?GUESSED? EDITORIAL

Recently the U.S. House of Representatives passed a bill which would allow the display of The Ten Judeo-Christian Commandments on public school walls. It is doubtful that this bill will pass the Senate’s scrutiny, but it’s been sparking debate between people who believe in the separation of church and state. My objection is not so abstract: Such a law threatens my livelihood as a maker of “graven images” which are prohibited by Commandment #2.

Why would anybody want to discourage the making of sculpture? Isn’t it healthier than making guns?

I’m sure these politicians did not think this thing through (an oxymoronic concept?) or they would certainly have included some compensatory plan to offer work to all those unemployed sculptors and monument makers--maybe carving those words into walls across America where they could be studied or worshiped eternally? Or perhaps mosaics would be more appropriate?

I have opinions on most issues. Strong opinions on many, particularly issues closest to my heart and life--like art, beauty, truth, money. Money? Yes, because money is energy and its free flow is necesssary to all creative enterprise. I wage a mini-crusade on the negative images of artists in our American (i.e. U.S. culture). Would you care to join?

Artists need to take responsibility for creating new PROSPEROUS images of ourselves to replace the old ones that do not serve us well! As an artist, I contribute immensely to the spiritual well-being of society and it’s time we put a respectable price tag on the service and products we provide.

Please note that by respectable, I don’t mean outrageous: my own prices remain very modest when compared to hourly wages of other less-skilled and less-educated professions. They are also way less than the overpriced and over-marketed famous name artists whose names are more familiar to you than Marcia Perry’s. But I feel that I have room to grow--in power and wealth--and the energy that goes into promotion, can’t go into making more great art, at least not in my chosen, labor-intensive medium of wood sculpture.

First step in improving the lot of artists is to imagine us as doing very well, thank you! Surrounded by an abundance of resources--tools, materials, friends, books, lots of art, artists work diligently at playing with the shapes and colors of the universe. Like happy children who also function as responsible citizens; questioning the way things are and suggesting new ways of solving old problems, new ways of interpreting what we think we know. No more complaining about victimization and insistence that others change to suit us!

You are what you believe you are, so believe in a world where artists are granted respect and support. That’s the world I’ve lived in ever since I committed to my vocation. Sometimes people need a little educating,but mostly they need to see happy, productive artists to convince them that art is universally profitable! Let's do it!