There are few cities in Texas with an arts and music scene so strong that it may possibly rival ours in Lubbock.
Those who do? Austin, Dallas, Fort Price, Houston, and San Antonio — all of that are a lot, a lot larger than our 257,000 inhabitants and far, way more accessible to the expertise pool than our dusty metropolis that sits on the opposite facet of the state.
I do know most of you’re in all probability questioning what the hell I’m speaking about at this level … how might I even examine Lubbock to Austin? If that’s the case, it’s since you’ve not but immersed your self into this lovely, vibrant group that’s sprawling with natural-born and hard-earned expertise.
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For those who didn’t already know, we have now a thriving music scene with bands like Ronnie and the Redwoods, which was a finalist within the SXSW Jam within the Van competitors, and Above the Empire, who composed the music for “Dream with Me” – an award-winning documentary produced by the native PBS station – amongst many different abilities.
On any given night time, dozens of locations in Lubbock may have lined up bands and solo artists for stay music. And most weekends, there will probably be some home present, the place dozens of followers will pack out the property to hearken to their native favorites.
We even have a number of festivals all year long, together with the Lubbock Stay: Pageant for the Arts, which mixes performing arts, native music units, visible arts and culinary arts.
And the Buddy Holly Corridor brings a number of the greatest music acts on this planet to our downtown. This yr alone, we’ll have seen Peter Frampton, Boys II Males, Journey, Bob Dylan and Bizarre Al.
As a journalist for Texas Month-to-month as soon as mentioned, “Lengthy earlier than Austin was the Stay Music Capital of the World, a cotton-pickin’ Excessive Plains metropolis put Texas on the map.”
When it comes to the native arts scene, simply go searching; it’s all over the place.
After all, you understand concerning the First Friday Artwork Path, which brings in dozens, if not lots of, of artists and hundreds of holiday makers every month. And as you get nearer to downtown, you may see vibrant murals, walkways and storm drains.
However do you know that we have now three artwork merchandising machines throughout the town? Actually, a merchandising machine the place you’ll be able to order artwork from dozens of native ceramists, illustrators and jewelry-makers.
Do you know concerning the bimonthly Moonlight Markets or the semiannual Oddities Artwork Market? These occasions sometimes showcase extra distinctive works than these that you’d see on First Friday.
In the meantime, the East Lubbock Artwork Home presents free artwork lessons and workshops to anybody who needs to be an artist — particularly communities of colour.
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Sadly, far too many people take this a part of Lubbock with no consideration. Till lately, I do know I did.
I at all times noticed these occasions as social gatherings slightly than individuals’s livelihoods — or a minimum of, that’s what many hope will grow to be of it.
However a pair weeks in the past, I acquired the chance to collaborate with an area artist for a First Friday mission, and each little bit of my free time — outdoors of labor and college — concerned this mission.
Even nonetheless, I’ve a 2-year-old at dwelling, so I couldn’t keep till 3 a.m. like lots of the different collaborators did, a number of instances, whereas having to get up at 6 a.m. for his or her full-time job. Plus, I already had the bulk provides for my particular person collaboration; the others didn’t.
Regardless, I spent 15 to twenty hours within the sizzling studio, that had no air-con, serving to create this. And on the finish of the day, individuals got here in, glanced and walked away. And that was it.
That is one thing your native artists and musicians expertise each time they create. They spend hours cultivating their works so that you can take pleasure in for 2 minutes tops, and so they spend lots of of {dollars} or extra for next-to-nothing in return.
Once more, most of those artists are deeply educated and educated in these fields however spend elsewhere working a day-job simply to maintain their payments paid.
Many will blame the artists for getting such a ‘wasteful’ diploma, nevertheless it’s not truthful in charge the artists. All of us eat artwork every day, so it is time to abandon the mindset that their educations have been a waste.
As a substitute, for those who see one thing you want, contemplate tipping the artist — or perhaps even purchase one thing.
This text initially appeared on Lubbock Avalanche-Journal: Addison: It is time to recognize Lubbock native arts, music group
