Hello everyone, and welcome to my first blog post! This page has been sitting here for years, but tonight, while attending an amazing night at MOCA for the LAX Festival, I had three thoughts to work out. This seemed like a great place to do that. Plus, it gives me a place besides Facebook to put down in writing all the crazy ideas I want to put out in public. Please bare with me because this post will be a bit scattered and rambling. The three things I want to discuss have virtually nothing in common, except for the fact that all were inspired by moments at the LAX (Live Arts Exchange) Festival.
Sitting in an entirely full theatre tonight, I noticed something I have been noticing a lot at the majority of art events I have gone to since the world started reopening. That is how truly supportive and egalitarian audiences are beginning to feel. Growing up primarily in the world of classical music, and going to traditionally set up theatre, there was always an “us and them” feeling between the performers and the audience. When I started The Salon, one of the things which brought me the most joy was how equal in importance the audience felt to the presenters. Because the evening was all about sharing, the taking in and understanding mattered as much as the presenting. Everyone was there to be open and engaged and receive what was given, be it support or talent/experience. Since The Salon in New York started, it feels like a salon movement has started across the country. One aspect about Millennials, which can be tough to deal with in hierarchical work environment, is that people of this generation and younger have a strong belief in equality. I’m loving how it flows over into the art world because everyone there believes they’re equally entitled to be there. This means that they understand how important and necessary it is for them to be there. When people talk about socialism, so often they get it wrong. This is the definition of socialism: the breaking down of class and societal barriers. After years of a pandemic, in which we could not interact in person, this feels vital. It’s palpable in these art spaces. This is how art will continue to survive. When it’s live, it brings an energy, a vibration, which just cannot be found any other way. It’s a life force, which we, as pack animals, require for our own survival.
The first part of the event had a really cool intro in which the artist sang behind rice paper and did a bit of shadow puppetry. Unfortunately, the artist and the audience were all on the same level and stuffed into a small space. Only a few people could actually see it. As a short person, I stood there thinking that, especially at a performance art event, artists sharing their work should add a ‘sorting’ piece in which everyone is lined up by height. The crowd had started off as a line down a staircase with plenty of time to sort. That way short people can be in front and see what’s happening. Hopefully, one day, someone will try it.
The second part of the first presentation began with, what I believe to be, influences of Filipino traditional dance. At least it had the south and south east Asian hand movements in an evening of Filipino artists. That got me thinking about opening blessings. So many cultures begin events thanking the earth or their ancestors as a sign of respect and acknowledgement that they are the current stewards of their space. Something unusual about the culture which founded the United States is that they came here to take for themselves rather than continue the lineage of their ancestry. Many of the initial Europeans who came here were either greedy explorers looking to find wealth or younger sons of nobility who wouldn’t be inheriting much. It’s no wonder our culture has to fight for respect of the environment, appreciation for any building older than recent construction, or acknowledgement of others. Our tradition is selfishness. Therefore, if we want to save what we have, we need to actually fight against the “me” and worry about the “us”. The sooner we do it, the better, because this concept is quickly becoming our greatest export.
I’ll be interested to see how my writing develops as I look back on this in a year. Hopefully, you all won’t think I’m too preachy. It’s nice to have a forum to say these things though. Let me know what you think, and thank you for pushing through.