Over the past couple of weeks, I paid attention to those individuals and groups who are in a position to promote the visual arts in Charlottesville and decided whether or not they are actively making this town the "cultural and creative capital of Central Virginia" like it says it is. I named people either a DaVinci or a Velvet Elvis based on their performance. Congratulations to the DaVincis. And here’s to hoping the Velvet Elvises start doing a better job. The winners and losers are:
DaVinci – Beryl Solla, Elizabeth Breeden, Rob Tarbell, Maggie Guggenheimer, Dave Simpson
Velvet Elvis – University of Virginia Art Museum, Charlottesville City Council, Pinkie and cvilleMUSE
So, as I bring this ceremony to an end, I ask… Do you brag about how much art there is in Charlottesville? Do you believe you live in one of the coolest, grooviest, hippest and artsiest towns in the country? Do you consider yourself an arts supporter? A fan of the visual arts? Does your participation in the local art scene include more than gallery hopping the first Friday of each month and drinking free wine and eating free cheese? What have you done lately in support of Charlottesville’s visual arts? In other words… Are you a DaVinci or a Velvet Elvis?
It takes more than just saying Charlottesville is the "cultural and creative capital of Central Virginia" for it to be true. It takes action from a wide range of people and groups. From some we expect it, and from others it surprises us. Ultimately, I hope we all understand that for Charlottesville to be a true "arts town," it takes a lot more than just calling it one.
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