Making Connections Through the Arts

Welcome to Arts Connector!

I am so proud to number myself among those who call themselves “artist.”  I think that we are just the greatest people on earth!  We are endlessly creative, indefatigable and humane.  We are

Join me in exploring ways that artists and arts organization can connect locally and globally to build community!

ope n-minded and we observe the world with keen perception.  We find the foibles in people and ideas–perhaps, not so brilliantly in ourselves, but nevertheless, we go about trying to illuminate situations.  We tell stories which build bridges and foster understanding.  We are so important right now!  We can do so much to make things better in our world. We can make connections!

I have initiated this blog to advocate for artists who wish to “think globally and act locally.”  Art and culture are vital to a civil society and artists have the unique skill-sets to engage in and impact upon community well-being and prosperity.

My colleague, Leo Vazquez, Director of the Professional Development Institute at Rutgers University sums it up beautifully in his blog post about arts, artists and community sustainability:

“—  The arts attract wealth (arts patrons, visitors, theater-goers, etc.). Wealth attracts businesses;  businesses attract more wealth, and so on and so on in a virtuous circle.
—  The arts help to diversify the business and employment mix.
—  Artists contribute their skills to many businesses outside the arts.
—  More of the money spent in arts establishments is likely to stay in the local economy, compared to the money spent in chain stores, franchises and the Internet.
—  The arts are part of place-based experience economies, so artists tend to be involved with local economic revitalization efforts.
—  Creativity is critical to industries that rely on innovation, such as biotechnology and other knowledge economy businesses.”
Leo’s full blog post

Through these posts, I will share information about the arts– ways in which we artists and arts organizations may serve our constituents and audiences beyond the obvious.  I will also share practical information about real estate opportunities, community engagement, training, facts and figures, as well as service opportunities.

I’m looking forward to connecting with you!

Monday Matters

Active Citizenship

If you are like me, you were brought up by parents who said, “You can do anything you set your mind to!” What a wonderful thought.  The problem is that making that happen is much harder than our parents have led us to believe.  It is a very short journey from leaving the confines of the homes of our youth to the realities of the world.

Jonathan Tisch, Chairman and CEO of the Lowes Hotel is a noted community activist and philanthropist.  He has recently penned a book “Citizen You–Doing Your Part to Change the World.” In this work, Tisch advocates for active citizenship highlighting examples of “average people.”  As artists, channeling our limitless resources and creative imaginations, even in small endeavors, can lead to solving problems and positive change.

You may wish to read the Huffington Post article about this book.

Creative Placemaking

On September 14th, the National Endowment for the Arts and the Canadian Embassy co-hosted a lively discussion concerning creative communities in North America.  Panelists included the leading experts and practitioners who have lead efforts to repurpose,  reimagine and revitalize neighborhoods in North America.

Included on the panel was best-selling author, Richard Florida, who was an early advocate for the growing role of creative in our society and economy.  Join the conversation of the creative class.

If you would like to see the excellent webcast of the NEA Creative Placemaking discussion, you may link to it here.

Training for the Creative Economy

The Professional Development Institute of the Bloustein School at Rutgers University offers an excellent set of courses which are available to anyone who is interested in being leaning more about being a  leader in the creative economy in their town.  These courses are taught online in an interesting format.

The courses are accessed on demand, research and discussion contribution-based and benefit from the contributions of subject matter experts from around the country.  If you wish, you may take a series of courses to receive varying levels of certification in cultural planning and economic development. Best of all, the courses are economical and there are partial scholarships available for most.

To learn more, visit the website.

New real estate trend

More Couples Choosing Cohabitation–Unemployment appears to be encouraging more unmarried couples to live together. The number of couples cohabitating rose 13 percent from 6.7 percent in 2009 to a record high of 7.5 million this year, according to the U.S. Census.

Among those living together in 2010, about 39 percent were both employed. That’s down from 50 percent in 2009.

About 24 percent of men and women who began living together in 2010 didn’t work the previous year, compared to 14 percent of men and women who began cohabitating in 2009.

Source: USA Today, Sharon Jayson (09/24/2010)

Monday Matters

A shot of Inspiration for the Artist

I’m sure that most students of theatre have read the playwright, Jose Rivera’s stirring commencement speech which he delivered last spring at the USC School of Theatre graduation ceremony.  While it speaks directly to the actor, it is truly relevant for all artists, isn’t it?  Afterall, nearly all of us depict the human condition in one way or another.  I pull up the speech whenever I need a shot of inspiration.  It never fails to give me a lift and help me realign my purpose.  If you haven’t read it or wish to revisit, it is reprinted here for you.  Jose Rivera USC School of Theatre Commencement Speech

Recent Attacks on the Value of Homeownership

Owning a home has been taking a bad rap recently as many are questioning the value of homeownership.  While there is no doubt that owning a home is not the best decision for many for a variety of reasons, for the majority of Americans this goal can and should remain firmly a part of the American Dream.  Distressed home owners are not the cause of the current economic crisis.  It is, rather, the institutions, policies and lack of oversight and regulation which led to the disastrous fall of the housing market.  Majority homeownership has been the bedrock of strong, stable and vibrant communities throughout our history.  Take a look at the excellent statement countering the negativity around the issue which was made by National Association of Realtor’s president, Vicki Cox Goldner.  A Case for Homeownership

Good News on the “Home” Front

Home Sales are up for the second month in a row.  Check out the latest stats and predictors!  Home Sales Increase

Monday Matters

My credit score is bad and I don’t know what to do about it!

“Hey, I only had a balance of $30 on my credit card and I was only a day late paying it!  What happened to my credit score??!!” Does this sound like something that has happened to you?  Has lack of work played havoc with your financial health and you think you’ll never have be a good credit candidate again?  Well, no fear.  Slowly but surely you can regain your footing.There are steps you can take to improve your credit scores.

Scott Levitt suggests the following–a simple plan to be proactive in improving those scores.

- Check your credit reports from all three recognized credit bureaus, Equifax, Experian and TransUnion. You can get free credit reports from all three bureaus every 12 months at http://www.annualcreditreport.com, and it’s worth getting all three reports because each can vary.

- Start paying down credit card balances. “It’s the fastest way to improve your score,” said FICO spokesman Craig Watts. The lower your balances, the better for your score.

- Pay your bills on time. This is the most important factor in your credit score. Late payments remain on your credit report for up to seven years, but have a smaller impact on your score as time passes

- Don’t close accounts before applying for a loan. Closing credit card accounts can never help your score, Watts said.

- Avoid opening new cards in the months before taking out a mortgage.

