Art by the Majority for the Majority

What if everyone played a musical instrument? And danced? Is that so outrageous to think about? And if so, why?

El Sistema is a project in Venezuela that's bringing music to the masses. According to the website:

"250,000 children and young adults are currently playing a musical instrument, and by 2010 these numbers will have doubled. It’s an astonishing development brought about by one person, first and foremost: José Antonio Abreu."

Mr. Abreu is a composer, a conductor . . . and an economist. A seemingly odd collection of careers, but a combination that led him to combine social work with classical music to provide kids from the slums a chance at a life off the streets.

“Originally art was made by a minority for a minority. Then it became art by a minority for the majority, and now we are at the beginning of a new era, where art is intended by the majority for the majority.” José Antonio Abreu

Power to the people, and power to the magic of the arts.

Serious vs. Solemn

Now that I get the TED Talks downloaded straight into iTunes, I've been feasting on new ideas and topics. One of my recent favorites is Paula Sher's talk, "Great design is serious (not solemn)".

Well-known in the design world as someone who creates trends rather than follows them, Ms. Sher talks about the difference between serious play and solemn work. When we have the intention of truly being in the moment, of playing and exploring for no other reason than to play and explore, that's when real creativity comes forth. Once we put a high value on something, a style or an end product, then the work becomes solemn, and takes us out of the moment. We then lose any playfulness and sense of exploration.

So much of American life has become solemn, and look where that's gotten us. We're long overdue for some serious play.