In a recent interview for a forthcoming newspaper article, I noted that visual and performing artists play a particular, essential role in the Victory Garden renaissance. I added that I thought creative souls are bellwethers for the revival.
Why?
Generally speaking, it's often artists, landscape designers, architects, writers and others that are the first to sign up for fresh ideas and to dedicate time to nurture them. Eventually, others lock on to the concept, too--thanks in large part to the earlier creative "pioneers."
Having spent much of my life around artistic types, one might say that I'm guilty of placing too high a premium on people who create for a living.
And yet...look around...look at just who is promoting the Victory Garden idea...
This summer, Chicago's Walkabout Theatre staged War Garden, a new play, in community gardens across the city. In San Francisco, foodies oohed and aahed at the Slow Food Nation Victory Garden, which is based on an earlier project created by artists and designers in one of the country's most creative communities. As we speak, a fiction writer is documenting her own adventures in Victory Garden on her blog, and we've got at least one artist designing contemporary Victory Garden-themed posters.
Heck, there are several crafty folks selling VG stuff featuring old propaganda over at Cafe Press. I haven't even touched on the innumerable journalists and columnists that have touted the revival nationwide since April when I launched this blog. Oh, and then there are other "knowledge workers"...non-profit execs, academics and independent scholars...all talking about Victory Gardens in a variety of media.
Something's up, I think.
Do you agree?
Do you think creative types are the bellwether for the Victory Garden movement?
Create a comment and share your POV.
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