From Fear to Action...Thoughts on Crime, Society and Art

On Friday evening, our apartment was burglarized, things left behind in the apartment vandalized and our emotions left in tatters at the thought of someone we don't know tearing through every nook of our personal living space to find what they wanted. Every drawer overturned, contents strewn across the floor, dirt from the outside smudged on fabric, paper, cardboard, plastic alike. Each closet undone, hangers left swinging alone on the racks, mountains of blankets, shoes, bags, props and other things to climb. Objects that belong on one side of the room, flung haphazardly to the other side of the room, other objects making their way to new rooms completely. A toilet used, and left un-flushed. Glass shards ground into the carpet. A door left kicked open, inviting curious passers by to look in, and possibly join in on the heist after the initial robbers left. Blank spaces where our possessions once lay, only small parts - knobs, broken-off corners, screws, leaving trails to the exit. We arrived home on Monday, after being in New York for the weekend. A friend called us on Sunday, and notified us that when he went to check on the apartment, something had gone awry.

Though the initial shock made me angry, I can't say that I am still angry. I am deeply hurt by the fear the invasion has instilled in me. I am deeply hurt at the notion of loosing years of intellectual property that can never be recovered, even if some of our belongings are. I am deeply hurt by the complacency of those who would claim themselves to be at our service.

However shocking or hurtful, this experience has compelled me to think.

First of all, I have already been thinking long and hard about the condition of our society, and how people become marginalized, disillusioned, excluded, left behind. I wonder what would drive an individual to disrespect the personal space of someone they do not know, or do not know well, with such aggression. I can not imagine taking something from someone else that is not my own, not to mention rifling through personal effects that I would want no business with. But that doesn't mean another person does not feel deserving of a better deal than they've been dealt, or is not desperately addicted to a substance, or is not greedy beyond hope, among other things. Though it is not always the case, I feel much of the crime we see in our communities is a result of society's condition; A condition that values profit over the spirit, exclusion over inclusion, the facade versus the authentic. Crime is a systemic problem that with our current system, we only make worse through the prison system, poor educational models, and contempt for those who need the most assistance in life.

As an artist, I feel I am a champion; a steward, if you will, for nourishment of the soul of the individual and the spirit of communities. As an aspect of a healthy individual and community that is often overlooked, I feel it is the job of the artist to illuminate the benefits of an artful existence: the ability to connect to one another, a deep knowledge of the self, compassion, empathy, a joy of learning and growing, the ability to problem solve creatively, and peace, to name a few.

As only one person, I often ask myself what I can do on this big planet. I find myself each day, wanting more and more to get right down in the dirt, to know more people as human beings, instead of perceptions. I want to more fully understand the culture of the communities in which I live and work. I want to find the root of the condition. I hope to inspire passionate action in human beings through compassionate means.

So, my work begins. I am creating a fund, to make grants to artists who wish to cater to the soul of the individual, and/or the spirit of their communities through therapeutic, environmental, conversational, transformational, educational, connection-creating, community art projects. After realizing that there is a lack of funding for this kind of work in my area, I decided I would take it upon myself to create that needed entity. I had a fabulous meeting on Wednesday with some folks from the Greensboro Community Foundation, and they are going to umbrella the fund. They were really fantastic, and I know their help will go a long way in starting this organization up. I am excited to move forward with the fund, creating the organizational outline and planning the fund's first events. At this moment, the fund is called just, "The Fund for Community Engaged Arts." But, I would like to change the title to something that has a better ring to it. Suggestions are more than welcome! And if you'd like to help with the start-up activities of the fund, please let me know!

~Cara