While not knowing precisely how to define it, I certainly know it when I see it.
Art — true art — creates within us a stirring of emotions. Whether the emotions are positive, negative, or a combination of the two, art without an emotional response is not really art.
I want to applaud Ms. Browning and her drama students for bringing art to the stage of The Dalles High School. I witnessed this gift of art while watching the joy expressed by each and every member of the cast as well as the behind-the-scenes tech crew during rehearsals and performances of their spring musical.
Joy and laughter and avid motivation? From 'high-schoolers'? Miraculous. Art.
There are plenty (and more than plenty) of venues for small children, medium children, middle-aged adults, and the elderly here in our little berg.
What seems to be lacking are venues that appeal, include, and culturally entertain our young adults.
Offering “The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee” is the first time in a long time that we have had a theater experience commensurate with the humor, wit, and ability of our young-adult actors.
Imagine how taken aback I am that Ms Scott characterized our children's theater offering as "appalling,” "low class,” and "filthy.”
This is their hard work, their joy, their c-r-a-f-t, and by extension she called them, (these kids she is so concerned with 'protecting'), she called them appalling, low class, and filthy.
I want to personally thank Ms Browning, Mr Nelson, and our district powers-that-be for allowing our high school drama department to embrace art.
Because any way you slice it, such strong emotion, positive, negative, or a combination of the two, means our young and young-adult people have a chance to experience real true A-R-T.
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