July 2006 Page 12

> "No Child Left Behind" in the arts?
Congress is now debating how/when/why/if the arts should (imagine that!) be included in the basic curriculum of public schools. Having held my nose long enough to write that sentence, AMERICANS FOR THE ARTS, a well-established national advocacy group, is asking people to (for heaven sake) write to Congress and explain why our representatives and educators should include art in American education's sorta new and still wobbly, in my opinion, "No Child Left Behind" policy - which has since inception seen the teaching of art reduced by 22% nationwide.

AFTA makes it REAL easy to do your letter online. Take ten minutes of your time, and maybe help save the next generation of artists.
www.americansforthearts.com
jbleland@artsusa.org

> AMERICAN SURREALIST INITIATIVE - exhibition update
100 artists and several alternates have been selected to participate in the 2008 AMERICAN SURREALIST INITIATIVE exhibition at the Saginaw Art Museum, Michigan.

On April 20th 2006 I was relieved of my duties as Curator of that museum. However, the exhibit remained on a staff, committee and Board-approved advanced schedule and has every possibility of taking place still. Saginaw's Director has assumed responsibility for all curatorial functions. Changes in staff may occur there as with any other museum. Those in charge may elect to continue with the show, change its dates or completely cancel it. Cancellation of this landmark exhibition would be almost tragic at this stage of American art history.

Since the Email addresses (resumes, statements etc.) of participating artists were part of my research there, they are proprietary and I was unable to bring them with me. However, concerned artists have two options that I am aware of:

~ 1. I have re-started VISUAL ART ACCESS, a private company (established 1987). See www.visualartaccess.com or http://arthrobs.blogspot.com/ for contact points to me directly.
~ 2. Letters may be written to the museum at lreker@saginawartmuseum.org or mbraun@saginawartmuseum.org, or 1126 N. Michigan, Saginaw 48602 urging them to keep the exhibit on their schedule in 2008 or some other time, and giving your reasons for the request.

Help is needed to spread this news to any artist known to have become part of the show, as there was no time to do so myself in April.

Thank you all for your patience, cooperation and encouragement. Let us remain hopeful that AMERICAN SURREALIST INITIATIVE will occur as planned... the fruition of many year's work.