Letters for June 14, 2012

What? Another?

Re “It’s complicated”

(Arts & Culture, May 24):

I am writing about the RAW: Natural Born Artist movement. When not one person I asked could tell me the actual, tangible benefit of participating, why they had to pay, or where the money goes, in anything other than canned press points, I decided to investigate. What I found seems disturbing, and I’d love your newspaper to investigate more for a follow-up article, as this has all the makings of a con job. By all accounts, this event will raise almost $5,000 (17-20 artists at $200 each, plus whatever comes in through the door).

It would be great to know where that money goes, how much of it stays local, or goes to actually support the participating artists. I fear that these funds, raised on the backs of our local artists and their fans, goes directly to support the salaries of a bunch of folks in Los Angeles. I shot an email to founder Heidi Luerra, telling her I was asked to write about RAW for a local blog—which at the time, I was—and received no real answers to any of my questions. In fact, when I asked again, very politely, to have some sort of percentage breakdown of where the ticket sales go—how much money stays local; how much supports the local director; and what the rest goes to fund—I received a curt email back saying RAW does not disclose financial information, followed by another email asking for my “press credentials and the name of my supervisor.” Looks like I hit a nerve. People have learned (most recently from KONY 2012 and Susan B. Komen Foundation) to ask where the money goes. If an organization has a hard time telling you where, there’s probably a reason they want that hidden. RAW: Natural Born Artists is not for artists, it’s for a few folks in bigger cities making money on the backs of hundreds of artists in smaller towns participating in their showcases. It certainly is complicated. Our artists deserve more and deserve better.

Lea Miller
Reno

Gone to the dogs

Re “The secret life of Google” (Feature story, May 24):

Dogs at Google? What for? Are they going for the Third World Chic look?

Don Manning
Reno

Support neighbors

Re “No one’s home” (Election, June 7):

Is is strange to you that the offender always has the best defense? Half a block from an elementary school, two doors down from a bus stop? What about the kids who already live in this neighborhood? Why add to the multitude of trials and tribulations that youth already have to deal with? 60 kids rotating through this house every year! Good luck selling your home! I am no expert, but I’m pretty sure that facilites like this seek solitude for a reason. Maybe for a real chance at success?

Bill Winks
Reno

Support children

Re “No one’s home” (Election, June 7):

Of course, we all recognize addiction is an illness and not a moral judgment. When doing so, we as well recognize the community supports are necessary to the health and welfare of the individuals recovering with addictions. This would be ever more prevalent for kids with dual-diagnosis. That the community can readily adapt to children and teens with dual-diagnostic needs and offer the variety of supports is fantastic! What a wonderful and knowledgeable community to be able to do what is needed for kids. It is very unfortunate when the educational level of a community is that which cannot adapt to the needs of its children, forever setting children up for failure and a lifetime of self-fulfilling prophecy in telling kids, “That is what you are, it is, and that is all you (it) will ever be!” Or, similar excuses to denying the necessary community support. Recall, “It takes a village.”

Lori Santos
Reno

Water, oh well

Re “Dry spell” (Green, May 31):

“Dry Spell” by Ashley Hennefer is a great little article. Oddly and paradoxically, given White Pine County, Clark County, et al, per the author, are in a Stage 2 “severe” drought alert, someone should have advised Nevada State Engineer Jason King before he recently ruled to allow Las Vegas to abscond with nearly 84,000 acre-feet from various above- and below-ground water sources in White Pine County! I guess Las Vegas, in light of this recent ruling, will no longer be drought stricken. Politics at its finest.

Dan Streight
Reno

Missed opportunity

Re “The Money Pit” (Feature story, May 31):

First of all, don’t we have enough people in this highly creative town who have the ability to just make what is already there work? A massive revamp seems hardly necessary other than possibly sound and lighting, but that does not need to be state of the art for the size of that theater. It does not need to be the latest and greatest. It just needs to be a beautiful, inspiring old building with its own character and genuine talent to play in it.

Secondly, I worry that the Lear will become insular and riddled with red tape and as such will be moved out of reach for people who want to create there, but are not affiliated with an established (read: exclusive) organization and face difficulties because of cost, bureaucracy or politics. What we need is a venue where local producers can create freely without the burden of thousands of dollars in venue fees. Maybe a set portion of ticket sales and bar/concessions in addition to the foundation, grants or any combination of the above to which the production has access, could pay for the venue and the production could be the focus of the organization creating it.

Companies could bring their own technicians or pay for a house tech depending on what the company can afford. Some of their costs could be defrayed by service provided to the theater such as light maintenance cleaning, office work, etc. throughout their rehearsal/performance schedule. That is what this community theater/nonprofit should be. It should not ever become dominated by one or another group of particular artists, and it should not cost what venues such as Wingfield Park cost to put on a show there. Especially if it is something being offered free to the public and has been sanctioned by the venue or directors of whatever event it serves (i.e. Artown).

I wonder if too much money is wasted on redundancies in administration such that possibly inflated costs must be assumed by the artist or the price of ticketing. I think there are enough committed, creative people here to make the theater run very well on very little money by artists themselves with minimal oversight. Look at what a camp at Burning Man can do. Look at what community looks like in maker circles where greatness is produced on minimal budgets with nothing more than intelligence, ingenuity, commitment, willingness and minimal bureaucracy. If all the money up until now had been used with integrity, by people who did not adhere to an old and inefficient “business” model of non-profits requiring redundant and resource-sucking full-time “directors” but instead chose people who used their positions to maximize volunteer input and minimize bureaucracy, it would be so much more alive.

There would be enough to get something very cool going and sustaining that could offer a springboard to local performing art rather than the anchors we are often handed by venues through fees, undue red tape and other prohibitive obstructions to access. It almost makes me think that a self-capitalized artist co-op model might work better. That way, there is less of a chance of a drain being made by people who talk much and look good on paper, but really just create problems so they can ensure their future as “problem solvers.” We don’t need overseers, we need community theater. I believe that is what the Lears would have loved to see.

Jill Marlene
Reno