Try It, You'll LIKE it!!

Yesterday was National Arts Advocacy Day in Washington, DC and about 20 New Jerseyans joined over 300 other arts advocates to learn more about pending legislation regarding the National Endowment for the Arts, National Endowment for the Humanities, Institute of Museum and Library Services, Arts Education funding in the Department of Education, and tax law that affect artists donating art and charitable giving to the arts.

It's a lot to take in. How did the NEA get that $5 million increase last year, and why wasn't it a full $5 million by the time all the money was counted? Why can't artists donate artwork to museums while they are alive and take a tax deduction for the full market value of their work? And how does that affect museum acquisitions?

Why is it that the President has NOT included arts education funding in the Department of Education budget and it takes the Senate (not the House) to get the money included back in the budget?

All of these questions and more are answered in great detail by Americans for the Arts staffers and experts in the field. Training is provided and bill numbers get memorized (for the most part) before arts lobbyists are set free to walk the walk up and down Capitol Hill along with those in white coats, those in wheelchairs, and Moms pushing strollers down halls lined with photos of our servicemen who have lost their lives in the ongoing war in Iraq.

If you've never participated, it's really worth the experience. It's a real leap of faith to explain your issue to someone (legislative aide) who may be half your age (or younger!) and trust that the information really gets to your congressional representative--their boss! And it reminds you of the diligence and tenacity of youth--these young people work their you know what off, and gain great skill in not only listening but handling themselves in front of people who may or may not be diplomatic while expressing a dissenting viewpoint.

Our NJ group was terrific and eager to share stories about their individual arts groups. While the NEA budget may take decades to return to where federal funding should be, members of our group can look fondly back on days like yesterday where they made a difference by telling our elected officials that the arts really DO matter not only to them, but to everyone touched by the services and experiences that they provide everyday.

Self Portraits Chronicle Alzheimer's Ravages

Today's Star Ledger featured an absolutely fascinating Associated Press story on Page 3 about a Philadelphia artist, William Utermohlen, who has documented the progression of his Alzheimer's Disease by self portraits over time.

The College of Physicians of Philadelphia is featuring an exhibit of Mr. Utermohlen's work from the time he was diagnosed with Alzheimer's Disease in 1995 to his last attempt in 1999-2000. This exhibit of more than a dozen portraits commemorate the artist's life and the centenary of the discovery of the disease.

The artist is still alive in a London nursing home but has lost his ability to communicate. The artist knew in his later works that his renderings became spatially inaccurate, but he did not know how to fix them. Researchers are finding this work valuable not only to help understand how different parts of the brain are usied in creating art. It is also valuable to understand that the artist still had the desire to create as the disease progressed, despite the loss of skills.

For more information, here is the link to the article. The Star Ledger story includes 2 photos.
http://www.nj.com/news/ledger/index.ssf?/base/news-5/114197369449770.xml&coll=1