- Pay off old fines. Parking tickets, library fines, late bills, can all hurt a score by as much as 100 points if the account ends up going to collection.

You may wish to read this excellent article from the Washington Post written by Kimberly Lankford, author of “Rescue Your Financial Life” (McGraw-Hill) and “The Insurance Maze” (Kaplan).

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/03/04/AR2010030405417.html

Re-building a community one house at a time

A few days ago, my husband and I had the great pleasure of meeting Frank Broomes of Newark.  Frank is a 68 year old former engineer in New York City who is anything but retired.  He moved to Newark about 10 years ago and lives in the University Heights section of town.

When Frank came to Newark, the “projects,” a half block down the street from his home, were still active hotbeds of poverty and crime.  They have since been boarded up and there are plans to demolish them and turn that area into affordable homes.  In the meantime, Frank, who knows the value of retaining the historical and architectural integrity of a building has, over the years, bought a number of properties around his block.

Frank and his sister, Brenda, have engaged in the painstaking task of stripping molding down to original lustre, researching originals and restoring or replacing crown moldings, stripping flooring to its former patina, fine-detailing windows, doors, tiles, regenerating pocket doors and on and on.  They perform these exacting tasks utilizing their skills developed over their lifetimes and with an artist’s eye and sensitivity.  Most of his houses are rented to students from the adjacent NJIT and Rutgers-Newark campuses who welcome “Mr. Frank” into their living spaces.

As we walk around “his” block, Frank details the history of the buildings and their current use.  He shows us a building with crumbling bricks and mortar and says that he and his friend are trying to get the funds together to put it back together just as it was originally designed.  He stops and tells us about the “master plan” of Newark’s rebuilding effort.  And then, this soft-spoken and wise man gets fired up.  “Look at these empty buildings around here,” Frank explains.  “You don’t see abandoned buildings like these in New York City!”  “Where are the plans to fill these buildings with retail and residences?”  “The city needs to take over these buildings and sell them for next to nothing to people who will bring them back to life!”

Yes, Frank, you are right.  That is exactly what the city should be doing.  But, while City Hall, plods along in it’s decision-making, you just keep walking the walk and rebuilding your corner of the community one brick at a time.

Monday Matters

Think you can’t afford to purchase a home?  Think again.  Now, lest you fear that I am about to make a sales pitch for some deceptive mortgage, let me assure you that the following mortgage program has been around for decades.  In the next few “Monday Matters,” I will be sharing information about the much improved FHA 203K loan and the wide variety of uses for this mortgage vehicle. Whether for home purchase or refinancing, the 203K offers great benefits for the home which needs some amount of renovating.  It’s wide applications make home buying a possibility for those who thought they could not possibly qualify to buy a home.

As a program of HUD (the Housing and Urban Development department of the US government), the FHA 203K has been in place for many years.  So why aren’t more people using it?  The consensus in the real estate industry is that this product has not been very well marketed.  The word just isn’t out there on the street. Because it is an unusual mortgage vehicle and requires oversight during the renovation period, there are only select mortgage brokers who specialize in the program.  I hope that you will find the information which I share with you over the next few weeks worthy of further exploration–if not for you, perhaps for someone you know.  It presents some exciting opportunities for artists who can creatively and masterfully put this product to full use in rehabilitating a home and growing the cultural capital of a community. The FHA 203K loan program has done wonders in the revitalization of neighborhoods and communities in desperate and run down areas throughout the United States.

Live Where you Work

If you are like me, at some point in your career, you’ve had dreams of the bohemian life where you eat, breathe and sleep with your art.  In mine, I wake up in some artistically assembled garret and toddle downstairs to the little black box theatre on the first floor of my home.  There, friends and colleagues, all artists I admire, gather to process through a new work and by nightfall, people come and populate the folding chairs surrounding our little stage and watch us work.  Well, maybe it’s a fantasy and maybe it’s not!  Your own gallery or dance studio or film screening room!  Build it and they will come!

With the FHA 203K renovation loan, you are limited only to your imagination.  We know that there are a glut of distressed or foreclosed spaces all over our country just waiting for someone to breathe new life into them.  The 203K is available for 1-4 family owner occupant buildings as well for non-profits and can be used for residential or mixed use buildings.

Let’s say you wanted create an art studio where you and a couple of your fellow artists could live and work.  With the help of your realtor, you locate a foreclosure that formerly housed a bar and several apartments upstairs.  Interestingly, when your realtor shows the property to you, you find it’s really not in terrible shape.  (In reality, the majority of foreclosures need a minimum of work.)  Then the creative wheels start to turn in your head and you can visualize how that bar could be a terrific work area for small sculpture pieces.  Maybe a few of those spinning stools could actually be repurposed for some sort of potter’s wheel kind of thing.   Some of the tables can stay for work or display space.  You can send the chairs next door for your fellow artist who is crafting a little theatre in her new space.  Upstairs are 3 small, but totally workable apartment spaces.  All have kitchens and at least one full bath.  Yes, the toilets need replacing and that fridge has years-old food in it.  That has to go!  But, nice.  This won’t be that hard to spruce up.

And the price for this beauty–what? $65,000!  Taxes: $3,200.  Now let’s see if I live in one of the apartments and charge $600 rent for each of the other 2 and then charge a pretty low rate for my classes and studio space, this place is going to be crawling with budding young artists in no time.

Now, let’s see, that’s a $2275 down payment.  I can come up with that.  And then there’s the closing costs including the mortgage insurance premium…hmm… I can scrounge around to come up with that.  I’m excited to meet with a licensed contractor to determine the scope of work in order to build my space and to draw up the plans.  Then he works with my mortgage broker and determines I can restore this building and create my space for less than $100,000!  The renovation portion is put into escrow and I withdraw to pay the bills as needed during the renovation.  And, if I’m really clever and find some great architectural salvage for a song, I may not even need all of the $100K.  Bonus.

During the six months I have while the renovation is going on, I’ll find my tenants and advertise my classes, so that my apartments are rented and my classes are full by the time I open the doors.  And look at the numbers.  The rent on those two apartments alone are going to pay my full monthly loan amount and the class income is going to pay me!  And what’s this, my mortgage payments can be put in escrow for the six months during the renovation period.  That way I won’t have to make a mortgage payment for 7 1/2 months and by that time, I’ll already be generating income from rent and my classes to pay for this.  Are you kidding me??!!

Sound too good to be true?  No, my friends, you can be living your dream by this time next year.

