PUBLISHED ARTICLES AND LETTERS
Age appropriate / The Northern Rivers Echo, August 12th 2010, Vol. 16 No. 32
Dear Editor
I note recent comments by Melbourne-based photographic artist Bill Henson have once again raised questions about the rights and freedoms of under-aged people. Henson has suggested that children as young as 15 should have the legal right to undergo sex change surgery or pose naked in public.
As a parent and photographic artist who has worked with models aged from 8 years through to 80 years, I find these comments disturbing. I do not believe that any 15 year old has the experience or maturity to make informed decisions about a range of matters. These matters include life-altering activities that are difficult to reverse or erase and which may result in a lifetime of regret.
If we ignore those things that distinguish adulthood from adolescence, we risk exposing young people to activities for which they have not had time to prepare. We risk exposing them to choices that are rightly reserved for age groups with a better chance of dealing with the consequences.
While there are many choices for which young people should be encouraged to take responsibly, at the same time this freedom should not be open ended. Individual freedom, I believe, must be accompanied by individual responsibility. Responsibility (as the word suggests) is the ability to respond appropriately with awareness of the consequences.
In my experience, this ability is something that only comes with age (and even then not always). Part of the problem with Western culture is that young people are often exposed to things for which the brevity of their experience has not prepared them.
For Henson to site activities that sometimes result in injury to children (ie. sport) as an excuse for him to photograph them naked, is something I find unconvincing. Siting activities which sometimes result in harm to children (so therefore they should be allowed to make any harmful decision) is not a logical argument.
I have long spoken out for the right of artists to express themselves. This right however, (like the rights of any member of society) is not open ended. It does not exempt artists from the law nor provide them the freedom to exploit children in ways that are socially unacceptable. Constructing a line of reasoning that gives Mr Henson access to naked children, perhaps says more about Mr Henson than it does about freedom.
R J Poole
Lismore
Consider artists, not just art gallery / The Northern Star, Thursday June 24th 2010
Dear Editor
When Lismore council builds a new art gallery, what will this mean to the average artist? Will the millions spent by the council make a tangible difference to the daily needs of local artisans? Will this spending help artists to acquire the skills and materials they need to create and market their work?
When public money is spent on the arts, many people assume this is good for artists generally. Many imagine that spending twenty million dollars on a gallery 'must' be of benefit to the wider art community - full stop. Over time governments at all levels have spent billions on art galleries, arts councils, art festivals etc. yet despite this investment the average artist was, and still is, amongst the poorest members of the Australian community.
I believe when our council builds an art gallery it will NOT be spending on art per se, rather it will making a capital investment in its own asset base. To the average artist this process will be of no immediate value, except that (on rare occasions) they can book a space with the regional gallery and 'maybe' exhibit their work. For the remaining 99.9% of their life however, the presence of a multi-million dollar art complex down the road will mean nothing in terms of providing them their daily bread!
I believe art is primarily about the people who create it - not the institution of art. It is about helping creative people to gain the skills and materials they require to express themselves (as opposed to housing the finished product). Although the institution of art is convinced it is acting for the higher moral good, in truth it is often acting to secure its own future. In reality, the self-righteous needs of the arts establishment are not necessarily those of the wider art community.
And here's the rub - if the council genuinely wants to stimulate the local economy and encourage the arts, tourism and small business; why is it planning to invest in itself? Why not invest directly in the community instead?
Why not renovate the traditional facades and buildings around Lismore and promote what makes the region unique and different? Rather than following the example of South East Queensland, why not do what SEQ 'should have done' and preserve the original character and environment of the region.
My concern is for artists, aka the primary producers of art. Without artists the arts establishment would not exist. Without artists there would be no arts industry. I believe art is a 'living' thing that should be out in the community in offices and homes. It should be experienced in a living context - not locked away in ugly, mausoleum-like buildings that costs the community an arm and a leg!
Spending millions of dollars on a single gallery, while the majority of local artists live hand to mouth would seem to be wildly out of touch with the real-life needs of the community. Lets make the art of this region about people. Let's invest directly in the living culture of this region and leave the building of mausoleums to the Department of Veteran Affairs.
R J Poole
Lismore
Play the game / Northern Rivers Echo Thursday June 17th 2010 Vol. 16 No. 23
Dear Editor
Australians have a common sporting ethos that says: 'play the ball - not the man'.
This ethos is a reminder that the object of sport is to actually play the game - as opposed to targeting your opponent and taking them out of the match altogether. Targeting the opposing player unfortunately, is not a practice limited only to the sporting field but is used by some to argue their point of view in public forums like 'Letters to the Editor'.
Targeting other contributors to these forums is used by some to distract attention from the issues that have been raised. It is a form of 'mud slinging' intended to devalue the other person's opinion by denigrating them personally and shifting the focus of the debate away from the subject.
Rather than addressing the subject, this tactic is used by certain individuals to 'play the man' and avoid the need for a reasoned response or informed opinion.
In a nutshell, playing the man is a tactic employed by those who lack the skill to do otherwise. Both on or off the field it is a sad and dirty tactic - full stop!
This unfortunate subject has been raised by other concerned writers and I wish to offer my support to these people. If there is to be a public debate on any topic then let that debate focus 'only' upon the topic itself. Let it focus on the matter at hand by addressing the information and arguments provided by each writer.
I believe, it is in the community's best interest that everyone has the opportunity to be heard. Though we may disagree with someone's opinion, this does NOT give us the right to disrespect or criticise them personally.
A point of view is one thing - a put down is entirely another.
R J Poole
Lismore
A question of space / Northern Rivers Echo May 6th 2010, Vol.16 No. 18
Dear Editor
Over the passed twenty-five years I have staged solo exhibitions with several regional galleries and have a first-hand experience of dealing with them as a client. These experiences have revealed the Regional Gallery system to be surprisingly limited and poor at making sales.
Apart from providing me a space in which to exhibit, the Regional Gallery system showed no real interest in my art. On each occasion I took a number, I waited (sometimes for years), I exhibited, and then I took down my show - and that's it. No interest was shown in who I was or what I was trying to express. No on-going support or encouragement was offered by each gallery - just an empty space.
These experiences contrast sharply with my encounter of private galleries and dealers - some of whom are still showing an interest and providing marketing support to me years after exhibiting my work. I believe our Regional Gallery could provide a far better service. It could take an active and on-going interest in the local artists with whom it deals and do far more to promote their presence within the community - particularly in a virtual sense.
In simple terms, I do not believe the current Regional Gallery system is good value for money.
If we are going to spend multiple millions on a new Regional Gallery, I believe it is reasonable for the local art community to expect a good return on such an investment. It is reasonable for local artists to expect a gallery management that is actively interested in its clients and offers more than the occasional empty space - a gallery that has a paypal enabled site and can market works like private galleries do.
