role of art

If truly creative, art is radical.

Art upends institutions and challenges us to examine the very fabric of our being, our society. We are loosened.

We must re-member ourselves and our reason for living, what greater purpose beyond the tactics of greed, what measurement of a timeless nature, what pattern of the gods.

“Rain/Rubble”, demo excerpt of pianos from Aberfan. Life forever altered. Rain and rubble forever bound.

Laura Siersema is composer of Aberfan (7 pianos, voice and tools of rescue), a sponsored project of New York Foundation for the Arts (NYFA), a 501(c)(3), tax-exempt organization. All donations are tax deductible. Your contribution ensures we can return to the studio to complete its recording.

Photo from AP Archives , the graves of Aberfan, October 27, 1966.

“The poet, the artist, the musician, continues the quiet work of centuries, building bridges of experience between peoples…reminding man of the universality of his feelings, desires and despairs… thus, art is political in the most profound sense, not as a weapon in the struggle, but an instrument of understanding of the futility of struggle…” President John F. Kennedy

Remarks on Behalf of the National Cultural Center, 29 November 1962: https://www.jfklibrary.org/Asset-Viewer/Archives/JFKWHA-145-008.aspx

Words of such insight and beauty for anyone, yet especially to those of us who happen to be creative artists, and of necessity, work alone.

My deep appreciation to Kelly Bennett and Dan Blask at Massachusetts Cultural Council for posting this link.

Laura Siersema is composer of Aberfan (7 pianos, voice and tools of rescue), a sponsored project of New York Foundation for the Arts (NYFA), a 501(c)(3), tax-exempt organization. All donations are tax deductible. Your contribution ensures we can return to the studio to complete its recording.