A passion of mine is art… no kidding you say. Anyone making a living in a creative profession knows that there is more to art than most people realize. Creativity plays a huge role in our everyday lives. It’s impossible for anyone to function in today’s world without the help from artists. Try it, you can’t. It’s a fact. After getting out of the bed that was designed and made by creative people, try not to use a toothbrush that was designed by an industrial designer. Don’t wear the clothes that cover your body that was design and made by artists. Don’t watch your TV, your TV shows, or listen to music… Do I need to go on? What’s the difference between that hot Mercedes and a K-Car? You have three guesses and the first two don’t count.

Why am I rambling about art? What does it have to do about my quote? I have been donating my time to helping start up an Arts Advocacy Council in my school district. It was initiated by a wonderful art teacher in the elementary school who is concerned about the curriculum. We want to help the district to understand the importance of art in the education of our children. It’s the difference between right-brain and left-brain thinking. Up until this point in our educational approach, left-brain aptitude has been encouraged. It has done us well for a century or so, but we are entering a critical point in our countries history where a new way of thinking is important. Author Daniel Pink writes about "A Whole New Mind ". Our old ways of doing business are going away. Those who refuse to recognize this will be left behind. This is the foundation of what our group wants to say.

Art is as important in our child’s development as sports. They both teach important lessons. I would venture to say that there are a higher percentage of students turning to a profession in a creative field, than there are in the sports field; so why the imbalance?

Now you’re saying "What about the quote?" Well I was quoted in an article in the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette that was about our council’s efforts. It’s in the month of August. I was surprised to even see me in the article, let alone making the "They said it in 2008 " article on New Years Eve 2008.

I hope it is a small step towards our group getting noticed, and educating the district in our cause.

A little art is not enough.