life-altering work of musicians like the Beatles, the power of
poets like Maya Angelou, and artists like Picasso who helped
us see the world differently. Imagination was the gift they
possessed. We believe Sedona is a palpable source of inspira-
tion and imagination. As creative people living in Sedona,
we know this to be true. Now through the Collaborative we
wish to share our discovery with others.
We want our city to inspire all kinds of creative energy.
Sedona already has a beautiful a state-of-the-art Performing
Arts Center that seats up to 800 people and hosts a vari-
ety of programs. We are hoping to expand and enrich the
programming throughout the year to serve our community
and beyond. The Sedona Arts Center and private individuals
offer an array of artistic opportunities well worth explor-
ing. There are also residency programs for artists that enable
them to stay in Sedona and study with world renowned
teachers. Clearly Sedona already is a city animated by the
arts and the lively energy that comes from that support.
Sedona is also an International City of Peace. It is pretty
hard to go wrong when you have peace and art in your cor-
ner. Peace has been my mission as an artist for the last 40
years. Who you help along the way is what counts. But most
of all I have discovered that when you are doing something
you love, you are at peace. When you are doing something
you love, you contribute to peace on earth. The vibration
you are putting out is one of love, peace and contentment.
Actually when we do something we love, no body is left out.
We have many bodies other than our physical body. We
have an emotional body, a dream body, an ethereal body, a
mental body, an astral body and even more. When we are
being creative, every “body” is taken care of.
At the Sedona Culture Collaborative, we want to contrib-
ute to that feeling of peace by offering this special city as a
catalyst for positive change. We can help create peace through
the arts and possibly effect social change with our projects. To
that end we encourage all artists, whether painters, potters,
musicians, weavers, dancers, singers or artists of any genre to
participate in making Sedona a true center for the arts. We are
looking forward to more community gatherings where we
can all communicate our needs and desires. It will truly take
our entire community together to create this vision and you
are warmly encouraged to be part this exciting endeavor.
Visit Andrea Smith at www.andreasmithgallery.com. For more informa-
tion about the Sedona Culture Collaborative, contact Rob Adams at
928.639.3503 or www.sedonacollaborative.com.
34 IMAGINE l Spring 2017
PEACE S IG N S
The Arts, Artists and Activism
by dawn S tattuck
A
round the world artist-based creativity and activ-
ism have become key forces in social issue aware-
ness and progress. Some of the most tragic periods
in history have produced powerful expressive works of art
through painting, dance, theatre, music, writing, etc. Artists
utilize the power of art to disrupt the status quo and some-
times help us find the common ground necessary to tran-
scend social injustices. Often these works serve as a vital
bridge between various groups, cultures and countries.
Not only do creative works inspire us to move beyond
our day-to-day existence but also remind us to challenge
current thinking and be open to new ways of resolving
social and political challenges. Artistic expression by design
teaches us to become more aware, to look closer, to wit-
ness, to be less myopic and more open and responsive to our
world. Creative activism can also challenge us to go deeper;
to examine more closely why we believe what we believe.
Artist activists work to provoke and enlighten simul-
taneously. At times they have become our collective social
action voice, opening new levels of consciousness while
fostering creative thinking and greater compassion for each
other. These actions in turn provide an impetus, strength
and support for confronting social and political issues.
Through their work they can demonstrate a vision of what
is possible for humanity—think communities built on inclu-
Art installation with life jackets brings attention to the refugee crisis, by
Chinese artist Ai Weiwei at the Gedarnenmarkt in Berlin, February 2016.