Creative Corp: Far South, Border North recognizing that Artists are Essential to a Civil Society.

 by Patricia Frischer

Debby Kline with assistance of her loyal husband Larry were present to show their video on democracy featuring  Eleanor Antin and encourage everyone to register to vote. One of these towers had slots to collect wishes and were digitally printed enabling them to be easily transported and altered for variations. The Klines make subjects about economic injustice, the voting process, the erosion of civil liberties and the confusion of war, more palatable by engaging viewers in unexpected ways.

During the pandemic, it was recognized that it was individual artists that needed help. Two SD City programs  described by Jonathon Glus (City of SD Commission for Arts and Culture ED) Park Social (for programming safely outside) and SD Practice (the city buying more art directly from artist) could only go so far. So when the state funded the Creative Corp for $60M to put artists back to work, the counties of San Diego and Imperial together, were given $5 million for the project they decided to call Far South, Border North. The Prebys Foundation stepped up and contributed another $1.4 million. It was hoped that these funds given from California Arts Council (Danielle Brazell the executive director) would be used for  pilot projects leading to more sustainable employment.

Jonathon Glus

The job was to administering the grants with the help of  a ecosystem or resources. Christine Jones from the City of San Diego Commission for Arts and Culture and Felicia Shaw  at SD Art Matters worked with  Megan Thomas of Catalyst.  They looked for  job creator,  communication creators, change makers, community collectors. They wanted artists that were already doing the work for projects based in the proper Healthy Places Index locations. They funded 60 artists in the first phase and another 18 organization in the second phase. Imperial County got 25% of the funds and SD the rest. The second phases is not finished yet and all the results data is not yet tabulated.

The goal was to use the mountain top of highly skilled artists to help catalyze the whole community of arts and culture workers. This was to be done through collaboration and partnership. Being paid was a way to liberate artists from the everyday worries of money and at the same time confirm their value. Hubs of help were set up to aid in every aspect of making the artists successful. And that success had to have defined, measurable goals. The higher vision was to demonstrate what it means to come together with public and private partnership to create more impact that a solo artist could on their own.

The Day of Impact on Thursday, Sept 19 at the Museum of Photographic Arts @ SDMA and the Mingei International Museum, was a check in point to demonstrate progress in some cases and as a gesture of closure for others.  We heard from more than a dozen artists who had prepared slides shows and videos as well as additional artists who had set up tables in the Mingei lobby.

Each one had at least one benefit they brought to public awareness. These ranged from issues about  climate change, to mental health, to nutritious eating, to air and water quality, to social justice, diversity, equality, inclusion, to democracy, heritage, and agriculture. Just a very few more are featured below. 

Berenice Badillo - I made cancer my bitch

Cathlyn Choi, Food for Life, youth health and wellness through culinary arts 

Fernando "Fro" Reza - creating the false reality of Imperial Valley as a nocturnal city  

Amanda Turruella and Seth Gadsden Media Art Center Connected Voces gave stipend to students to make films of their stories. 

But it was really the creativity of delivery methods that set each project apart. There were art exhibitions, play performances, puppets, and talking graphic novels.  There were coloring books, candles, poetry readings, murals, panel discussions, podcasts, and videos. There were swap meets and fantasy nocturnal festivals, There was comedy and drama, portraits and abstracts. There was raw emotion and refined rapping. There was immersive singing and badges and zines and interviews. There were period costumes and fashion shows. There were community quilts and role-playing games. There were public places and safe spaces. There was the discomfort of not knowing and the lesson learned.

Favorite quote of the day - Betty Bangs, “I don’t have to use the fucking cheap supplies from the 99 cent store. I can buy the good stuff for my team for once. “

Neil Kendricks diverse portraits in his talking comic book. QR codes on every page allow you to listen to the stories. 

Thanks to Ramel Wallace for keeping us entertained and inspired
and to all the moderators and the panelist.