If the Lismore community agrees to a new gallery, then some serious questions need to be asked about the level of service this gallery will offer to locals and how much it will reflect the culture of the region. Will the new gallery be designed and built by local architects and trades people? Will the new gallery be managed by a member of the local art community? Will anyone from the local community find full-time employment or (like Norpa) will it be another cultural import?
Will this gallery be devoted primarily to local artists, or will it provide more space and funding to touring exhibitions from outside the region? Will a living local artist be promoted as heavily as a dead one from elsewhere? If the people who live and work in this area cannot have a direct say in the running of their own Regional Gallery, then who should? These are reasonable questions to ask at a time when our local council is poised once more to invest heavily in its own infrastructure.
The alternatives I have suggested are aimed at encouraging a stronger, more independent, 'living' art community throughout this region. They are aimed at supporting this region's reputation as a place of alternate culture as well as the local people who helped create it. Rather than excluding these people from the decision-making process; I am hopeful this council can show greater faith in its own community and capitalise on the sort of thinking that goes on 'outside' of the box.
Before we build the Regional Gallery a very expensive box of its own, perhaps it is timely we review the system itself and how much it will grow the 'region' as opposed to our local council.
R J Poole
Lismore
Another Vision / Northern Rivers Echo April 29th 2010, Vol. 16 No. 17
Dear Editor
If this council is so eager to establish a new Regional Art Gallery then let's talk seriously about some alternatives that are economically viable, support local art and attract visitors to the CBD. Let's engage in a genuine public debate in the local media where everyone can partake and the decision-making process is not concentrated only into one set of hands.
Let's start thinking outside of the box not just about the thing we create, but in the process that leads us there.
What if the Regional Gallery wasn't a gallery space at all, but a community of spaces (both physical and virtual) run by exhibiting artists and volunteers? Rather than centralising control under a single multi-million dollar roof, why not spend less money to lease or rent different commercial spaces in different locations throughout the region? Why not make the Regional Gallery truly regional?
Why not provide emerging artists the flexibility and opportunity to 'run' their own show and deal directly with the public as a means to encouraging their future independence?
Why not provide a variety of options - a free space where the artist can pay a commission on everything that sells, or rent the space themselves and keep the takings. A space where artists can exhibit by day and run courses at night for fee-paying students. Why not do something innovative - why not make the Regional Gallery a highly adaptable and dynamic space that gives maximum latitude to the widest number of artists simultaneously?
Rather than rigidly concentrating everything into one basket, why not do the opposite and focus instead upon diversity and independence? If the object of a new Regional Gallery is to inject life and money into the CBD, then why not do so in ways that benefit the maximum number of people?
Why not create a Regional Gallery that is genuinely a part of the community and is jointly run by various members from within that community? Rather than a tightly regulated space run exclusively by career bureaucrats recruited from outside the region, why not draw upon the wealth of local talent and make better use of this region's creative potential?
There is a wealth of artists in this region who have experience running their own exhibits and marketing various products and events in public. Rather than ignoring this resource, Lismore City Council could do something in keeping with the region's alternate reputation. Let's think outside of the box and do something that supports and encourages local culture in ways that are genuinely original.
R J Poole
Lismore
Art Market / The Northern Rivers Echo April 1st 2010, Vol.16 No. 13
Australian artists on average are amongst the most disadvantaged members of society. This is not because the arts industry consciously discriminates against its own, nor the result of some conspiracy by the rich. Rather it is a result of how many artists choose to market themselves.
In many cases artists hand control of their work to others, or submit their work to be judged by others. We approach the marketing and exhibition of our work in much the same way as a leaf is buffeted by the wind - blown here and there by forces beyond our control.
In a nutshell, I believe many artists simply give it away.
I believe many artists would be better served by becoming more independent and dealing directly with their own client base. Rather than submitting their work to be judged by others, or applying for tax-payer funded handouts - I believe artists are best served by retaining control of their creative process and keeping a larger share of the profit their work generates.
I believe, artists are best served by establishing their own platform where they can be seen and heard on terms of their own choosing (as opposed to terms imposed upon them by outside forces). By taking ownership of their creative passion, artist stand to benefit in all sorts of ways - web sites, self-publishing, independent exhibitions, self-run courses - the list goes on!
Of course this sort of talk makes some people nervous - particularly those for whom the status quo is working. Contest organisers, Regional gallery directors and arts council members are amongst those who form the 'industrial' approach to the arts. They are part of a regulatory framework that seeks to manage and administrate the arts.
Artists who accept this power structure (or do not see it) can be part of the 'system' provided they stay between the lines and are content to jump through the right hoops. And so my letter ends where it began with artists giving it away.
Perhaps with time, more artists will find the courage to question themselves and their approach to art. Maybe one day more artists will start giving themselves the break they deserve and seize the day.
Carpe diem!
R J Poole
Lismore
Trickle-down Trick / The Northern Rivers Echo July 30th 2009, Vol. 15 No. 30
For the organisers of the planned Repco World Championship Rally in Kyogle (and their political bum buddies) it seems money comes first every time. Money comes first before the rights of the wider community, before wildlife safety and well before the native environment. Money comes first because the 'real' winner of this rally will be the European Euro.
Many supporters of this rally have used money as 'the' line of reasoning. This line of reasoning sounds something like this: 'If you let us stage this event the benefits will flow on into the rest of the community.' For decades this same rationale has been echoed by big business and big governments alike. 'If we spend millions at the top of the tree (where we live and work), this will trickle down and benefit the rest of you at ground level (where you live and work)'.
Throughout this period we have seen a booming national economy, we have witnessed record profit taking by Australia's largest companies and multi-billion dollar surpluses have been posted by the Federal government - and yet, at the same time, life for the average Australian keeps getting harder. How come? Could it be the 'trickle down' argument is simply another example of pork-barrelling?
In truth, many Australians are starting to question the 'trickle down' argument because the reality of life at ground level gives us good reason to do so. Many of us are tired of hearing the same empty promises repeated over and over. Many of us are rightly sceptical about a rally that has been successfully opposed by other communities across Australia - a rally that will mostly profit the overseas organisers not the local community.
I believe the quality of our native environment and the strength of our democratic rights are part of what determines our standard of living on the Far North Coast. Anything that threatens or runs counter to these will impact adversely upon us all. Even before it starts the Repco Rally has already trampled on our democratic rights and is now poised to trash our native surroundings into the bargain.
I believe the 'trickle down' argument is a largely baseless line of reason that is used by the powerful (and their supporters) to validate their greed. A greed that, in the case of this rally, will return home with the organisers.
I believe there are more important things in life than promises of short-term economic gain. Rather than indulging in destructive recreational activities like rally driving, we can each contribute to our world in ways that are more creative or meaningful. Rather than focusing on what we can take or get out of life, we can give to this world in ways that are lasting and tangible. The quality of our environment and the values that safeguard it are a tangible part of life on the Far North Coast.
