I
recently attended NYNow (Formerly known as the International Gift
Fair). While walking the aisles in an area called
“Artisan Resource” I had some thoughts that I wanted to share.
This
section of the show was created specifically for “overseas
enterprises, to showcase their products. It
was brimming with wonderful handmade creations; weavings, jewelry,
baskets, hand dyed scarves and other textiles, wood
carvings, ornaments and pottery. They came from all over the world;
Laos, Cambodia, Philippines, Peru, Palestine,
El
Salvador, Colombia, India, Ghana, Brazil, Afghanistan....and on and
on.
The
story is told in posters and photos displayed in each booth: Women
in small villages; their only way of making a
living is by producing their specialty; the skills to make their
products are passed down through generations, etc.
The
story is fairly consistent for each of these locales and we are
encouraged to support these small communities. They
are remote, poverty-stricken, needy. Our
support gives them hope, encouragement, a road to a better life.
What
a great idea! After all, Americans are voracious consumers of goods.
Why not purchase for a worthy cause?
Here's
where these thoughts entered my mind: What about AMERICA?
American Artists, American Craftsmen,
American
Artisans. Soooo many talented people living in communities all
across our nation, from the big metropolis
to
the rural locale off the beaten path. From the left coast to the
right coast, and in the “flyover” country in between, this
country is blessed with incredible, gifted individuals who derive
their living from their chosen medium/craft.
It
is an understatement to say it is a struggle, a challenge, a real
fight to stay afloat financially for most American “Creatives”.
There is no enterprise that specifically encourages us to support
our “local” talent.
So,
I say, begin your “good-cause consuming” at home. Sustain lives,
families, communities in your own neighborhoods FIRST!
Get out there and find unbelievably creative and original treasures
made by AMERICANS. Find them at local and regional
shows, exhibits and fairs. Find them online. (ETSY is a good place
to begin)
Purchase!
Share your finds with others. Spread the word. Support those in
the USA doing what they love; creating with
love; hoping to just get by and maybe build a tiny nest egg. Most
have no retirement plan, no health care, no guaranteed
paycheck.
Yes,
it is a chosen profession, but shouldn't we all be doing what we love
as our chosen profession? And shouldn't we
be compensated for the blood, sweat and tears it takes to create our
“products”?
I
say, emphatically, YES! YES, to America First! YES, to helping
someone realize their hopes and dreams! YES, to showing
every single, talented “Creative” that they live in the greatest
country in the world, where a vision and
hard
work can transform our lives. Where we can use our God-given
abilities to create something wonderful, share
it
with the world, and earn a decent living doing it.
USA
USA USA!
Creatively Yours