Monday Matters

Energy Efficiency with FHA 203K mortgage

This is installment #2 detailing the benefits which are available through the FHA 203K mortgage.  As mentioned in last Monday’s post, in the current real estate market, the 203K loan is about the best thing around.  As we explore more and more details of how this loan can be creatively tailored to meet most any need for the owner-occupied 1-4 family residence or residence/business, you’ll will begin to understand what I mean.  This loan can open up the world of home-ownership and live/work spaces for the imaginative artist.  With this installment you’ll see how you can be “green” as well!

The FHA 203K allows for an additional loan to cover energy-efficient improvements in the residence.  You can actually add up to $8000 additional monies to your existing mortgage/renovation costs just to cover the green upgrades which you desire.  This obviously is an effort by the government to support green building and those who wish to do their part towards energy-saving.

Here are some of the details regarding the “Energy-Efficient Mortgage”

1) The energy-efficient improvements must be cost effective.  That means that the total cost of the improvements is less than the total present value of the energy saved over the useful life of the energy improvement.  In other words, the improvements have to have to be able to pay for themselves.

2) The energy-efficient mortgage can be added to the total FHA 203K loan amount and costs up to $8000 are available.

3)  Supervision of the element of your loan is done by a HERS-rated consultant.  (Home Energy Rating System).  The consultant will prepare a home energy rating report to analyze the energy savings of your projected improvements.

4) The fees associated with creation of the report and consultant costs can be added to the loan.

5) Just as with the renovation costs, once the loan is closed,  money will be put in escrow and drawn upon as needed as the improvements are made.

6) The energy-efficient mortgage can be in addition to the maximum mortgage limit, e.g. if your FHA 203K maximum mortgage limit for your mortgage/renovation  is $200,000, you may still add up to another $8000 for the energy-efficient mortgage making you actual mortgage  $208,000.

Pretty sweet, huh?  Stay tuned for next Monday’s 203K installment!

Who are you for?

Have you noticed how many negative political ads are filling the airwaves in this particular election cycle?  Maybe it’s been this way for a long time, but I can’t remember a year when so many politicians seem to think that they are worthy candidates only by virtue of the fact that their opponent is not.

We hear and see these ads which say “’so and so’ failed to do this, and is guilty of that,  and even went so far as to say this.”   And then the camera cuts to the politician who says, “I’m so and so and I support this ad.”

Well, my question is:  “What else do you support?”  “Who are you, and why should we vote for you?”  “Are you merely the lesser of two evils?”  I find it baffling and sadly, symptomatic of much of the growing cultural divide.  Now, I know that there are “many voices of reason” among the candidates in this election who really do work hard and have impressive platforms upon which they stand.  I simply wish that they could be heard above the din—could be the norm rather than the exception.

I don’t know about you, but on November 2^nd, I am still going to the polls to cast my ballot.  But this time, I’m going to only vote for the candidates who stand “for” something.  I’m just sayin’…..

While we’re on the subject…..

The Americans for the Arts Action Fund is a great organization which gives us artists an opportunity to have a unified voice in the political process.  If you wish, you may want to check out the website and sign up for notification when artists are needed to support an “action” which is crucial to the health of the arts in our country.  http://www.ArtsActionFund.org

There is a particularly interesting article which you might wish to check out about how stimulus dollars were used to keep the doors open for a small but vital community arts center in rural Alabama.  The article goes on to give a bit of a “report card” for  Senators and their level of support for the arts.  Feel free to share if you are so moved.  http://artsactionfund.org/pages/same-state-different-story.

Monday Matters

This is the third installment in our series about the FHA 203k Renovation Loan–

FHA 203K Renovation Loan FAQ

Q: What are some of the benefits of the 203K over the conventional mortgage?

A: 1) Renovations must be done by a licensed and, preferably,  FHA 203K contractor.  The work is overseen by a consultant in order to guarantee the integrity of the work.
2) Renovations must be completed within 6 months.
3) There are special HUD down payment programs*
4) Most closing costs can be financed.
5) Renovations or upgrades are available for the Energy Efficient Mortgage Pilot Program
6) The loan is assumable

Q: I’ve tried to qualify for a conventional market and I was turned down.  Will I have any better luck with the 203K?

A: The 203K is perfect for the buyer who cannot quality for a regular conventional mortgage.  Often your credit score is low or you don’t have enough cash for down payment or you can’t always count on making the payment with your current income.  The 203K can help you with all of that.  Down payment can be as little as 3.5%, credit score can be as low as 640.  If you are purchasing a multi-family home, the rent you are able to collect for the other units can, in some instances, cover your entire mortgage payments with leftovers!  It is possible to work it so that your first payment is not due until 7.5 months after closing giving you time to take care of the renovations as well as procure tenants.

Q: Which buyers are the best candidates for a 203K Renovation Loan?

A: The FHA 203K loan is great for buyers who want to adapt their home to their needs, move-up buyers, investors, 1st time buyers, non-profits, those who want to have a business and live in the same space, just to name a few.

Q: Can I get a 203K in order to purchase and renovate a second home?

A: This loan is only for a primary residence.

Q: Can you be more specific?

A: Here is a list of eligible properties*
1) 1-4 family home – residential or mixed use.
2) Homes that have been demolished or razed as long as the foundation system was not affected and remains in tact
3) Any property you wish to convert from a 1 to a 2-4 family or from a 2-4 to a single family residence.
4)A manufactured home built after June 15, 1976

Note that condos and coops are not eligible for the 203K mortgage.

(*) Please see HUD website for details of limitations to the above  http://www.hud.gov/offices/hsg/sfh/203k/203kabou.cfm

Q: Are there any pre-payment penalties?

A: Nope

Election Eve

Last Monday, I shared with you the list of Senators who have the worst records when it comes to supporting the arts.  On this election eve, let’s turn again to Americans for the Arts and see which senators have made the “Honor Roll” for their consistent arts advocacy.

Kay Hagan
Richard Durbin
Kristin Gillibrand
Barbara Mikulski
Mary Landrieu
Patrick Leahy
Barbara Boxer
John Kerry
Daniel Inouye
Tom Udall
Sheldon Whitehouse
Patty Murray

If you would like to look at the entire Senate Grade Report, check out this link:  http://artsactionfund.org/pages/senate-report-card

Monday Matters

What’s wrong with this picture (window)?

Are you aware of all of things that a professional realtor does to help you with your home sale or purchase.  Searching and showing properties or marketing your home and helping to find buyers for it, is just the basic service that a qualified realtor professional offers.  What if you need to have some repairs done in order to get your ready for the market.  You have put an offer a new home – who will you call for your home inspection or for attorney representation?  You moved to a new town three weeks ago, the toilet has overflowed, you need a reliable plumber right away.
Part of a good realtor’s service is to provide you with reference and contact information for all manner of service people who can take care of your needs.  The Keller Williams Mid-Town Direct Realty office has a list of qualified vendors which we constantly update.  As well, we spend a great deal of time and effort to vet vendors on our own.  Sometimes we are the guinea pigs!