In the minds of some people however, money comes first and self-gratifying indulgences a close second. For these people, it seems, a deep respect for other living things is obscured altogether by dust and never enters the race. Viva la Euro!
R J Poole
Lismore
As others have pointed out in their letters, the ANZAC tradition belongs to ‘all’ Australians. It is not the sole preserve of any group or organisation. It is not a ‘holy cow’ that cannot be touched or discussed openly.
The ANZAC tradition is an evolving part of our nation’s culture. Each generation enjoys the freedom to partake in this tradition and to ponder its meaning. Each generation enjoys an inalienable right to speak candidly about what ANZAC represents.
Treating ANZAC as a ‘religion’ that is beyond question denies future generations the right to their opinions and their right to comment openly. It robs us of the ability to look at our nation’s history in ways that are truthful and objective. This was not the original intent of those who suffered in the Great War.
The letters I have written are intended to support the ANZAC tradition by broadening its language. They are inspired by the original intent of ‘lest we forget’ and the initial reaction following the First World War in favour of peace. My words are intended to remind others that ANZAC Day originally celebrated peace - lest (for fear that) we forget the horror of war.
I am myself an ‘old white male’ who has served as a professional soldier. I have marched in ANZAC parades in NSW, Queensland and Western Australia. My late uncle, James McMinn was a ’thirty-niner’ who served with the 6th division in Greece, Crete, North Africa, Palestine and South East Asia and my late father served with the RAAF. I was raised on military history and the ANZAC tradition and have no intention of dishonouring those who have had similar experiences.
(For reasons that are difficult to describe), these experiences have helped me to achieve a more loving and non-violent outlook. The trauma of military service has helped open my eyes to the cultural myths and social conditionings that accompany military service. It is the ‘freedom of speech’ that I helped to protect that I now claim!
April 25th is an opportunity for all of us to support a peaceful future. How each of us expresses this is not important – rather it is the intent of our hearts that matters and the willingness to make a stand that counts. It is the desire to contribute whatever we can to ‘not forgetting’.
I implore the local members of the RSL to put aside their fears and to respect the rights of other Australians to contribute as they may to ‘our’ tradition. I beseech those who have served this country to honour the freedoms they helped defend.
R J Poole
Lismore
The ANZAC tradition is not just one thing. It is not only a sombre memorial service honouring our war dead, but is also a tradition that honours our military exploits. As well as remembering the tragedy of war, April 25th is also an occasion when Australia’s fighting spirit is discussed at great length. Much to do is made about how many of the enemy we killed, or how well we performed under fire.
While ANZAC Day remains primarily a day of mourning, at the same time it reinforces military culture and encourages military service. It bolsters a tradition of young Australians following in the ‘proud’ footsteps of their brothers, fathers, uncles and grandfathers.
Rather than emphasising peace, the ANZAC tradition focuses on words like – ‘honour’, ‘bravery’ and ‘daring’. In the hallowed halls of Canberra’s shrine-like War Museum, for instance, there are life-sized paintings that glorify the Australian soldier and encourage a sense of pride in our fighting spirit. These are key ingredients for conditioning the next generation to do likewise!
Such attitudes do not promote the cause of peace. Such values do not recognise the fact that not all the deaths and injuries resulting from military service are physical in nature.
Many former servicemen and women carry injuries that are difficult to see with the naked eye. No scars or exit wounds mark the point at which their innocence was lost. No outward signs of injury betray the emotional and psychological wounds that lay hidden from the public eye.
Many of the traumas experienced by former soldiers, sailors and airmen have come simply from serving with the military. Military service exposes young men and women to events for which no amount of training can prepare them. Living in a time of peace offers little protection from the trauma of military service because the psychological impact of serving can remain with a person for the rest of their life.
The cause of peace requires commitment. It requires us to value peace above war and to see greater merit in refraining from acts of violence than in spoiling for a fight. It is not possible to speak genuinely about peace while at the same time extolling our fighting ability. It is not possible to hold an olive branch in one hand and a sword in the other.
I believe the ANZAC tradition needs to reflect society’s changing values. It needs to be less contradictory and to show stronger support for those attitudes and ideals that sustain peace. Rather than encouraging a morbid pride in our military exploits, it must recognise instead the TOTAL cost of military service and the living, ongoing pain that results from any organised act of madness.
If April 25th is to have one clear meaning for all Australians, then those of us still living must embrace the cause of peace as passionately as our forebears answered the call to arms. The Remembering and Healing Old Wounds ceremony at Peace Park is a rare opportunity to do just that!
R J Poole
Lismore
Hindsight is a useful thing. It affords us a view of the past that is more rounded and balanced. It allows us to consider past deeds and the outcomes they have produced.
Looking back at Australia’s military campaigns in other parts of the world it is difficult to believe we ever took part in such events. It is difficult to see any real benefits or achievements that resulted from all that pain and suffering.
The ANZAC tradition was inspired by the landings at Gallipoli. Gallipoli is a long way from Australia and almost a century later it is difficult to see what was gained by sending troops to invade the Turkish homeland. It is hard to see any tangible, lasting benefit from having sacrificed so many young lives on foreign soil.
Many Australians (myself included) have since wondered what might have been achieved had those brave young souls remained at home to raise crops and support their families. Might not the thousands of men who perished at Gallipoli have contributed more to our country’s future had they never gone?
Many proud Australians have questioned what gain was equal to their loss.
Since Gallipoli several generations of Australians have experienced service in other parts of the globe, yet the questions that arise from these conflicts remain unchanged. What has been achieved? Was the sacrifice worth it? Is our nation happier or healthier as a result?
What lessons can our nation draw from a hundred years of fighting and dying?
ANZAC Day is an opportunity to for us to gain closure on some of the darker episodes of the past. It is also a chance to forge a set of values that will help prevent a repeat of such misfortunes – a chance to support each other in finding a peaceful alternative.
I see no reason why ANZAC Day cannot also be a celebration of those things which help prevent war - namely love and peace. I see no reason why the shrines that honour our fallen cannot also serve as a rallying point for HOPE.
What better way is there to honour the sacrifices of the past than by working towards a more peaceful and secure future? What greater hope can we give to our children than by making war a distant memory?
This April 25th I hope the members of the Returned Services League will see fit to share their special day with a small group of peace-loving women and to demonstrate the wisdom and generosity of spirit that hindsight has provided them.
R J Poole
Lismore
I wholeheartedly applaud Sabina Baltruweit and the ‘Advocates of Peace’.
Rather than mythologising Australia’s military history, I believe ANZAC day should remain faithful to its original and intended purpose – that is to serve as a caution, as a reminder of the suffering and tragedy that is the result of war.
The words ‘Lest we forget’ were originally intended as a warning to future generations of young Australians so they would not forget the folly of the past. They were intended as a reminder not to sacrifice our blood on foreign soil for reasons that have little or nothing to do with the defence of our country.
