The Everyday Work of Art

This week we are back to the ordinary, everyday business of SFGC – rehearsals, theory lessons, voice lessons, Prep Chorus, Opera girls, Alumnae Chorus, wardrobe fittings, and even an 8:00am concert for a convention of Canadian contractors. To keep the big engine humming along we also have a busy schedule of planning fundraising events, meeting potential donors, holding board meetings, accounts payable and receivable, budget forecasting, creating and sending marketing materials, selling concert tickets, maintaining our facilities, contracting new tenants, and (hopefully) keeping our long-term tenants happy.

 

A lot of people are surprised by the scope of our operation. What I like to point out is that all the activities listed above just keep us going every day. The visionary work of developing creative plans (and business plans to support them) for next year and the next 30 years doesn’t happen every day. While the visionary stuff is the kind of work I truly love, it isn’t possible unless the engine that will take us there is in good repair and humming along. Organizational mechanics are the science and art of my everyday work.  

 

Several years ago, the actor, author and arts educator Eric Booth wrote a book called The Everyday Work of Art. Essentially, Booth asks that all of us seek beauty and “make an art” out of everything we do. His philosophy follows the principles of the late 19^th century Arts and Crafts movement, which provided the impetus for schools and ateliers for young women artists, like the Newcomb pottery school at Newcomb College in Louisiana. If you’ve ever watched Antiques Roadshow, you may have seen an example of this exquisite pottery, crafted by young women.

 

So, this week as we perform our daily, ordinary tasks, I hope to do so as artfully as possible. This is what life is about. In watching the new Ken Burns series on PBS about the National Parks the other night, I was struck by a quote from John Muir, who said we “need beauty as much as we need bread.” This too is what life is about. SFGC is about shaping and developing the creation of great musical art by and for young women. And all of us who support this work, one day or every day, are part of that creation too.