Case in point is represented here.  Recently, I worked with a contractor who was recommended by a terrific plumber with whom I have had great success.   The job included installing a picture window in the place of a sliding glass door.  My contract with this company (let me name names–Viking Construction, Sean Steinbach) stated that the contractor would “install a new window and install new sheetrock after window was installed.”   In conversation, this contractor said that he would leave the area “paint-ready.”   Now, I suppose everyone’s opinion of a new window may be different, but I certainly assumed that upon completion of his work, I would have a window that looked like a window rather than unfinished construction.  I expected that when the contract stated that new sheetrock would be installed (and, by the way, I had to remind him of this as he told me they were all finished before he had done the sheetrocking) that it would be taped and spackled.

Now, I could go on, but the point I make is, I’ve now had first hand experience with a contractor who I wouldn’t recommend to my worst enemy and a plumber, who, despite his misjudgement of this contractor, I would send to anyone.  One name added to my list, another one struck from it.  My clients are the beneficiaries of my careful scrutiny of all manner of professionals with whom I come in contact on a daily basis.

Let me further add that this is a benefit that is strictly for the client.  Contrary to what some believe, realtors are not allowed to receive any monetary reward or incentive from any vendor whom we recommend.  In New Jersey, which has some of the most strict real estate laws in the country, there are stiff penalties for any realtor who is guilty of receiving kick-backs.

You can be assured that, as a responsible real estate professional, I  will refer qualified vendors as a basic ingredient for my goals for longterm client satisfaction–even if I have to root them out the hard way!

Streamlined 203K mortgage loan

This is the fourth and last installment on my series of writings about the 203K renovation loan (see other “Monday Matters.”)  This loan is available in 2 different structures–standard and streamlined.  The 203K streamlined is designed for buyers who are purchasing properties needing limited repair work costing less than $35,000.  This cost cap includes the inspection fees, consultant fees, title update fees,etc. which are standard on the 203K.  All of the excellent features of the 203K are available whether one uses the standard or the streamlined (purchase or refinance, 6 months work completion, assumable, as little as 3.5% down payment, etc.)

The FHA 203K streamlined is perfect for the buyer who has a lower credit score and limited down payment.  I work with a couple of mortgage brokers who are experts in the 203K loan.  I am happy to recommend these qualified vendors!

Potential Good News for Artists

All around us, we are seeing news about unemployment numbers.  Artists are no less affected in today’s economy.  Everyday, I am hearing stories from colleagues about how there is no work.  Extraordinary artists who are at the top of their professions haven’t worked for months on end.  Arts institutions are going under in record numbers.  What to do?  What to do?

Well, apparently the answer may lie in “Come to New Jersey!”  2009 reports indicate that the creative sector is, by and large, well and thriving in the state of New Jersey.  More artists are employed and more towns and cities are being inhabited by artists and arts institutions.  Americans for the Arts response to the election points out that the arts play a profound role in “spurring economic growth and job creation.”

“The nation’s 100,000 nonprofit arts organizations are part of the small business sector, and the nation’s 2.2 million professional artists are among the millions of business entrepreneurs fueling the economy. It is also important that our newly-elected leaders appreciate the connection between arts education training and the development of creative and innovative workforce skills, which are essential to future workers to compete effectively in the 21st Century global economy,” according to the Americans for the Arts letter.

To read more about the burgeoning arts scene in New Jersey, read this interesting report from Arts Builds Communities.

Related Articles

• REbuildUSA and Lowe’s Announce Program to Support FHA Streamlined 203(k) Renovation Loan (eon.businesswire.com)

Monday Matters

Dedicated to Mom–This edition of Monday Matters is inspired by thoughts of my mom

The Importance of Forming Good Habits

My mom was born in 1919. She currently lives in the skilled nursing wing of a lovely retirement community in Greensboro, NC.  During her tenure there and her prior tenure at another senior residence facility in my hometown, I have had the opportunity to observe both my parents and their fellow residents.

I have watched these residents change as they age and come to the point where they can no longer see or speak or feed themselves.   But, it has struck me that for those, who through their lives deliberately formed good habits, the residual effects remain.  If they were fastidious in their dress, that habit remains even though it is someone else who is helping them dress.  If they were great thinkers or observers, even though they can no longer speak, they still ponder intently. During their lifetimes they had formed habits of successful people.
Like the fine artist she was, my mom was a disciplined practitioner of keyboard music.  Dedication to the quality of her craft and the joy of music making informed all manner of her daily habits.   From her youth, she determined to spread joy through her art.  Her heart was in her art which she shared openly.  She grew to be quite deliberate in “joy” spreading.

At age 91, in the third stage of Alzheimer’s, though she can do little else, Mom still spreads joy.  There is a ready smile for anyone who bothers to notice or an easy laugh sharing fun which she does not comprehend.  There is an instinctive hand reached out to anyone who needs a touch.  There is a determination to make the world rosier.  This is habitual for her.

Scott Levitt, President of Oakley Signs and Graphics, in his weekly eletter, says: “Making an improvement in yourself or your business is not a single ‘sea change’ event, but the gradual application of effort over time.  I love this quote from Horace Mann, one of my dad’s great heroes: “Habit is a cable.  We weave a thread each day and, at last, we cannot break it.”

Be True to Yourself

Is this the right time to buy?  Is this the right time to sell?  Has the market hit bottom?

So many questions about today’s real estate market–what’s a person to do?  Everywhere you look, on all of the airwaves and in print,  some official or financial expert is making predictions about the housing market and one doesn’t know who to trust or believe.

The truth of the matter is, it doesn’t matter.  Yes the market may dip and slide, or it may rebound–it doesn’t matter.  Home ownership is now and always has been and always will be a bedrock of our country.

Should I sell now or wait for another year or two?  Should I buy now if prices are going to go down further?  If I wait, will mortgage rates rise and I lose an opportunity?  None of these are the right questions to ask yourself.

My mom always told me when I was growing up to “be true to myself.”  Now, I revisit this phrase almost daily and my daughters have heard it repeated to them over and over ad nauseum since they were young children.  But, I have come to believe that it’s the most important axiom, and I have discovered over the years that the phrase has multi-layered meaning.

This “trust your instincts” idea resonates in all phases of one’s life.  I hear it in “face the music and dance” or “pick yourself up, dust yourself off and start all over again” or “there’s no place like home.”  When it comes to your home, the place where you feel safe and free to be yourself and recharge and gather those who are most important to you, be true to yourself.