Unfortunately, successive generations of community leaders have not honoured the sacrifice of our forebears as intended, but have shown themselves all too willing to send Australian men and women to far flung places for very questionable reasons!
The disasters of the past (Gallipoli, Flanders, Greece, Crete, Vietnam…) have, in many ways, been romanticised as proud and glorious proof of our fighting spirit. Words like ‘adventure’ ‘daring’ and ‘honour’ have been used to mask the insanity of war and to compensate for our lack of wisdom at having participated in the first instance.
This romantic view is neither healthy nor accurate, but serves only to encourage young men and women to enter military service and continue a cycle of senseless waste and aggression! Sadly, this is not something I have read about in a book, but have experienced during my service with the Regular Australian Army.
Rather than mythologising our history we might instead find the courage and maturity to face the truth about the mistakes our nation has made. Rather than mimicking the errors of our forefathers we could look to our hearts and resolve to find better, more peaceful ways of expressing our national pride.
Perhaps the old white males at the RSL could learn something from the ‘Advocates of Peace’. Perhaps the true spirit of ANZAC lies not in glorifying the past, but in celebrating the life that is and those things that preserve it!
R J Poole
Lismore
The Northern Rivers Echo February 26th 2009, Vol. 15 No. 08
The recent bushfire tragedies in Victoria are clear proof, clear evidence that climate change is upon us. We may argue over the cause of this change, yet the physical reality is all too apparent!
Sadly, we are already past the point where talking about lifestyle changes will have any impact. Major shifts to the way we live and to the way we affect our surroundings will be forced on us through social and environmental necessity, rather than by individual choice.
However there is still time to make some changes that may lessen the blow. I believe that we still have time to examine and change some of society’s more indulgent pastimes. Motor ‘sports’ is an obvious starting point as it depends so heavily upon the burning of fossil fuels and impacts so heavily upon the environment and the wider community.
This impact takes many forms. Whole townships know when there is a speedway, rally or grand prix running! Apart from noise pollution caused by these events there is the question of air-born contaminants.
What levels of lead poisoning are experienced by young spectators at a race meeting?
What hearing and respiratory risks accompany a regular, long-term exposure to such events?
How many litres of fuel (on average) are expended by contestants at each speedway, rally or grand prix event?
How many litres of fuel are expended by audiences while coming and going from these entertainments?
How can we ask young people to act responsibly on the open road, while at the same time our society supports a sub-culture that glorifies speeding?
How many young people have died as an indirect result of this racing sub-culture?
The case against motor sport is overwhelming, yet for decades we have tolerated its senseless waste and questionable values because motor sport is just one of many indulgences.
But now we are facing an environmental crisis that will not go away.
Now has come a critical point where communities throughout Australia are challenged by forces beyond their control. The bushfires in Victoria are a caution; they are a forewarning of things to come – things not seen in our lifetimes.
If we do not heed this warning, if we deny change until change is forced upon us then events will overtake us. If we continue playing flippant games while ignoring the impact we have upon our surroundings, then nature will prove herself to be unforgiving in ways we cannot imagine.
R J Poole
Lismore
Not so long ago you could smoke in restaurants. You could light up in a crowded eating place and impact not only upon other people’s enjoyment of their meal, but their health as well.
Not so long ago many Australian homes had a gun of some description. There were no mass shootings in those days and people thought nothing of keeping a firearm in the closet.
Not so long ago you could burn your rubbish in a backyard incinerator, drive around without a seat belt and throw litter on the ground.
These are practices that have changed because social attitudes have changed. Throughout history many changes have occurred in the way we live and to what is considered acceptable behaviour. Now, with growing evidence of greenhouse warming, it is time for us to take a long hard look at ourselves and certain aspects of our lifestyle.
It is time we consider some of the indulgent pastimes we practice and ask – ‘how does this contribute to the future?’
Some forms of recreation are clearly out of step with our growing awareness of environmental change – like motor racing. Motor racing is an indulgence that creates nothing lasting or tangible. It is a recreational extravagance that lasts for a short time yet consumes a vast amount of natural resources purely for entertainment purposes.
I believe motor racing is one of those indulgences we need to consider when contemplating the sort of world we wish to bequeath to our children. It is one of those luxuries we will have to surrender if we are to make lasting and substantial improvements to our environment.
How can a community preserve its natural resources while at the same time participating in wasteful activities for fun?
How can we contribute to the future, while at the same time clinging desperately to yesterday’s lifestyle?
How can we grow and mature as a society if we lack the courage to question ourselves and the way we impact upon our surroundings?
These are reasonable questions to ask at a time of global crisis. These are the sorts of questions that will be forced upon us out of necessity if we wait too long.
Years from now when all forms of motor sports have disappeared from the earth, our descendants will question our blindness and indifference to impeding danger.
They will wonder what we were doing at a time when the cliff face was already in sight.
Sadly (for some) the answer will be: ‘driving in top gear over the edge!’
R J Poole
Lismore
Like (some of) us, the ancient Romans were also into motor sports.
Their mode of transport only had two to four horsepower mind you, but the principle was the same. Thundering around an open track to see who comes first, or who gets killed provided a useful means of passing the time for those who could find nothing better to do.
Meaningless recreational activities that served no purpose and degraded the native environment were huge draw cards for the Romans. Racing round and round in circles or ripping up an otherwise peaceful country road would surely have appealed to their macabre sense of fun - especially if it involved a bit of road kill!
Eventually, the Roman Empire imploded and the memory of its self-indulgence came to symbolise human greed. By that time unfortunately, numerous animal species had been sacrificed in the name of fun and many ethnic and religious minorities had been persecuted for the same reason!
How strange it is to see our ‘modern’ era still pre-occupied with the tradition of motor racing – albeit in the form of a multimillion dollar advertisement for the automotive industry.
How strange that in a world of dwindling resources we should still see fit to burn fossil fuels for a bit of jolly!
How strange that in a time of rising environmental awareness we should knowingly corrupt the air we breathe with atmospheric pollutants and the roar of engines!
Perhaps like the Romans our time is drawing near. Perhaps an obsession with meaningless recreational activities is a warning that something has passed its use by date and needs to change direction - like one of those road signs that say ‘wrong way go back’.
The Lismore Speedway and the planned Kyogle Shire car rally are evidence of our short-sightedness. They are sad proof that history repeats itself and that once noble societies can fall - not to outside threats, but to a loss of purpose and forward vision!
R J Poole
Lismore
As an artist and writer, I believe that independence and diversity go hand in hand. I believe that the stronger an art community’s independence, the greater the diversity and originality of the art it creates.
For me, art is about having the freedom to express myself without limits or boundaries. It is about claiming my right to remain independent without the need to comply with or conform to a system. I do not need anyone to lead me in this regard, nor do I require the public purse to subsidize my efforts. If my art work cannot stand on its own merits, then this is my responsibility and not one that belongs to the larger community.
