Have you ever considered the fact that the humans are the only species which actively and consciously creates art? Maybe that doesn’t seem like a big deal, until you stop to think about it for a moment. On the one hand it would be easy to say that the world would be just fine without the humans’ art, but then again, would it? We see beauty in nature all around us and then try to emulate beauty in art; we see danger in the world and we then try to emulate it in our art; we see questions in nature and then we try to emulate it in our art.

What is your art going to do today?

Because we said we would, it was part of the deal to keep Art Alley legal (remember the big meeting at The Dahl in 2013?) and because it's not too much to ask.  Art Alley is not a park, and it is not something anyone is entitled to have. It will not exist unless everyone approaches it
without an attitude of entitlement. Those are not your buildings you are painting on! Everywhere else in town painting on other people's buildings is illegal, and all that the building owners (and businesses which occupy them) have asked is that there is a bit more order - and less "no
rules" chaos - at the core of Art Alley. We came up with the "Art  Alley Artist Guild" concept and that pleases them, provided it works. The Art Alley Artist Guild needs to exist because Art Alley only works when people do more than just "take" and actually "give" back to Art Alley.

We "Take" from Art Alley every time we paint on a wall (remember, unless you  own the building, it's not your building you are painting on without worrying about getting arrested). It doesn’t matter how good or bad it is, both are a “take” (if having art painting on a building was such a great idea, every single building in town would have a painting on it . . .  they don‘t).  

We "Give" to Art Alley when we put the needs of Art Alley ahead of our own  needs. When we put the needs of Art Alley before our own, it stands the chance  to become sustainable and to exist far into the future. It's a worthy endeavor:  that which we do for ourselves dies with us, but that which we do for  others lives on. That’s why the Art Alley Artist Guild is not about self, but rather provides an opportunity to show that people can create something that lives beyond those who are involved right now, and leave something that will be there for those who will come up the path after us (if we can do this right, Art Alley will exist for people who are not even born yet),  and that would be amazing! Your art isn’t enough, there has to be dedication to Art Alley that exists beyond the art (that's not our rule but it is The Rule).The Art Alley Artist Guild exists because chaos does not  achieve predictable results, and rarely are the results desired (we've seen that before and it didn't work out well). Art Alley has never existed without the
people involved being dedicated to it, and who could see its purpose beyond their own desires. That is what will create a sustainable Art Alley. Viva la Art Alley 2.0!


　

  #artalley #artalleyartistguild #socialrevolution #artalley2.0
#vivalaartalley2.0

The Guild is where Art Alley and responsibility come together. The Guild is  about showing up for more than just the fun because that's what makes Art Alley work. The Guild is everyone in Art Alley, the Guild is you. The Guild is opportunity to work toward a better Art Alley (better than the past few years have been), and creating a sustainable Art Alley that will be here for those coming up the path after us (there is no guarantee that Art Alley will stay Art Alley, it's up to you). Art Alley has always needed a core group of responsible people who will take leadership, and do more than simply create art in Art Alley (creating art is not enough, and creating "art" in Art Alley without being a responsible member of the Guild actually hurts the alley). The Guild concept - if it works - will be proof that Art Alley can work (otherwise Art Alley will slowly die). It is about responsible people who will give their time to Art Alley (and not just use Art Alley as something they believe they are entitled to - no one is except the building and business owners) The Guild is the opportunity for those who are leaders to actually lead and make a positive change in our community. The Guild is about showing up and doing things beyond the art. The Guild is about showing up on Fridays, having some coffee and talking about things. The Art Alley Artist Guild is an opportunity to show your stuff. Viva la Art Alley Artist Guild!

Do it better, do it old school, do it the way Art Alley started, do it  spectacular. Create art in the alley, take leadership in the Art Alley Artist Guild, know the building and business owners, speak with them, be courteous and polite. Help them. See the movement that is being created and do things that will help that grow and last. Come into the Alley with a plan, have supplies, finish your work,
don't take away but rather add, don't scribble, that's not very good art. Do a better job than you did last time and plan on doing an even better job next time. Pick something up, throw something away, leave it cleaner than you found it, be responsible. Learn from those who do it better than you and teach those who you do it better than. Learn respect, show respect, teach respect, share respect. Remember that the consequences of what you do affect everyone, be careful with that.  Help create a culture by talking about what works and what doesn't work, distribute the competence, share the information. Don't think the Alley is a free-fire zone because it isn't. Viva la Art Alley 2.0!!

Because humans have always strived for better. Because humans have always wondered "What if?" and tried to create something from nothing, beauty from ugliness, order from disorder, harmony from disharmony. Humans are the only animal that always wants more, but knows that more isn't always better, and rarely is it enough. Because Art Alley hasn't always worked, but it also has. Because Art Alley breaks the rules, it says humans can, in a place and time where humans often have shown that they can't. Because maybe, just maybe it is possible to create a "No Rules," 24 hour a day art gallery outdoors on other people's buildings in the center of a small town
in Western South Dakota that goes against convention yet is full of creativity and flourishes with all sides working together so that it survives and exists for those who will be here after us. Because maybe that is the point. Viva La Art Alley 2.0!!

Art Alley 2.0 is the future. It is about everyone who is an artist and  everyone who thinks they are not. It is a 21st Century, social revolution. It's about integrity, character, honesty and the responsibility we have to each other
and our community to make things better. It is about working together and doing things differently, approaching the world as the artist sees it. It is about
better questions and better solutions. It is about reaching for the good, and understanding that with that comes the bad. It is about figuring out how to turn the bad into good. It is about leaving the world a better place than it was left to us. It is about all those things that Art Alley can possibly bring to our community, and working together to see that we achieve them. Viva la Art Alley 2.0!!