Instead of listening to all of the noise being made about the housing market, why not listen to the wee, small voice in your head?  If it’s telling you that it’s time to move, trust it and move.

Educate yourself, by all means.  I hope that through this blog I am providing some helpful tidbits of information or that I am linking you to valuable sites where you can learn more. We know that the more well-informed one is, the better one’s decision-making will be.  But all of the statistics, and all of the opinions and all of the expert advice will not tell you what decision is the right one for you.  In order to arrive at that one, you must be true to yourself!

With love from Mama Ishee!

Monday Matters

NEA Summit on Careers for Artists with Disabilities

When I first saw her work, I knew that she was a brilliant artist with amazing talent.  Later I found out that she made this art by using her mouth to move the brush. Riva Lehrer on the artwork of Sunara Taylor

National leaders and advocates gathered in Washington, DC in June of this year to discuss artists with disabilities and sustainable careers for these creative practitioners.  Participants were afforded the opportunity to review progress made in the last 10 years, examine the needs and barriers to participation for professional artists with disabilities, and to strategize ways to eliminate those barriers.

Accomplished practicing artists in theatre, visual arts, creative writing, dance and design addressed the attendees with insight into their careers and training.  Results of a 3-year study undertaken by the NEA showed disappointing results.  This study indicates that artists with disabilities face discrimination, low expectation, and lack of access.  According to the study, disability is often aligned with tragedy or, conversely, inspiration.  This is considered insufficient, inaccurate and patronizing.

Victoria Ann Lewis, founding director of the Mark Taper Forum Other Voices Project addressed the summit with the following remarks:

We cannot address the issues of discrimination and prejudice that continue to limit the careers of disabled Americans in the arts if we cannot pull back and identify and name the social, historical and political conditions that millions of disabled people share–conditions that limit their efforts to be seen as valuable to our national cultural discussion.

The good news is that there are a number of elements which were put in place based on  recommendations from the previous summit 10 years ago.

-Statewide Forums where the national dialogue has been taken back to the states for in-state activism around training, performances/exhibits, discussion of Social Security benefits for artists (who have significant problems with access to health care), networking and resource-sharing.

–A Mentorship Program funded by the NEA and the US Department of Education and overseen by the Kennedy Center boasts 12 artists who gained employment after the program and 14 who went back to school.

–“Access to Design Professions” utilizes the talents and insights provided by artists with disabilities to put a spotlight on accessibility in public spaces.

The NEA is to be applauded for mandating that artists with disabilities must receive the necessary support that allows them to make steady strides toward recognition of their creative contributions.

Read the entire NEA summit report here.

The National Arts and Disability Center offers employment resources for artists with disabilities.

VSA-New Jersey is an excellent organization which advocates for artists with disabilities.  For a list of their programs and services, look here.

Arts Unbound!

I had the opportunity last Thursday night to attend the grand opening of the Arts Unbound “pop-up” gift shop in Maplewood Village.  The mayor, heads of the Village Alliance and Chamber and other local and state dignitaries were on hand to lead the festivities.

While Arts Unbound has been in existence for many years, this was my first experience to be exposed to the extraordinary artwork which was created by NJ artists with disabilities.  The shop is beautifully laid out to showcase the broad variety of designs and there has been careful placement of cards with a brief biography and statement about the individual artists.

Arts Unbound was created in 2003 to provide training and sustainable income for “other-abled” artists.  It was one of the first tenants of The Cultural Revitalization Zone and it’s beautiful studio and gallery spaces have been a beacon for attraction of other cultural organizations.  Together, they are creating an ever expanding vibrant arts community in downtown Orange.

Visit the Arts Unbound online gift shop for the perfect holiday gifts, or better yet, come to Maplewood Village and shop in person!  Maplewood is FABulous during the holidays!

Upcoming in Monday Matters:

11/29–Crisis in Creativity

12/6 – Artists in Action–It’s Our Time!

12/13 – Profiles in Artistry–Changing Community

Shout Out for Artists!

Have you been inspired by an artist who is helping to make their community a better place to live?  Do you know of a dancer who is serving seniors or a painter who is working with autistic children or a designer who is collaborating with town officials to create a downtown arts district?  There are so many artist practitioners who are using their unique skill sets for societal good.

The December 13th edition of “Monday Matters” will profile several of these artists.  Perhaps you know of someone whose work has impressed you and whose story can be inspirational for all of us.  In the box below, won’t you send me a story of an artist who is making a difference in their community so that I might feature them here and share the word about  their good works? 

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Monday Matters

Crisis in Creativity

Several months ago, I had a thoughtful conversation with my friend, Senator Margaret Dickson of NC about the decline of creativity among our nation’s children.   One of Margaret’s great joys is the occasions she embraces to read to kindergarten classes.  She tells me that the lights behind their little eyes and the numerous and fantastic questions which they pose are exciting and inspirational for her.  A champion of the importance of the arts and artists, Margaret queries: “At what point do our children lose their creative thinking skills?”  “When does the fostering of creativity become non- essential?”

Relatively recent articles dealing with the American crisis in creativity offer some insights in statistics and areas of concern.  In Newsweek magazine, an article by Po Bronson and Ashley Merryman addresses “The Creativity Crisis.”  A second article is found in the Encyclopedia Britannica which interviewd for its blog, Associate Professor Kyung Hee Kim of the College of William and Mary.  Kim has conducted an analysis of Torrance Test results ( a test which measures creativity) from over 300,000 American adults and children.

Kim makes the following statement:

The heart of The American Spirit is American Ingenuity, the ability to create novel solutions. The United States provided an environment that fostered creativity, provided opportunities for creative individuals, and rewarded creative achievements. A creative soul is part of what enabled the U.S. to ascend to world leader, with such a tiny and un-historied population. Creativity is central to the American soul and the American spirit, and these associations explain part of the public’s fascination with the study of creativity. The U.S. has always felt secure that its vast inventories of creative potential would prevail against every foe, from British Redcoats and Soviet Red Communists to National Socialists and Japanese Industrialists. The recent decreases in creativity measures indicate a threat to national security.

Her research shows that in the last 20 years in the U.S.  originality has decreased by 3.74%, fluency by 7%, creative strengths by 5.75% and elaborative thinking and the motivation to be creative by a whopping 36.8%!

As both of these articles indicate, lack of funding and a switch in educational priorities can be a major contributing factor to the dramatic decrease of children’s creative opportunities in their classrooms.  But there is more to it than changes in curriculum and teacher training and encouragement of early parental intervention.  Must we not also change public policy and perceptions and create a passion for creative thinking and engagement?