The issues I have raised regarding the new Regional Gallery are not just about art, but are about the nature of the Australian art community itself.
Throughout my life I have watched the Australian art community become increasingly institutionalised and over-regulated. Increasingly, government authorities have sought to influence the arts via a raft of tax-funded agencies and regulatory bodies.
Over time, the ‘arts’ has evolved into an industry which requires an art administration to manage, direct and exploit its potential as a source of government revenue. In many cases the resulting art has been ‘flattened’ by this process (evidenced by the cookie-cutter products of many art schools) and a culture of dependency has evolved in which many artists now look to the government to provide – full stop.
I believe that the survival of this region’s culture is strongly linked to maintaining its diversity and independence.
Local artists will be marginalized in preference to big-name touring exhibitions. Those locals who do get a berth (backroom) will have to comply with whatever guidelines our new gallery administrators choose to impose. Only academically qualified people will be considered for any job or residency; only those who are recognised by the system will play any real part.
Like it or not, our local art gallery will become an art ‘precinct’ (an Americanism borrowed from our Queensland neighbours). In the dictionary a precinct is defined as ‘an enclosed boundary or limit’.
For those artists who wish to be recognised in their own right the term ‘precinct’ should sound alarm bells!
R J Poole
Lismore
Photography has much to do with perspective. Perspective is about how we perceive different subjects in relation to one another. Perspective can lend a sense of depth to an image and help us to notice things that are otherwise difficult to see.
A sense of perspective can also be useful when considering the bigger picture. Spending millions of dollars to accommodate visiting artists from outside our region seems a strange move for Lismore - especially when we consider the numbers of unemployed, homeless or otherwise underprivileged people who live here.
Spending $17,000,000 dollars on a large glass box seems a bit odd!
These are reasonable questions to pose in a community that struggles to provide even the most basic of services. Try catching a bus in Lismore (or a train for that matter). Try riding a push bike on our roads or finding something simple like a public toilet in the CBD!
As Martyn Fox has rightly pointed out – ‘The arts is the booming industry in this region, and Lismore is placed in the geographic centre of that huge sea of creativity – an economic dividend from which we all, already benefit.’
There is nothing preventing artists from exhibiting their work or pursuing their creative interests. A Regional Gallery is of no real relevance to the larger art community. Whether such a gallery exists or not, the artists of this region will continue to do as they do.
Before we pour hard earned public money into a major Gold Coast style project, should we not consider the more urgent and practical needs of our community?
R J Poole
Lismore
Many people do it hard in Lismore.
There are many pressing community needs – housing, employment, education, childcare, the environment. The list is long. There are real human needs in this region that desperately require more funding.
An art gallery is not as important as the people who create art.
Artists are primary producers. Without artists the arts industry would not exist and nor would the government-funded institutions which seek to manage and administrate art. Sometimes the people who inhabit this bureaucracy confuse their needs with the needs of the wider art community.
Spending on infrastructure is seen (by some) as supporting art - full stop; when in reality it often has little or nothing to do with the practical, on-going challenges faced by individual artists.
A post-modern ‘box’ would seem a poor exchange for the millions of dollars of taxpayer’s money that could otherwise make a real difference to the lives of artists and non-artists alike. An uninspired glass block will contribute nothing to the practical, on-going needs of the wider community.
Many people do it hard in Lismore and adding to the infrastructure of their surroundings will not alleviate the difficulties they face nor contribute to the creation of new and original art. It is not the absence of an expensive regional gallery that diminishes our lives, but the absence of support for those who may (if they are lucky) fleetingly occupy such a building.
Is it true the new Regional Art Gallery will be coated with gold leaf?
If so, how will local artists exhibit their work if they cannot successfully blue tak things to the outside of the new gold-encrusted shrine (sorry - gallery)?
Perhaps instead local artisans could be issued with blankets (clean ones) so they can more comfortably exhibit their wares on the sidewalk outside.
Alternatively, a small room could be made available at the rear of premises (next to the toilets) where twenty or thirty local artists could exhibit simultaneously. Each artist could cut their chosen art piece in half (so as to fit everybody) and the show could be titled ‘the poorer half’!
Sooner or later, champagne-bloated tourists will be exposed to ‘the poorer half’ as they journey to the loo. Brilliant!
Only by spending on itself can the arts bureaucracy benefit the wider art community. What better way to satisfy the daily needs of individual artists than by the government splurging on its own infrastructure?
An A class gallery space will give big-name travelling shows the break they really need.
Who wants to look at local talent for free when you can pay to see someone significant?
Who needs serviceable roads, a clean environment or basic services when we can support visiting foreign artists?
Who would directly fund a local artist when it looks better to spend big money on one impressive thing.
Perhaps instead of gold leaf, the new gallery could be composed of something more valuable – like fresh air!
R J Poole
Lismore
The Northern Rivers Echo / April 10th 2008 Vol. 14 No. 15
A non-competitive approach to art - Northern Rivers Echo December 13th, 2007 V0l. 13 No. 50
Dear Editor
Art by its very nature is subjective and cannot be weighed or measured in a logical, objective manner.
What constitutes a work of inspiration for one person is the next person’s talent-less mess! We all of us use subjective values to decide what we like – to pretend otherwise is dishonest.
Art judges make their decisions the same way as the rest of us make decisions – in accordance with personal, idiosyncratic values and private aesthetic likes or dislikes.
Why is it that one person’s judgement is allowed to determine the success or otherwise of so many individual artists?
Why is it that artists submit themselves and their work to a culture that is driven by a competitive, market-based, ‘winner takes all’ approach?
This culture encourages artists to compete with each other for recognition and financial reward. The chance of coming first encourages many artists to join the queue and subordinate themselves to the prevailing ethos. By submitting their work to be adjudicated on by strangers, artists deny themselves the opportunity to be seen and heard on their own terms.
Creativity has much to do with independence.
Being at liberty to express ourselves is the bedrock of any creative process. Providing ourselves with the latitude to be creative, with the freedom to say or show whatever we choose – is the most effective way to achieve a sense of purpose and satisfaction. This is the gift that art offers for those who partake; this is the pearl that may be held by those willing to reach out and grasp it.
I believe there is an alternate approach that empowers artists in an honest, non-competitive way.
From my own experience, I have learned that the most effective way to promote my art is to remain independent. By establishing my own marketing strategies, I am seen and heard on my own terms, rather than on terms imposed by others.
Staging solo exhibitions, setting up a web site, self-publishing, running teaching courses, designing and printing promotional material, speaking in public – these are just some of the activities artists can employ to gain recognition and retain a greater share of their hard-earned money.
By remaining independent, artists create a diverse and vibrant culture of their own.
