March 2024 Guitar Newsletter : The Power Of Art To Draw People Together

Art has an amazing power to draw people together.  Film makers, event organizers, visual artists and musicians are striving for their individual best, but during this process something separate is also taking place:  the building of relationships between people that otherwise might not cross paths. Two weeks ago, I played at the Iowa City FilmScene where 3 very short films premiered about efforts to foster solidarity in Iowa City neighborhoods.  Topics included soccer for youth, people gathering in dialogue about neighborhood issues and implementing art/murals to beautify residences.  The annual Longfellow Front Porch Music Festival, which happens in my neck of the woods, was also featured.  To my surprise, for a brief moment on the screen, there was a shot of my son watching me perform with my new band  in our garden!  That event bore much fruit including our debut, reconnecting with local musicians and picking up new guitar students who live within walking distance.