The above statistics show us the facts, now what can we artists do about it?  While we do not hold the corner on creativity, (mathematicians, scientists, etc. are, more often than not, innovators), I do believe that artists, as a whole, are the masters of creative imagining.  If you agree with me on that premise, would it be logical to conclude therefore, that it is artists who should be leading the efforts to restore the health of our creative competency?  Since creativity is the bedrock of our artistry and our professions, isn’t it vital that we work together to stress and promote the essence of creativity for current and future generations?

If our country’s citizens were being rapidly infected by a mysterious virus, wouldn’t we look to the scientific community for answers and solutions to the crisis?  When it comes to a crisis in creativity, wouldn’t we expect, nay demand, that our country look to artists for answers and solutions?  I believe that as artists we should all sound the alarm on the repercussions of the dramatic and continuing decline in creativity.  Who better to focus on the resulting loss of our competitive edge and our problem solving abilities?

I would invite you to read both of these excellent articles to learn more about why creativity is declining and to see opinions on how to solve the problems.  But I would proffer that artist leadership should seize the mantel on tackling this issue.  After all, it is in the products of our imaginations that true human nature is dissected and revealed. Through the insights gained therein, understanding is enhanced, actions will result and achievable outcomes can be attained.

Bronson and Merryman say:

Creativity has always been prized in American society, but it’s never really been understood. While our creativity scores decline unchecked, the current national strategy for creativity consists of little more than praying for a Greek muse to drop by our houses. The problems we face now, and in the future, simply demand that we do more than just hope for inspiration to strike…..we know the steps to lead that elusive muse right to our doors.

Think large thoughts and act in small ways.  Local activism can lead to state activism and viral activism and national activism.  I will welcome your thoughts and comments.

In addition, do you know of examples of artists who are already engaged in “saving creativity in their communities?”  Will you share your email with me in the above subscription box so that I can contact you about this artist and the ways that they are engaged.   I may profile them in an upcoming edition of “Monday Matters”

Related Articles

• Exercising our creativity (boston.com)

Monday Matters

Artists possess unique skills that afford them opportunities to serve the greater good – community engagement, social problem solving, raising community cultural capital, and on and on.  Today we begin a series of profiles and stories about artists who are utilizing their skill sets for activities and efforts which exist outside of, but with relation to their arts practice.

Artists In Action Series-#1

IF YOU CAN BUILD A SET, YOU CAN RENOVATE A HOUSE!

Well, that may be a slight stretch.  However, have you ever considered the similarities?  Recently, I had a conversation with a friend who I assisted with a property purchase.  As I was listening to  the story of the property renovation, I had one of those “Ah-ha” moments.

The garage door was opened and in walked a crew of guys with tools and materials and lights and machinery.  The trucks were lined up out front, and all I could think of was “this is just like ‘load-in’ at the theatre.  Here they were about to transform my empty “stage” into a complete 2 story set with bedrooms, a kitchen, doors, flooring.  There were guys

Crew heads, Jeff (Carpentry), Brian (Electrics), Steve (Props)

from carpentry, electrics sound and props!

Now, a little history.  Several months ago, I had helped my friend purchase a potentially lovely property in Sussex County, NJ, immediately adjacent to Orange County, NY.  I use the word “potentially” because the property had been foreclosed and was in a state of significant distress.  Through some brokering, before the purchase, I was able to get the bank to agree to essentially gut the interior.  Rather than being daunted by this, my friend looked at the property with a creative eye and in that fertile mind, began to build the set which would house the ‘play.’

The story is about creating a small writer’s retreat and the property, which has an expanse of woods behind it, provides the perfect cyc for reflection and inspiration.  In addition, there is a dearth of cultural activity in this particular town and, in my friend’s view, this mission would serve the larger community by infusing it with a flow of artists who, in some small way, could put a spotlight on the beauty and the natural riches in the area.

Like a production manager and director,  I had spent a lot of time creating a tight budget for the cost of the set and working with the head of carpentry who served as my designer. I assisted ‘props’ and ‘electrics’  in finding low cost  fixtures and furnishings.  I facilitated a timeline which would get us comfortably to ‘first preview.’

Once we had loaded in, I swept and generally readied the stage for the construction. In the true spirit of “I’ll do anything to get my play up” with a little instruction, I assisted wherever I the “heads” would let me.  I painted and laid new carpet in the bedrooms. I scrubbed the  dressing rooms, replaced some broken tile, freshened or replaced wall and window coverings and I laid out basic amenities for my actors.  I staged the kitchen and furnished all of the other rooms.  I decorated the proscenium and spruced up front of house. My favorite line came from “sound” as the walls fairly shook with vibrations. “We can only work to dance music.”  he said.  I can relate.

During the off hours, I worked on marketing and promotion. In order to keep on budget, I put on  my best acting chops to be persuasive and a little pitiful.  My “audience’ was, no doubt, aware that I was acting, but I was earnest in my delivery and they were very generous to me.   I am very happy to report that we are on target for a successful opening!

“Ah-ha,” thought I.  This artist has used skills developed over years of craft-building in the theatre and paralleled it all into facilitating the mission of creating a writer’s retreat.  The similarities are easy to identify and the only major difference, that I can see, is that the play is not yet written.  It will unfold over in the coming days, months and years of creative collaborations.  I anticipate that when this play is finished, it will have had a very happy ending!

Where do your artistic skill sets lie?

A big shout out to the “guys in the crew” from All Aspects Home Renovation and  S.C. Peterson Plumbing and Heating!



Monday Matters

Crisis in the Craft of Musical Theatre

What is happening to our craft?  When an artistic masterpiece which is a compelling and thought-provoking musical work can’t find an audience, what does this say about our industry? If the most respected creative and producing names in the profession can’t attract market share, where have our customers gone?  Are we guilty of feeding the Broadway consumer commercial pablum for so long that they no longer have the capacity to digest a  feast for the eyes, ears and mind?

For a number of years, I’ve been concerned about the erosion of artistic craft and production values in the Broadway theatre.  Those who know me have heard me address this issue often.  It is heartbreaking when a production of the caliber of SCOTTSBORO BOYS is forced to close so prematurely.

This production, which dealt with an incidence of historically relevant racial injustice in as well-conceived, constructed and presented manner imaginable, was entertaining as well as provocative.  (Last I looked, in our country, we are still dealing with racial inequality).  It’s been a long time since shows like KING AND I and SOUTH PACIFIC had their opening nights, but it remains vitally important for us to offer presentations which grapple with social issues.