Speaking about this publicly is one of many ways I share my knowledge and experience with other creative people in the community. My words are not intended to criticise or threaten, but to challenge and encourage. By sharing with and helping other artists, I have experienced a greater sense of freedom and purpose than was the case when I saw other artists as the opposition!
Rather than submitting to mainstream art culture the artists of this region could work towards empowering themselves. Rather than jostling for blue ribbons or participating in games we can help and support each other in a committed fashion. Instead of clambering to ‘come first’ we can assist fellow artisans to achieve a sense of success and wellbeing that does not involve winners and losers!
R J Poole
Lismore
P.S. My question still stands: How do you weigh and measure art?
The Puzzling Practice of Judging Art / Northern Rivers Echo August 30th 2007 Vol. 133 No. 35
How are works of art judged at the Bentley Art Prize and other art contests throughout this region?
What means are used to weigh and measure the relative merits of each artwork?
How does the judge make a detailed and informed assessment of each and every work displayed?
Does the judge meet with each of the artists and take the time to find out what each artist is trying to express? How can any judge make an objective, informed assessment of a total stranger? How can someone grasp the content and meaning of every artwork in an exhibition and decide that one is better or more worthy than the next?
During my life as a professional artist I have encountered many artistic works I did not understand. Only after studying the artists themselves and viewing many examples of their work could I begin to grasp the extent of their meaning or relevance. In some cases, the strength and impact of a particular artwork can only be derived from understanding the artist, while technical considerations remain secondary.
Some artists (myself included) have woven numerous symbols and metaphoric devices into their visual imagery. Recognising and appreciating these symbols requires a specialised knowledge which can only be acquired over an extensive period. How can anyone properly judge another person’s work without a solid background knowledge of the artist and their means of expression? I believe that art contests are based upon lies.
There is the lie that you can weigh and measure art; and the lie that a stranger can know what motivates or inspires an artist without actually knowing the artist as a person! I believe that reducing art to a competitive sport benefits those organising the events rather than the artists who dream of recognition through “winning”.
Art by its very nature is subjective, not objective. Art is the result of a subjective reaction or response; it is an expression of what the artist thinks and feels. To pretend that there is an objective means of measuring this is something I find puzzling.
Could the organisers of the Bentley Art Prize please explain how they have overcome this challenge?
Archaeological Diggings, Volume 14 No. 4 Aug / Sep 2007
Congratulations Archaeological Diggings for printing the article by Marie Carter entitled The women who took down the glass ceiling. This article sheds light upon a little recognised subject - a subject that cuts to the heart of our understanding about the past, namely the contribution of women to history.
A male perspective has dominated history writing since ancient times. This narrow view of the past is a natural consequence of excluding the world as seen and experienced by women. The insights and contributions provided by women can broaden and complement our understanding of history, as we look at people and events from a different angle.
For the past few years I have had the privilege of corresponding with Dr Joann Fletcher from York University. Her knowledge and advice has been invaluable in helping me to build a more balanced understanding of ancient Egyptian culture, a culture which profoundly influenced the Greco-Roman world.
This is clearly evidenced by the many Egyptian articles in your magazine.
In her article, Marie Carter makes mention of the Goddess Isis and the enduring influence her worship has had upon the Christian tradition. R. E. Witt’s book, Isis in the Ancient World, provides ample evidence that Isiacism significantly influenced the early Christian Church and, by extension, European culture. This and other aspects of ancient culture have been largely ignored by mainstream writers.
The importance of the feminine (in all its forms) is a much understated part of history that deserves greater attention. Bravo Archaeological Diggings for having the courage and openness of mind to print articles that focus on the contribution of the feminine in ancient times!
R J Poole
Lismore NSW
Northern Rivers Echo April 19th 2007 Vol. 13 No.16
Bravo Helen Coyle for your letter in last week’s Echo entitled ‘North Coast is being loved to death’. There are many others living here who completely agree with your concerns about the future of the Far North Coast. This issue is a time bomb waiting to explode and I am firmly on the side of those people already living here who have a right to determine their own future.
Having trashed its own environment South East Queensland now seeks to repeat this process on the Far North Coast. Exploiting this region for its water and ‘lebensraum’ is not a solution, but a repeat of past mistakes. Duplicating the Gold Coast in ever-widening circles is not an answer, but a failure to progress. If those of us who are currently living here fail to take control of our destiny our future will be determined for us by bureaucrats in Sydney and Canberra.
Rather than repeating the mistakes of others, I believe this region can set a standard for other Australians to follow. This standard could benefit the local economy and preserve a clean, healthy environment for our children to inherit. Across Europe (for example) hundreds of historic towns have preserved their cultural heritage and architectural style.
These townships attract tourists from all over the world because they are DIFFERENT; because they have had the foresight and courage to value the environment in which they live, rather than allowing it to be concreted over.
By honouring our rural traditions and styles of architecture and by safeguarding our natural landscape we can achieve the dual objective of a healthy local economy and a healthy local identity.
Rather than spending public money on an ever-expanding infrastructure we could focus on renovating traditional facades and buildings, preserving historic sites and expanding native reserves. Rather than being swept up in a never-ending spiral of development, the Far North Coast could distinguish itself as a traditional rural oasis - a natural haven that cherishes its identity.
Until this issue is more properly debated there should be a freeze on new residential developments. I call upon anyone who agrees to write or ring their parliamentary representative, local council or local newspapers to make their feelings known.
If we remain silent we will gradually but surely loose what we have and our children will loose the opportunity to inherit a healthy place to live – a place where people cherish their environment enough to make a stand.
Northern Rivers Echo, February 1st 2007 Volume 13 – No. 05
Dear Editor
This letter is an appeal to everyone living on the Far North Coast and is about the environment our children will inherit. It concerns the native legacy we shall pass to future generations.
When I was a child my family regularly visited the Gold Coast hinterland. In those days places like Tamborine, Nerang and Mudgeeraba were rural towns surrounded by open pasture, bushland and rainforests. Thirty to forty years hence, these places have been completely transformed. Their natural beauties have given way to sprawling neighbourhoods, industrial estates and concrete highways.
The beauty that attracted people to visit or live there in the first instance has given way to – well, go and have a look for yourselves!
Having witnessed these changes first hand I know how quickly and dramatically a native rural environment can be turned into a choking urban landscape. These changes are not conscious. I do not believe the people of South East Queensland deliberately trashed their own environment.
I do not imagine anyone truly foresaw the pollution and congestion that has resulted from so many people crowding into the one place. Rather, I believe these conditions are a natural consequence of population growth.
More people means more houses, and this means more roads, more infrastructure, more everything! Unlike the forests and open pastures they destroy, urban landscapes grow quickly and in ways that no-one can foresee. State governments and local councils, in my experience, are pro-development and give permission for developers to proceed at a dizzying pace while doing nothing to safeguard the long-term wellbeing of ordinary citizens.
