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Arts For a Cause Serves Southwest Washington

January, 18 2023

Arts For A Cause Serves Southwest Washington

Art is one of the most compelling advocacy tools to raise awareness and move people to take action. Art’s greatest impact is made through thoughtful, socially relevant programming that highlights the crucial aspect that the arts play in shaping our awareness of the world around us, and the role of artists as agents of change. In a world where we need conversations about critical and enduring challenges, Art increasingly offers promise as a powerful advocacy tool. Artists can be useful to communities with limited power or resources, by serving as amplifiers of their voices. Artists can listen to and then write, paint, sing or otherwise craft stories about what these people have to say.

Eric Friedenwald-Fishman provides valuable insights into the psychology behind arts for a cause:

"There is no discipline that nurtures and sparks the cognitive ability to imagine, and unleashes creativity and innovation, more than arts and culture. There is no approach that breaks barriers, connects across cultural differences, and engages our shared values more than arts and culture. There is no investment that connects us to each other, moves us to action, and strengthens our ability to make collective choices more than arts and culture."*

While many of us regard Art as an important part of our cultural lives, it’s time to acknowledge that Artists have power and influence, and we should be encouraging and supporting them as agents of change. Art may well be the most powerful weapon we have available for driving awareness and transforming communities.

Friedenwald-Fishman, Eric, "No art? No social change. No innovation economy.", 26 May, 2011, DOI: 10.48558/ngeg-kq87, Accessed 16 January, 2022

And Now For This Week’s Top Picks…

THE UNLIKELY MISSION: Artists use the power of fine art, film  and music to fight human trafficking in America

THE UNLIKELY MISSION: Artists use the power of fine art, film and music to fight human trafficking in America

In recognition of National Human Trafficking Awareness month, SW WA Center for the Arts, in partnership with Jason Page (Emmy-winning founder of the non-profit The Unlikely Mission) will present an impactful multimedia art exhibit and speaker event with live music at Art at the Cave Gallery Thursday, January 19th at 6pm. Each painting on exhibit represents an actual individual story of human trafficking in America. Jason and others will share these thought-provoking stories, followed by a Q & A session. The installation piece illustrates the timeline of a decade’s worth of work, and the artifacts on display were those used during reconnaissance and rescue operations. Jason is currently working with director/producer Christina Zorich (daughter of actress Olympia Dukakis), and HBO to produce the documentary film, “Knock: Peering into Human Trafficking’s Many Rooms.” The trailer for that film will be aired during the exhibit. Christina was the Executive Producer and Director of the award-winning documentary, “The New Abolitionists,” which shines a spotlight on the human sex trafficking industry in Southeast Asia. The film garnered a whopping 41 wins and 25 nominations worldwide.

The Vancouver Symphony Orchestra Presents: Brahms's Symphony No. 4 Young Artists' Performance

The Vancouver Symphony Orchestra Presents: Brahms's Symphony No. 4 & Young Artists' Performance

The Vancouver Symphony Orchestra USA’s 2022/23 season continues with the 2022 National Young Artist Competition gold medal winners. This annual program is regularly among best-attended of the VSO’s symphonic season and is now drawing viewers from across the nation via live stream. Violinist Jinan Laurentia Woo of New Jersey, bassoonist Preston Atkins of Iowa, and pianist Anwen Deng of Pennsylvania will take the stage to present their medal-winning performances January 21st and 22nd at Skyview Concert Hall. In the second half of the program, Maestro Salvador Brotons will lead the VSO in a long-awaited performance of Brahms’s timeless 4th Symphony. Composed in 1884-85, it is considered by many to be Brahms’s finest symphonic work. January 21at 7pm & 22 at 3pm Skyview Concert Hall $36 general admission; $48 reserved; $10 student; $15 live stream