When you think of Anderson Township, what is the first thing that pops into your mind? The answer may depend on how much time you spend on social media. If you spend more time online than you’d like to admit, the first thing that came to you was probably chicken or political division.
As for chicken, what can you say? It’s true. We love our mass-produced poultry deep-fried in industrial seed oils. In fact, it seems we can’t get enough of it, and if the day ever comes that we finally do get our fill, there is no shortage of medical buildings within crawling distance to offer us a bed. Hmmm… It’s almost like these are connected.
If you thought about political division, I would ask you this: Are we really that divided? I think it only seems that way on social media or after a downtown news station hit piece that only tells part of the story. Proxy culture wars aside, I think we all get along just fine in the real world of Anderson Township. I just got back from Kroger, and I’m happy to report there were no race wars in the bread aisle. I think some of us just like the drama of contention. Maybe it’s because we’re bored and suffer from a suburban malaise, or affluenza, and there’s nothing like manufacturing political drama and beating up straw men to make us feel alive again.
For those of you who spend more of your time in the real world, the first thing that came to your mind when you thought of Anderson may have been safe neighborhoods, or our highly rated school district. A safe place to raise and educate your kids is certainly a good thing, but let’s not pat ourselves on the back too hard for achieving what amounts to standard living conditions. I mean, let’s face it, Anderson is not going to earn a chapter in the history books for manageable crime rates and GPAs. I’m just saying.
Here are two things I guarantee didn’t come to your mind when you thought of Anderson Township: art and culture. Although we have quite a few artists and musicians who live in Anderson Township, we have no real public art or music scene that I’m aware of. In fact, I’ve been informed quite a few of our local artists travel to Northside, Norwood, and other more vibrant spaces to share and produce their work. So, why are our local artists outsourcing their presence and talents to other communities? It’s probably because there are no meaningful spaces here for them to congregate.
What if I told you there is a group looking to change that?
Culture Generators
I’d like to introduce you to the Anderson Art Collaborative, a grassroots local project that seeks to tap into creative talents around the east side while building community relationships at the same time.
Core members of the Collaborative, Nancy Fuller, Cindy Gajus, Patti McDonald, Sarah Cox, and Amy West met with me after they read my opinion piece on how Anderson is disengaged and disconnected. Little did I know that as I ranted about the lack of culture being generated in Anderson, the Anderson Art Collaborative was already on the case. The group is still in its infancy, hosting small public events to gauge community response. But, despite these humble beginnings, their vision is incredibly important and perhaps the opportunity of a lifetime for a community that is starving for an identity.
“We want the Anderson Art Collaborative to be a place where people can build long-term friendships through creativity,” Nancy Fuller said. She talked about how art can bring people together, and part of their mission is to include all levels of talent to some degree, but her vision for the Collaborative goes beyond that. It also seeks to create a network where local artists can set up shop, display and sell their work, receive commissions, and earn revenue.
I don’t want to spoil any surprises here, but part of their big picture vision is to establish a public art center with artist studios and galleries where artists can work, and locals can browse and even shop for local art. Think of workshops also, and other collaborative ventures open to the entire community.
It’s really a multifaceted vision. On one hand, there is a level of community service that caters to all ages and abilities, but on the other hand, there is a sharp focus on promoting and engaging with established local talent to just let them do their thing. Sometimes, but not always, the two will come together. For example, Patti McDonald, one of the core members and an accomplished painter herself, also founded Art With Intention, a program that uses guided painting to help children and adults with developmental challenges create works of art.
Calling All Artists
One of their initial steps, besides getting their story out there, is to identify and connect with local artists in our community. This is not exclusive to Anderson residents. The Collaborative is looking for artistic talent around the east side. But first, it’s important to understand their definition of an artist. Some people automatically think of an artist only as a painter with a brush and an easel, but The Anderson Art Collaborative wants you to know their scope is much broader. For example, here are some examples of mediums they are interested in:
- Painting
- Sculpture
- Drawing
- Photography
- Mosaics
- Jewelry
- Textiles
- Multimedia
- Singing
- Music
- Dancing
- Acting
- Poetry
Again, these are just some examples. If you fit the bill, and you live on the east side of Cincinnati, the Anderson Art Collaborative wants to hear from you as they have set up a convenient questionnaire for you to fill out. Just go to this link, or scan the QR code in the following flyer. Participating in the questionnaire is not a commitment of any kind, but it will put you on their radar as they move forward.
After they gather a list of local artists, their next step will arguably be the most challenging, and that will be to find a space. It won’t be easy, but I have faith that the community and perhaps the Township will do their best to help Nancy, Cindy, Patti, Sarah, and Amy succeed. We should all consider their endeavor to be nothing less than an investment into the soul of our community. And what could be more important when you really think about it?
Be sure to go to the Anderson Art Collaborative Facebook page to like and follow them. Also, if you have any questions, or want to know how you can help or support the project, contact them at andersonartcollaborative@gmail.com.
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