Be creative like Rocco Landesman in the NEA

“Creativity belongs to the artist in each of us.To create means to relate. The root meaning of the word art is to fit together and we all do this every day. Not all of us are painters, but we are all artists. Each time we fit things together we are creating-whether it is to make a loaf of bread, a child, a day.”

Corita Kent

After reading the article in the New York Times about Rocco Landesman in the New York Times, I find myself encouraged. Rocco is an artist in the real sense of using the skills of art, of fitting things together.He is an outspoken supporter of the arts using his creative skills to build a scaffold upon which art thrives and encourages growth and development in towns across the nation.The name of his campaign, as National Endowment for the Arts Chairman is "Art Works". It suddenly dawned on me that this is exactly the approach that the enterprising little hamlet of Oyster Bay, NY is successfully engaging in.

You know, it IS actually happening in Oyster Bay!  Galleries and artists are beginning to quietly thrive in this laid back town.  The Chase Edwards Gallery , Atelier Gallery, Art that Matters and the Teaching Studios of Art exhibit, educate and sell artwork. On the first Thursday of each month, there is an Art Walk scheduled from 7-9pm.. The galleries above are mentioned and sponsored by restaurants and businesses in town, many of whom also display artwork and stay open for the Art Walks so that customers can drop in for a bite to eat or to shop.

It is encouraging to see the community support for the arts on both a national and local level.

It is also true that each of us can engage in the actions of artists each day. Do not be afraid of trying a new idea, making a mistake, thinking outside the box. That is how Rocco, Oyster Bay and you can make new discoveries and initiate new ways of looking at your life . That is how discoveries are made, businesses are born and people create things that give flight to our imaginations!