If we abide by the Regional Strategy announced by the NSW Planning Minister, Frank Sartor, the Far North Coast will become an extension of the Gold Coast.
If we do not move consciously towards an alternate vision of the future, if we fail to value the natural beauties that surround us the legacy we shall hand our children will be the same soulless, unnatural environment we see on the Gold Coast today.
If we sit on our hands and do nothing, the world our children shall inherit will reflect the apathy and lack of wisdom that is ours rather than the natural wonders we ourselves enjoy. It will contain little of the green, open freshness that we ourselves rejoice in.
I do not wish to live on the Gold Coast and I do not wish the Gold Coast to become my reality here.
If you agree with these sentiments, please write or ring your local member, local council or newspaper and let them know. Let them know how much you value the place where you live as it is, and the gifts you wish to bequeath your children.
And while you’re at it, let Frank Sartor know that a thousand kilometres to his north there are still people who enjoy an environment where they can see the stars at night and who give thanks daily that they don’t live in Sydney or the Gold Coast!
R J Poole
Lismore
Archaeological Diggings / Volume 13 No. 6 Dec 2006 / Jan 2007
Dear Editor
I subscribe to your magazine and wish to complement you on the many interesting articles you publish. There are however, some issues I would like to take up with you about our contemporary view of history.
I believe the study of history should focus on events in the context they occurred. If we attempt to reconcile history with our cultural traditions or religious beliefs we effectively narrow our terms of reference. We begin looking for information that confirms our cultural outlook and in doing so we become blind to other points of view. This is particularly true of Western European culture.
The Hebrew peoples loom large in the Western consciousness because they inspired the entire Judeo-Christian tradition. If we view history in the context of actual events however, the Hebrew peoples become very small – VERY small. There is no doubting the long-term influence of the Hebrew tradition, yet if we focus on the context in which these ancient peoples lived, we can see the relative size and influence of their culture.
The Hebrews were a cultural minority. The land they chose to occupy was surrounded by larger, more powerful cultures. Throughout their history the ancestors of the Jews were subjugated by just about everybody – Egyptians, Assyrians, Hittites, Babylonians, Persians, Greeks and Romans. On at least two occasions, entire populations lived in servitude in foreign parts. Finally their temple was burned (again) and the Jewish nation was scattered.
This is not a culture that was influential in its day. The subsequent rise of Judeo-Christianity and of Eurocentric attitudes should not blind us to the relative position of the Hebrews in the ancient world. Arguing for the chronology of ancient Egypt – a larger, more powerful, more ancient, more learned culture - to be altered so that it conforms to the Old Testament, is equivalent to arguing for the time scale of the Middle East to be structured around the religious mythology of the Kurdish people or some other ethnic minority!
Such arguments are subjective in nature, not objective. Their terms of reference are limited by the confines of faith as opposed to being liberated by an open and unbiased mindset. Arguments about King lists aside, approaching history from this perspective, I believe, is fraught with peril.
R J Poole
Lismore
Northern Rivers Echo Newspaper - Lismore, NSW / Thursday 20th April 2006
Dear Editor
‘On Anzac day, a national day of ceremony, we honour all of the servicemen and women who have answered the call of their country in defending this great nation in many conflicts which have threatened its safety.’
This quote from a recent Thomas George pamphlet concerns me.
It concerns me that Anzac Day remembrances appear to have forgotten the original meaning and intent of ‘lest we forget’. Increasingly, Anzac Day remembrances appear to be romanticising and mythologising our history in ways that are plainly inaccurate and disturbing.
The words ‘many conflicts’ suggest that modern Australia has been directly threatened more than once. This is not so.
The activities of Imperial Japan in the early 1940’s are the only occasion during the European history of this country that we were directly threatened with invasion. The servicemen and women who valiantly fought during this period are the only Anzacs to have actually defended this nation against imminent attack.
All other servicemen and women who have fought for Australia have participated in conflicts that did NOT involve a direct physical threat to the Australian mainland. In all but the above example, Australia has sent its young men and women to fight and die in foreign parts (most often) on the other side of the globe well away from home.
Conflicts in the Sudan, South Africa, Gallipoli, Flanders, Belgium, France, Greece, Crete, Palestine, North Africa, Korea, Borneo, Vietnam, Somalia, Afghanistan and Iraq have NOT involved a direct threat to the Australian mainland.
As a former member of Australia’s defence force, I am NOT proud of this fact. I am not proud that we have participated in conflicts that had nothing to do with the defence of our country. I am not proud that on numerous occasions Australia has subordinated itself to the ambitions of others and has participated in events that had little or nothing to do with the welfare and security of our nation.
These are mistakes that we are meant to learn from. ‘Lest we forget’ was originally a warning against the horrors of war. It was a warning to future generations NOT to repeat the mistakes of the past. It was a caution against the folly of confusing our needs with the needs of others.
Unfortunately it appears some people have not heeded this message. In Iraq and Afghanistan we are still pandering to the ambitions of others. Yet again we are needlessly participating in another foreign war. Yet again we are failing to learn from the sacrifices of our forebears.
A strong nation, a proud nation does not follow. It does not subordinate its defence forces by placing them under the control of others. A nation with a strong sense of identity does not confuse itself with others, nor imagine that fighting for others is something to celebrate.
Let us truly remember our fallen in a way that honours their sacrifice. Let us learn from their pain and suffering in ways that make us stronger and wiser. Let us find the courage to do it differently so that our children and their children after them do not endure the forfeits of the sword.
RJ Poole
Lismore
Northern Rivers Echo Newspaper - Lismore, NSW / Sunday August 28th 2005
Dear Editor
I am pleased to hear Senator Bishop’s warm words of support for Australia’s Muslims. Her compassion and understanding will surely encourage their sense of security and incline them to respect the views of the wider community.
Who would have thought the best way of defending democracy was to deny an entire section of the community their democratic rights? This imaginative example of reverse logic is sure to encourage harmony, tolerance and understanding amongst the Muslim community. It is sure to make them less likely to follow the advice of racial leaders calling for young Muslims to close ranks. What better way of preventing tyranny than by beating it to the punch!
I know how appreciative I would be if someone was generous enough to impose their cultural or religious values on me. Imagine how good it would feel to have the reassuring hand of state upon the back of your neck. Imagine the sense of relief at having the burden of freedom lifted off your back!
Cultural and religious persecution also has a strange way of imposing its own discipline. For starters you learn how to defend yourself against multiple kicks and punches. You improve your aerobic fitness by running from aggressive strangers. You think of new and more desperate ways of defending yourself against a hostile world. The benefits are endless!
What better way to experience the freedom of worship than by its absence? It’s so Zen, or Zoroastrian - I’m not sure! In either event, the Senator’s comments are certain to reinforce the sense of love and understanding the Muslim community already enjoys every day in the tolerant, flower-filled Land of Oz. A land where our democratic ideals are not just hollow rhetoric, but are mirrored by every word we speak, by every action we undertake.
