Author Description

From the beginning, Lehigh Valley Vanguard has been a political publication with deep ties to the arts community. If not overtly political, the act of creating art certainly subverts the working class paradigm. In a neoliberal society, the job you do to earn money is supposed to (and truly can) encompass all of life. To be working class and decide to create art is radical because you are expected to be a peon who only thinks about your "professional" life. The artists in our communities have chosen to embrace their ability to create. This collection is dedicated to exploring that choice. Creating over consuming is a step in the direction of resistance. We live a short life and we have to start believing what we do matters. A line from William Black comes to mind, "We were placed here on Earth with little space to bear the beams of love." Art is that labor. We should reflect artisan craftsmanship in everything we do. The collection begins with its namesake "Art and Existence" by Richard Morris, a speculative essay on the life of the creative person. Mark Blasini delves into the concept of art as life in "What it Means to be an Artist: a Dreamer's Manifesto." Doug Roysdon brings out the need to recognize value in arts communities, especially local ones, in "The Regional Arts." To close out the collection, as a form of art appreciation, you'll read reviews by myself, Ryan Scacci, and Ann E. Michael. The arts will always prove essential to political movements. It's up to all of us to support them, nurture them...even just notice them. And to see the artisan within all of us.