9: Art Isn’t Just Decoration—Cultural Organizing is Democracy’s Secret Weapon

Episode 9: Erik Takeshita - Creative People PowerDear Listener: In this podcast Erik describes agency and connection as essential elements for emergence of creative people power. If you are interested in exploring this idea further here are two resources that might be of interest.Creative People Power Web Site & Report @ Springboard for the ArtsSmall Towns, Big Stories: Arts-based Community Development Makes its Mark in Southwest Minnesota - A Center for the Study of Art and Community Blog PostThreshold Questions & Juicy QuotesWhat do the challenges inherent to equitable philanthropy, light rail construction and the sanctity of sacred space have in common?Art and Culture exists everywhere... it needs to be be nurtured. You know, there is solar power, because the sun exists, or there is wind power because the wind exists. And what we need to do is create the capacity to harness and transmit that (cultural) power that exists. Why art and culture in these challenging times?I would say that art and culture is... most essential when we as individuals, and we as communities are struggling, because it's actually part of what makes us human. It's part of what creates our connections to our humanity, but also our connections to one another. But it's it can be the kind of glue that can help bind this together and common experience and inspiration and ideas. How do human creative capacities contribute to building caring, capable, just communitiesWhen people have hope, and agency, and they have connections, that can then lead to collective efficacy, That's a kind of a necessary underpinning for me about how change happens in communities. And what's interesting to me is that art and culture becomes an easy on ramp for this, it becomes a way to practice some of those skills. it becomes a way to help give people a sense of agency and a sense of hope. TranscriptBill Cleveland: So, what do the challenges inherent to equitable philanthropy, light rail construction and the sanctity of sacred space have in common? Well, according to Eric Takeshita, they all meet in a place he refers to as creative people power. Now, Eric is one of those rare individuals who make an impression and a difference by calling upon both the head and the heart. I spoke to him about his life's path in early 2020, just before the COVID justice/stew began to boil over. From the Center for the Study of Art and Community, this is Change the Story, Change the World, a chronicle of art and transformation. I'm Bill Cleveland.Part One: Shoulders, and Ladders. BC: You are the first person that I have ever seen use one of those back scratchers. Yeah. Erik Takeshita: Oh yeah, I love these. I have one here on my desk, I use it all the time.BC: That is wonderful. That is ET: I have two, I have one here and one upstairs.BC: There you go. Okay, a true addiction. So, I'll just start. You've had a long and a storied career in a world that spans many realms, some of which don't normally come together, our community development, storytelling, art making being a potter. So, I'm just going to ask, how do you describe what you do in the world? ET: I’ll try to answer your question by naming what...

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