Speech Given to the Cape Cod and Islands Art Educators Association (CCIAEA) at the Closing Reception of Art Teacher Art: 20 Years of the CCIAEA

As Lenin once said, there are decades where nothing happens.  And there are weeks where decades happen.  I propose that our culture is at a crossroads and the present moment is one in which we are facing dramatic environmental, political, cultural and hegemonic change.  

         Evidence of our drastically changing times can be found everywhere, from the daily weather to declining housing affordability rates to endless acts of brutality both nationally and abroad.  It feels that we are in an era of decline. 

         Do not regress to a state of petrification.  The time for action in the arts has never been more paramount.  

         We have a gift and a curse which is our country's rhetoric of "freedom of creative expression" which has enabled my speech today but also enables fantasy versions of world events.  Remember your history books, remember the USS Maine, yellow journalism, Hearst's newspaper misfeeding that enabled the Spanish-American War on false pretenses.  Remember how the New York Times buried their own false apology on page whatever after misreporting weapons of mass destruction in Iraq.  "Freedom of creative expression" and the right for art to be anything, say anything, do anything, can be used as a Jedi mind trick to lie, manipulate, coerce and even traumatize our youth into misogyny, racism and resentful, bitter, hurt fascism.   

         Make no mistake my Cape Cod community.  The honor of president is a title I take great pride in and I do not take the title lightly.  And I will give you all no false illusions.

We are at war to win the hearts and the minds of the youth. Our handmade stuffed felt animals battle against mass produced, mass advertised cheap pieces of plastic, created on the other side of the planet for its exploitative labor. 

It is of the utmost importance that you all continue to make art that is in opposition to the status quo and all of its contradictions.  The status quo is currently destroying man and earth at an alarming rate.

If you feel you are powerless, remember Martin Luther's 1517 98 Thesis and how a piece of paper on a door changed the world.  And remember Martin Luther King saying "I have a dream". These are mere words.  Think about what we can do with felt.  Paint. Clay. Film. Fiber.

Until Victory, Always.