO • HOME • LIFE • BUSINESS Pre-order Your Platter for the BIG GAME! 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