Time for Tahoe to be a hub for the arts
By Robert Schimmel
On Sept. 17, the City Council addressed the recent issue of the ordinance regarding Temporary Arts and Crafts Fairs, and it was heartening to see how the process went. With the council apparently leaning (3-2) in committed fashion to cutting the fairs from 12 to four per summer starting in 2014, speakers in defense of the status quo spoke passionately against the change.
I added my comments at the end in support of the “big picture” of the Arts in Tahoe and will come back to that.
Robert Schimmel
The heartening part during the council’s discussion and was that one member appeared open to new information and a consequent altered position. Hal Cole, in humorous fashion, accepted responsibility for this issue coming to the floor circuitously, so his questions and responses appeared to be quite sincere as he weighed facts and opinions. The ultimate act of wisdom came from Mayor Tom Davis when he made the motion to back off the draconian cut of 12 to four and moved that it be 10 for 2014 with a reduction of two per year until four is reached in 2017, supposedly.
This motion was seconded and approved 3-2 (Conner, Davis and Cole), which showed Cole’s willingness to adjust in response to the evidence, and needs of the parties affected, including the city’s future loss of revenue from this reduction.
In recognition of the case made for a “high end” image to which I also aspire, there is no reason that arts and crafts fairs can’t be upgraded to help make and sustain an everyday economy that means “Tahoe = Art+”. Fears that such fairs and/or larger festivals compete with galleries, etc. has some merit, but it’s lopsided in that different clientele patronize each venue.
The “pie” is not static or limited. The competing art venues actually create more business for each other, and the more people we attract, the more adjacent spending occurs within the community. Art Meccas all around the country have very successful outdoor festivals on a regular basis, but they didn’t get that way overnight. We need to work with those making the fairs possible, create or delegate a city liaison to work on a long term image/vision with such people, and make this a town known for its ongoing cultural life supported by local, professional talent and others. Taos, Jackson Hole, Park City, Scottsdale, Santa Fe, etc. have less natural talent and resources and have done it. Why not Tahoe?
This addresses the big picture of how Tahoe itself needs to come together and promote a vision that attracts visitors based on what is here and God given: our rare, stunning geography plus its resulting unlimited recreational possibilities. Arts and culture tied to geo-tourism sound like a winner to me in response to our needs for diversification of our economic base that has too long depended on the casinos. In South Lake Tahoe, are we willing to build a foundation for long-term growth that can include all the areas represented by environmental, medical, geo-tourism, the arts and clean industries? Will we strive to build up our communities around cultural excellence and an educational system that has incredible potential in its improving elementary magnet schools’ programs, its impressive South Tahoe High School TADA and extensive Lake Tahoe Community College arts, music, theater programs and facilities?
Currently, too many rules and regulations squelch creativity and make it impossible for artists and promoters to put Tahoe on the map as “the place to shop for and experience amazing art exhibitions, public art happenings, etc.” We have lost and will continue to lose participating artists even if they remain in the area. Why not encourage our own and attract other world-class artists, musicians, performers, etc.? Many new ideas and opportunities are already here and the upscale direction is right under your noses with redevelopment, new technologies, etc. Regulations are part of the problem; we must corral them and put energy into developing an attitude of how to succeed not you can’t.
Let’s join with the countless efforts to create such change through citizen-based groups like the lake Tahoe Sustainability Collaborative, which is working around the lake to build common ground and opportunities for year round stability and a place for families to grow with a real future ahead. And what should our city and local governances be doing? Laying the pathways and groundwork for making such efforts viable by allowing individuals to create and compete.
Robert Schimmel is a professional artist in South Lake Tahoe as well as host of “Lake Tahoe Art Scene” on KTHO radio on Thursdays at 5:15pm.
I don’t understand the reason for decreasing the number of events.
The council should have focused on increasing the quality for the community instead.
Well written piece.
I also don’t see the problem with the A&C booths, or some of the businesses putting their wares in front of their stores to show what they have to offer. I’d rather see those tents and things on the road then the derelicts and meth addicts that are walking around. The city Council should work on cleaning that up first, then worry about frivolous things.
Great article.
Fine, as long as the venues are within city limits.
Mr. Schimmel,
Good ,well written article and I couldn’t agree more. Thank you Conner, Davis and Cole for your votes on this issue. Lets promote arts and events, not limit them!
Next up a winter carnival for January or Febuary 2014? What say yea city council? We used to have one in the early 60’s and it was great! Parade, ski races, snowmobile races, torch light skiers following one another in a serpentine pattern down the face of Heavenly followed up by a fireworks display fired up to the mountain, food booths , the main lodge open serving drinks and hot food… and there’was so much more that was going on all over town!!!