I am passionate about the musical theatre.  I believe that we are able to affect change both simple and radical through accessible and compelling material and production.  And I believe that the work we do through words, music and design can stimulate the senses in more ways than any other medium.  The effects can get ‘under the skin’ and stay there and people’s actions and reactions are altered.

When I was new to the business, the champions of the musical theatre were people like Richard Rodgers, Michael Bennett, and even David Merrick-.  Now, the “kids who were in the chorus” are the choreographers and directors and playwrights and producers of many of today’s shows.  Yet, I wonder, at what point do we assume the mantle of guardianship of our beloved art form?  Are we somehow to blame for, what may be considered to be a crisis in the craft?  Can we be accused of sacrificing the art for the commercial?

There are many in the industry who feel strongly about this.  We can take a unified and positive stand to demand that musical theatre quality be elevated.  We can support and promote the art through social networks and other mediums, generating a hunger for rich and provocative musical drama   We can raise the bar for our audiences and require them to listen and think.  We can train our students to recognize, respect and practice fine craftsmanship.  We can be selective in the projects to which we are willing to devote our time and talents.  We can, nay we must, become a beacon for a vibrant, varied, and vital American musical theatre,

Final thought: Rather than waiting until the closing notice was posted, just imagine how different the outcome may have been if each of us who had seen and loved SCOTTSBORO BOYS had, the next day,  posted a positive review and a “must-see” alert to our Facebook friends.  If we had encouraged each of them to spread the word to 10 of their friends and each of them to another ten and another……. The Lyceum Theatre has 922 seats available for each performance.  175 million people log into Facebook every day!

Monday Matters

Being Gospels of Peace

One of my favorite songs at this season of the year is “O Holy Night.”  Like many, I grew up hearing this piece of music.  I can well remember it being sung by some student soloist or another at my high school (back in the days when performing sacred music wasn’t an issue).  It always seemed to me, at the time,  to be a bit of a joke because you could just see the soloist “winding up” to belt out that last high note as he (it was usually a “he”) sang O night di-VI–I-INE and the relief in the breath before O night, (more relief-breath) O night Di…..vine.  The odd thing is,  I don’t ever remember hearing the last verse of this song when I was in high school.

As the years have progressed, however, this song has become a joy for me to sing and, if reports are to be believed, something other than a mere “joke” for my audiences.  I deeply regret that this particular year, I will have no opportunity to perform this beloved, enduring carol.

This has been a tough year for so many of us, for our near neighbors and our brothers and sisters across the globe.  Hope is in scarce supply.  Peace seems impossible.  I feel, somehow, that these lyrics take on a deeper meaning this holiday season than any in the recent past.  As I ponder on the power of these words, I am struck by how current and relevant are the sentiments expressed here.  Yet, this song was written over 150 years ago!

I invite you to spend a moment or two examining these words.  No matter where you are in your spiritual journey or who or what you consider to be your personal guide or savior,  I believe that you may find an opportunity to consider this message anew.  I hope that it will touch your soul and help to encourage you to preach your own gospel of peace to family and friends near and far.

O holy night! The stars are brightly shining,
It is the night of our dear Saviour’s birth.
Long lay the world in sin and error pining,
‘Til He appear’d and the soul felt its worth.
A thrill of hope the weary world rejoices,
For yonder breaks a new and glorious morn.

Fall on your knees! O hear the angels’ voices!
O night divine, O night when Christ was born;
O night divine, O night, O night Divine.

Truly He taught us to love one another;
His law is love and His gospel is peace.
Chains shall He break for the slave is our brother;
And in His name all oppression shall cease.
Sweet hymns of joy in grateful chorus raise we,
Let all within us praise His holy name.

Christ is the Lord! Then ever, ever praise we,
His power and glory evermore proclaim.
His power and glory evermore proclaim.

My Christmas wish for you is that you can be the living embodiment of  the gospel of peace.  May your heart be filled with joy and gratitude through the holiday season.  May you continue to  generously share your gospel with all you meet.

O Holy Night in Performance

Should you wish to have an audio-visual reminder for the above, set your DVR to CBS on Christmas Eve.  At 11:35 PM (check schedule for local listings), A Christmas Eve for Everyone will be broadcast.  This performance was taped last week at the St. Paul and St. Andrew United Methodist Church  in NYC.  The music was lovingly prepared by my longtime friend, Dr. Frank Glass and features Phil Hall at piano and as arranger for I Wonder as I Wander.  Even though I was not present for the taping, I am certain that Victoria Clark’s (Tony-Award winning actor for Light in the Piazza) rendition of O Holy Night is presented with the same extraordinary integrity and resplendence  as is her custom.   A Christmas for Everyone


Monday Matters

Renaissance 2011– The Decade of Emergent Artists’ Influence

It’s here!  It’s our Time!

Have you noticed the confluence of thought and energies around a  focus on innovation and entrepreneurship?  Have you also noticed the gradual and growing directional leaning of these thoughts and energies toward artists?  Although this trend has been developing since the dawn of the new millennium, it is only very recently that the world is beginning to recognize the power of artists to influence positive and lasting change.

With a president who embraces the arts, a dynamic new chair of the National Endowment for the Arts and an emergence of new training programs at recognized colleges and universities, the public is becoming aware that through the unique and special skill sets possessed by artists in all genres, opportunities exist to creatively and collaboratively generate new ideas and build consensus.  In this way, problems are addressed with sensitivity and ingenuity.  Sustainable solutions are put in place.   Ideas are animated locally and globally.  Society awakens.

Looking at the history of the Renaissance era,  it was a time of great social, political and religious upheaval just as exists today.  It was perhaps best known, however, as a cultural movement, an era of great artistic achievement and intellectual transformation.  It was a period were great thinkers and artists put forth novel, natural, holistic, rational and humanistic thoughts.  There was, for many, a fusion of thought between artists and scientists.  And perhaps, most significantly, outstanding artists were recognized, supported and sought after for their particular genius.

The Renaissance era was propelled by the invention of the printing press which afforded the ability to share ideas globally and adapt them for local circumstances.  Currently, as the information highway grows more sophisticated daily and social networking allows for rapid viral spread of ideas, we are afforded unlimited opportunity to pinpoint need and creatively engage in solution building.

No matter what one’s definition of the Renaissance era or one’s view of its affect on world history, one thing is certain-artists were considered leaders and the output of their crafts was tied to the economy.  This, I believe, is exactly where the global push for innovation places the value of artists in current society.

In coming weeks, “Monday Matters” will focus on additional training resources which are available.  There will be a spotlight on successful strategies and best practices. We will explore areas in which artist influence is needed and opportunities for affordable housing and “live where you work” possibilities exist.

For the moment, I would like to share some information for your perusal and consideration.

