Beyond Individualism in the Arts

I propose that there is a direct correlation between the precarious state of our cultural pattern and the role that artists and art educators assume in our society. I hope to demonstrate that the near fatal deficit of our culture is its undue esteem of individualism over the community--of private gain over the public good, and that the artist and art teacher reflect these same social values. I wish to demonstrate that artist need not assume the role of estranged other and fierce individualist in order to exercise their powers of imagination and craft, but may put these resources toward the construction of a society that is in harmonious relation with its environment. Finally, I hope to show that the artist can play a central role in society - not as society presently is, but in the construction of a more just and harmonious civilization towards which we must evolve