Just my thoughts. Old Long Skiis
I watched this really contentious discussion on the City’s website and Cole said that he wanted to elevate the arts in our community and he wanted more diversity in the types of events that were conducted. The impression I got was that he wants to elevate true art rather than elevating mass-produced foreign made trinkets that could be purchased at flea markets. He made it clear that his goal was for more Tahoe event oriented shows with items created locally by local artisans and local craftsmen who would have control of their own events and of their own artist guild rather than having only traveling Arts and Crafts Shows. He also said that he wanted the local arts community to know that they had support while also assuring the local shop owners that there was concern regarding their livelihoods which to me sounded reasonable and fair. I’m unfamiliar with any regulations that squelch creativity and make it impossible for artists and promoters to put Tahoe on the map as “the place to shop for and experience amazing art exhibitions, public art happenings, etc.”, and think that Tahoe artists need to come together and promote a vision that attracts visitors. I don’t think it’s the City government’s job to be the promoter of fine arts festivals but rather to ensure there’s an opportunity for those wanting to do the required work to make them happen. Also, Laine and Swanson said that they wanted to elevate local arts events but that they didn’t support more than 4 traveling Arts and Crafts Shows per year where the majority of the merchandise was the equivalent of mass-produced foreign made trinkets. I’ll not elaborate on my impressions of Conner’s and Davis’ tactics.
Thank you Robert. This is the best articulation of the possibilities for an enduring and appealing quality of life approach in South Tahoe published anywhere. You have made the business case for a future centered around “the place” and a community anchored by highly valued systems of education, arts, culture,and “clean industries”. You also clearly understand that the needed approach is to “grow the pie” not slice it into ever smaller internally competing pieces. As other contributors have noted that would suggest improving the appearance and overall quality of the art fairs in a manner that complements the retail arts establishments and brings more total visitors looking for this type of experience. Thank you also for noting the importance and contributions of citizen led initiatives like the Lake Tahoe Sustainability Collaborative to build the future one community piece at a time!
Well said, 4-mer-usmc. It may have been missed in my lengthy piece but I believe the artists must also do more on their own to create an image. However in my 40+ yrs here I haven’t seen the back-up and support needed for such efforts except in the late 80’s very early 90’s when Kerry Miller was City Mgr and lots of proactive gov people were helping smooth the way all around the Lake. The Tahoe Regional Arts Coalition made HUGE strides for 3-4 yrs and even developed a master plan for the region, but unfortunately the follow-up wasn’t there (implementation) and exhaustion, loss of key folks in gov, etc all took its toll. Re current status, my message is not one of supporting outside road shows, foreign trinkets, etc but of elevating everything and hoping the Council among others privately and publicly will take the tact of improving existing events (that affect more than just the arts) and looking for ways to free up our artists and encourage them to participate here. I can go on, but suffice it to say more can be done by everyone to create the image and economic attraction through the arts that Tahoe is capable of being, from A&C’s to MusicFests to Shakespeare to year-round happenings (galleries, arts conventions, etc) to public art interactive events and on and on.
Excellent article, Robert! You have a nice way of putting things into perspective. I disagree with the reduction of our art fairs. The reasoning is flawed. Nice comment that they could well have been upgraded to those high standards we have. It is a cycle of art helping art and all better off for it. Tahoe should be associated with art. Tahoe is art. The art from God put here for us to enjoy and appreciate. We can make Tahoe a mecca for art in a relatively short time but implementing policies that promote it. That will happen!
Mr. Schimmel:
I completely agree that Tahoe is an ideal environment for many different types of arts and cultural events. I do think that Cole, Laine and Swanson were genuine in their statements of wanting to elevate the arts in our community and with the new RPU, development of Area Plans, and the Recreation Master Plan being developed this might be an opportune time to garner support of the local government, rally the artisan and craftsmen “troops”, and resurrect and update that Tahoe Regional Arts Coalition Master Plan. Windows of opportunity can be so fleeting but after what was said in that last Council meeting by Cole, Laine and Swanson about elevating the arts in our City this may be the chance to jump on that. I do think there’s a place for a limited number of Arts and Crafts Shows and believe there is a segment of the population that thoroughly enjoys them. It seems to me there should be enough room in our community to accommodate numerous interest levels of various artistic endeavors.
Perhaps a study of how Santa Fe, NM and Sedona, AZ have created art friendly environments. Their art festivals attract many artists both local and from outside the city. They are ‘real’ artists, not people selling imported trinkets they just buy to resell.
Junk shows or art shows? Who is the judge? And will fewer shows in general tip the balance towards art?
The Stateline junk show is probably the worst offender and is outside the City’s jurisdiction. 2nd to that is the zebra rug vendor in Meyers, right where everyone is welcomed to the community and again is outside of the City’s jurisdiction.
Great article Robert.
Thanks.