–For those who are interested in learning more about how to build cultural capital, I highly recommend the series of affordable, online courses offered through Arts Builds Communities, a function of the Bloustein School of Planning and Public Policy at Rutgers University. There is still time to register for courses which start this month.  One may take a course simply for edification or to work towards certification as a planner.  These highly accessible courses are lead by outstanding cultural community scholars and practitioners and are designed for diverse levels of experience with a  focus on interactive participation.  Please take a minute to look at the online catalog.

–If you have not recently looked at the exciting new initiatives which are being promoted by the National Endowment for the Arts, you may wish to check this out. Many opportunities exist for your examination and  involvement.  In addition to the current projects, you will find details on publications, grants, the latest arts news, resources, NEA pod and webcasts and more.

Happy New Year! Happy New Decade!  Carpe Diem, fellow artists!

Monday Matters — Look what the Arts Can Do for Communities

From the last Monday Matters posting, several people have asked for recent examples of places where the arts have been responsible for growing cultural capital .  I’ve chosen to highlight three such cities for which the arts or artists have served as catalysts to spawn economic development.

Durham, NC –  Magnetizing through planning and architectural design

When I was growing up in NC, my family did not often make a trip to nearby Durham.  We would usually go instead to Chapel Hill or Raleigh, two towns which sort of “bookend” Durham on either side.  On occasion, there would be some function at Duke which we would attend, but I don’t recall that we ever went to downtown Durham to eat or shop.  By the time I was in college, the downtown area had become a dangerous place and the the racially charged city was plagued with problems.

Recently, I visited my dear friend, Stephen Barefoot, a long time Durham resident.  Stephen was eager to take me on a tour of  “new” Durham.  We parked in a very nice parking deck and followed the breezeway to The American Tobacco Complex.  I could hardly believe my eyes.  The old tobacco factory has been completely re-purposed into an architectural wonder of cascading and winding waterfalls created from materials from some of the demolished factory buildings.  Both sides of the falls are lined with shops, businesses, restaurants and the sidewalks were teeming with diverse people of all ages.  The old water tower remains in place and serves as a lighting scaffold for an outdoor stage built underneath.  A few steps away on the ATC campus is the fine new Durham Bulls Stadium,  the Judicial Center and the magnificent Durham Performing Center (DPAC).

The other two tobacco companies are also being re-purposed.  One of the factories has been turned into a huge complex of artist studios, arts shops and galleries. Even the old bus station has been transformed into a “go to” destination.

Durham serves as a shining example of extraordinary architectural design and community cultural planning.   Ask Woody Holliman why he moved his graphics design firm, Firewheel, into downtown Durham, and the answer comes easily.”I heard about the other creative firms coming down here — architect firms, ad agencies — and this seemed like the place to be,” said Holliman.  Read more.

Detroit, MI – Oh, what a couple of artists can do!

It’s not very hard to remember what was happening in Detroit in 2009.  The auto industry had gone bust.  City leaders were embroiled in headline making corruption charges.  And,  in a place already plagued by years of poverty, the statistics on foreclosures were devastating.  For most, the confluence of dreadful circumstances created a hopeless scene.

Not so for local couple,  Mitch Cope and Gina Reichert, both artists, who decided to take a chance and buy a house for $1900.  The interior had been vandalized and gutted and rather than turn away, Mitch and Gina viewed this as an opportunity.  They were able to envision a “green” home optimized for solar living and along with another purchase of two adjacent lots, began to imagine a self-sustaining scenario.

Once they began recreating, they bought another house in the area for $500 and immediately sold it for $50 dollar profit to two other artist friends.  Four friends pooled $6000 and bought the abandoned Burton Theatre.  They turned it into an art house for independent and foreign films, and the city  responded by turning the street lights back on.  And then, there was another and another and soon an entire neighborhood of East Detroit was beginning to be transformed.  For artists, here existed a wide swath of affordable housing and business opportunities.  Each project was treated as a blank canvas upon which they could draw their dreams.  For a desperate city, this has become an inspiring example of artist ingenuity that directly engenders economic growth.  Look at five ideas from Detroit.

South Orange, NJ – Economic Bust or Boom?

The two towns of South Orange and Maplewood have long been a magnet for artists who consider New York to be their employment base.  Known for its diverse and erudite population, charming neighborhoods, an excellent shared school system and ease of commutation to the city,  “SOMA” is a beehive of cultural combustion.

Several years ago, plans were put in place to build a new performing art center adjacent to the train station in South Orange.  For many, this seemed like an ill-advised plan.  After all, South Orange is a mere 12 miles west of the cultural capital of the world.  If that weren’t enough, the glorious NJ Performing Arts Center had a few years earlier risen like a beacon to revitalize adjacent Newark.

In the years since it was built,  for the above and a variety of other reasons, SOPAC has never really experienced financial health.  But, in taking a closer look , has it been an economic failure?  Where for years, downtown South Orange was a “ho-hum” area with a few of decent restaurants, a popular pizza place and essential service shops—altogether convenient. Since the arrival of SOPAC, it has become a destination.  Almost as soon as it was built, the immediate surrounding storefronts were upgraded, renewed or found new management.  Great new entertainment-centric restaurants were built.  An outdated grocery store was replaced by a gourmet grocer and a new high-rise condominium.   The adjacent parking area offers easy accessibility to the whole downtown area.

For commuters, services are now steps away and at the end of the day, the family can meet and enjoy a variety of activities at any point around the train station.  Upgrades and expansion in the immediate area continue unabated.  So while the arts center itself may still be finding its legs, it has proven to be an enormous boost for the local economy.

Perhaps there is a savior on the horizon. One of the newest enterprises at SOPAC is created by artists, Charlie Pollock, Jeremy Dobrish and Sandy Rustin.  Because of the ever increasing number of local theatre folk, Mid-Town Direct Repertory Theatre offers an ensemble of Broadway craftspersons presenting new musicals.  Will South Orange be the new place of out-of-town try-outs?   The NY Times article on Mid-Town Direct Rep.



Professional Theatre in Staten Island

I’m so delighted to have the opportunity to participate in and support the emerging professional theatre company in Staten Island.  The Harbor Lights Theater Company is a vision of New York theatre veterans Tamara Jenkins and Jay Montgomery.  In residence at the historically rich Snug Harbor Cultural Center, Tamara and Jay and their team have set a high bar to bring exceptional theatre to the Island.  It is a delight for me to play the mother in their lovely production of “Amahl and the Night Visitors.”  Do join us if you can, visit the center, and enjoy this heartwarming chamber opera, a sweet story of faith and redemption.  http://www.theharborlightstheatercompany.org/