The connection art can make between people and cultures is one that’s quickly being lost, unjustly overlooked, and sometimes maligned in late Capitalism’s inexorable pursuit of turning every damn thing into product, including the creative expression of humans. It is not the food and medicine that keep bodies alive, but humans are more than just our bodies. The common thread in these experiences has been how vital art is to individual well-being and community cohesion. I’ve witnessed strangers become friends over banging out Bob Dylan covers on busted up guitars, marginalized youth finding their voices and inner strength through the spoken word, lifetime friendships formed by dancing with fireballs on chains in city parks and vast deserts, and the eyes of refugee kids lighting up when they figure out how to keep a hoop going around their waists – and manage to pull off some tricks too. It’s been a credo for me throughout my adult life, and has influenced the hobbies I’ve pursued, the goals I’ve set for myself, the friends I’ve made and the communities I’ve been a part of. The phrase “art will save us” has been a guiding principle of my life since I came to this realization. I have long understood that the arts hold greater capacity than to merely decorate or entertain. What is the purpose and meaning of art? Ask a thousand artists, you’ll get a thousand answers - and in this Big Idea for The Circus Infinite, author Khan Wong offers his take… and it’s a compelling one.
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