Susan Gallacher Turner is interviewing artists about their lives and work, posting on her blog. The latest interview is with artist and author Janet Riehl.
Riehl describes how when she moved to Lake County, CA, a sparsely populated, breathtakingly beautiful, poor, rural locale, she made it her mission to promote arts and culture within the county, in every media possible: writing, visual art, and performance. She sponsored poetry readings, a monthly writing circle, as well as creating outdoor celebrations-performances-installations in both state parks in the county.
A creative life is often perceived as solitary and self involved, Janet Riehl shows how often art grows into activism and community involvement. I love how she sums up her life, "In other words, my life was not unlike the lives of most practicing artists: I did what I could, when I could, as well as I could."
Those are good words to live by.
2 comments:
Patrick,
So glad you found my interview with Janet! I was amazed by the variety of 'art' she has done throughout her life so far. Now she has decided to narrow her focus to writing, but not before she explored many many other areas. It's such a wonderful example to all of us, that being an artist means being creative in whatever ways work for us at the time.
Patrick,
Thanks for featuring my interview with Susan Gallacher-Turner.
I love your precis. I also love your interconnections. Seeing that sculpture and dance and so much more are intertwined.
This wider view is sorely needed in this time of specialization.
Janet Riehl
www.riehlife.com
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