R J Poole
Lismore
Northern Rivers Echo Newspaper - Lismore, NSW / Tuesday August 2nd 2005
Dear Editor
This is a heartfelt letter of appreciation to the Lismore constabulary for saving me from myself.
Had I not been fined on the spot for failing to wear a bicycle helmet on Monday evening, I doubt whether I would have lived to write this letter of thanks. Had my reckless ways not been instantly curtailed, there is no telling what calamity may have unfolded from my obsession with crime.
Only by focusing our law enforcement resources into areas of greatest need are wrong-doers like me prevented from spreading our mindless attitudes and careless disregard for human life throughout the larger community. A warning is too good for recalcitrants like myself!
Everyone knows that only rich people ride pushbikes. I personally am so wealthy that I have completely transcended the need for a motor vehicle and the fifty dollar fine I’ve incurred hardly seems like a fitting punishment.
Perhaps in addition to being fined I could surrender up my controlling share of BHP and one or two properties on the Sydney foreshore? Perhaps if the punishment was proportionate to the vastness of my holdings, then I would be less inclined to disregard those values that have made our country great?
In either event I wish to thank the Lismore police for setting me on the straight and narrow. Now more than ever I am committed to being an obedient and law abiding member of the community. Now more than ever my trust and confidence in the system has found good reason to smile; safe in the knowledge that people like me are under control.
Thankyou for making manifest the spirit of freedom and human compassion in this shinning heart of democracy.
hugs and kisses
R J Poole
Lismore
Northern Rivers Echo Newspaper - Lismore, NSW / Friday 3rd September 2004
Dear Editor
QA: What’s the difference between someone who seizes power and does what they want; and someone who is elected and does what they want?
QB: What do you call a system that allows you to vote for one of just two parties who can reasonably expect to form a government?
QC: What’s the point of free speech if your local member won’t even listen?
I wish I knew the answer to these questions. I wish there was a more varied and flexible form of democracy that was answerable to the community. I wish our political leaders were less concerned with the dollar or the party room and more focused on humanitarian values. I wish we had a system that spent more on health and education and less on military hardware.
I wish more Australians could find the courage and maturity to stand on their own two feet and seek an independent future; a future that was guided by our values and our standards; rather than those belonging to other nations. I wish we had a strong enough sense of our own identity that we could disagree with our friends (on occasions) and pursue a course of our own choosing.
I believe the question of identity and culture is very relevant for Australians at the moment. I believe a country with a stronger sense of itself might be less inclined to follow. I believe these are things that are attainable by us; but only if we move towards them in a conscious and deliberate fashion.
And now the answers to those questions:
A: Nothing
B: A duopoly
C: It lets him know that ‘come the revolution’ he’s going to be looking for work!
R J Poole
Lismore
Northern Rivers Echo Newspaper - Lismore, NSW / Friday 18th June 2004
Dear Editor
The Art in the Heart project highlights the Australian approach to the Arts.
Each year governments both State and Federal spend billions of dollars of public money on the Arts and yet artists on average are amongst the lowest earners in our society. How come?
Why spend millions on another concrete mausoleum to house the finished product; when the people who actually make the stuff go largely unrewarded? Why spend more on those who manage and administrate art, than on those who create it? Isn’t this the wrong way around?
During one of the most celebrated creative periods in the history of the West, the Italian Renaissance; there was no arts bureaucracy! There were no museums or state run galleries and neither were there any art councils. None of the bureaucratic frameworks we now have in place existed then because artists were directly commissioned or patronised by the powers that be.
This is why some parts of the world have a legacy of great art as opposed to a legacy of uninspired buildings to store it in. What a radical idea, give the cash directly to those who make the stuff!
But of course if you did that, there would be no Art in the Heart project. Why encourage the creation of new and original art, when you can have a tourist industry instead? I hear you Ros about the legacy we leave to future generations.
I believe the most fulfilling legacy we can leave our children is a culture with actual depth and substance to it; rather than one that merely turns a profit for a select minority. I believe that by spending more on the arts industry than we do on individual artists; we are effectively placing fiscal priorities ahead of creative human values!
Spending on people might not give you a shiny new gallery; but it may provide us with a more vibrant, independent, living culture. It may establish Lismore as a place where something truly different happens!
The independent artists of this region deserve more than a back room at a fancy new gallery. What they need most is direct, practical assistance. Not more good advice, not another grant we can apply for; not another crowd-drawing dead artist; but the same sort of stuff that helps the Arts Industry go around - Moolah Spendulah!
R J Poole
Lismore
The Northern Star Newspaper – Goonellabah, NSW / Sunday September 29th 2002
Dear Editor
I would like to thank you for printing my letter of protest about your newspaper’s coverage of events surrounding the September 11th strikes in the United States.
I am heartened by your willingness to air such criticisms of your paper in public and hope you continue to do so. Your response to my letter however was disappointing. You stated you believed your paper had covered the issues fairly, yet provided no facts or documentation to support your argument. That your paper has not provided a balanced reporting of these issues is clearly demonstrated by a simple question.
Q: How many two page spreads have been printed about the civilian victims of terror in other parts of the world – namely Sudan, Palestine, Iraq, Afghanistan and Bosnia, to mention but a few?
A: None.
There are many victims of terrorist activities throughout the world. The overwhelming majority of these victims (numbering in the millions) do not reside in wealthy Western countries, but are themselves the target of Western aggression. Surely if you are genuine about highlighting the tragedy of terrorism and providing an equal coverage to all sides in this matter; then we can expect to see a two page spread on the US bombing of the Al-Shifa pharmaceutical factory in Sudan in 1998.
This factory provided 90% of Sudan’s pharmaceutical needs for both human and veterinary purposes. It provided a vital safeguard in a country suffering endemic exposure to malaria, tuberculosis and cattle-bourn parasites. As a result of that bombing by the US air force tens of thousands of innocent victims (including young children) have since died (Werner Daum, “Universalism and the West,” Harvard International Review, Summer 2001).
These are the sorts of stories that I believe deserve equal coverage. They are the sorts of stories that would better allow your readers to make an informed decision about Australia’s involvement in the Middle East. I believe there are a growing number of readers on the Far North Coast who wish to hear about both sides of world events.
I applaud your willingness to print my letter and hope that in future your sense of altruism extends to the voiceless victims of terror in places beyond New York City!
R J Poole
Lismore
Copyright© R J Poole 2009
All rights reserved
R J Poole offers one-on-one private tuition on any aspect of Digital Photography and Adobe Photoshop CS - CS4. Phone and make a booking any time and arrange to have private lessons at your own convenience. For more information usethe CONTACT button at the bottom of this page,or you can contact the following:
Ph: (02) 6622 1858
E-mail: rjpoole12@yahoo.com
