This is something I wrote as a part of my senior poetry/dance project in college about mobilizing the forces. It's interesting how not much has changed in how I approach my work. Enjoy.
Why aren’t students constantly producing original work? It
isn’t for lack of space, need or interest.
If learning is the priority at
this university and if professors want to see their students grow and develop
in their four years here, then students need to have as many opportunities to
learn as possible. And if we are unhappy
about the lack of focus of our particular departments, then the focus needs to
be redirected back to our needs. We must
take initiative and produce work that comes from our needs and
experiences. Our creative work speaks
louder than any complaint concerning lack of opportunity to perform or create work
separate from department-sponsored events or productions.
And we must voice our need for more opportunities to explore
our potential and expand the range of what we are capable of doing. We need to ask our professors, who have an
abundance of experience and knowledge, to challenge us constantly. I am lucky because I know people who care
about my growth as an artist and support my efforts. I have professors who call me at home to make
sure I am doing all right and not stressing out over projects like this. But I had to approach them first. I asked questions both inside and outside the
classroom. For example, I bugged Erik
Ehn constantly in the green room, in Joe’s office, in Libby’s office, on his
way into meetings—I think you get what I mean.
We must insist that our professors challenge us.
If we want the arts to be more influential on this campus,
we need to produce our own work and promote ourselves and the efforts of other
student artists (those involved in visual art, music, dance, theatre and
creative writing) working on this campus.
We need to talk to our professors and ask them to come see our work and
critique it. We can’t be afraid to blow
our own horns when we get together to produce original work not directly
affiliated with a department.
The work is not easy, and the process is always
frustrating. We cannot wait for the
administration to take notice and provide us with the facilities we need. We have to commit ourselves to making these
learning experiences happen given the facilities and resources we have
now. Art can happen anywhere.
So get a group of people together and write something. Find a space—a lawn, a sidewalk, the Brass
Rail, the Rehearsal Hall—and (as Erik Ehn would say) “make it happen.” We need to help develop our craft by
exploring new possibilities and reaching new audiences. The only way to do that is to practice the
craft constantly. If we always work on
new projects we contribute to a common,
fresh energy that keeps the arts thriving everywhere, not just on this
campus. We cannot wait for opportunities
to arrive, hoping that someone will someday discover our artistic genius.
Theatre is happening right here and now with all of you
reading this in preparation to see this production. There are no special lights or cushioned
seats or state-of-the-art sound system or super-experienced performers. We all created this. Our production comes to you courtesy of risk,
imagination, and desire.
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