Articles from this Category
The past two years have made it very clear that society has flaws baked-in; that the machinery of our democracy was built with bad math, and that people have suffered through history because of this. The bad math has created pockets of privilege — the kind that etches frailty into faith that government is fair-minded. A […]
Image: General George Washington Resigning His Commission, John Trumbull, oil on canvas, commissioned 1817, public domain. Burlington’s government has roots that auger downward through history to touch a bedrock of first principles. These are the organizing thoughts that define fairness in human experience where individuals have chosen to live together as a commonwealth. From those […]
Our daily routines — no matter how personal, joyful, or mundane — happen in the context of a local government that affects the quality of our lives. We elect our friends, neighbors, and wise or energized community voices with a simple faith in their ability and willingness to steer government forward toward more fairness in […]
City Councilors Wright, Hartnett and Knodell proposed a resolution that would alter the language of a March ballot item in support of which citizens gathered more than 1,780 validated signatures on their petition. I spoke in opposition to this suppression of the public voice at the City Council meeting last night. Councilors voted to preserve the […]
Update 8/17/2018: Seven Days reported on the release of the Mural Task Force recommendations this week.
UPDATE 7/15/2017: Video of this event is available at RETN. Please join me for this June 30 event. Peter Moskowitz’ book ‘How To Kill A City: Gentrification, Inequality, and the Fight for the Neighborhood’ illuminated ideas that could help keep Burlington’s growth ethical and fair. I feel fortunate that we have an opportunity to learn from him […]
This open letter to the Burlington City Council was written for Rights & Democracy with Shay Totten. It is guided by the Fair Development tool that is meant to keep Burlington’s growth equitable among multiple stakeholders, and governed by putting people first. We’re asking that the city council ensure than an open, transparent and public process is used to guide […]
“There are two ways to be fooled. One is to believe what isn’t true; the other is to refuse to believe what is true.” — Søren Kierkegaard Some things we hold dear, too fragile to take out of the drawer and risk the kitten will break it; too soft a secret to share, delicate and deserving […]
Tonight I experienced humble gratitude and sense of fraternity that is a rare pleasure. The Hergenrother Foundation welcomed me into the mix of speakers at the Ignite Burlington 2015 event at the Main Street Landing Performing Arts Center, and I gave the statement below, titled, ‘The Elevation of Agitation: Empowering Voices & Remembering Simple Truths.’ […]
Photo by Mark Randall Byland. The BCA board has voted to create permanent voting board seats, narrowing further the opportunity for us to participate in guiding our city’s investment and planning for the arts. The note below was sent today to City Council President Jane Knodell and a few city councilors who’ve been open-minded about what […]
From up high above the clouds, looking down, where all the world below seems green and blue and the sun is always shining, the city of Burlington welcomes everyone to participate in important decisions. Public engagement makes city planning and governing processes sparkle. It’s pretty and makes a person feel good. From up close, though, […]
On Monday, February 23, I asked Burlington political candidates the question below via email. Answers were requested to arrive by Friday at 3pm so they could be posted here and shared via social media with the wider arts community, coinciding with the final mayoral forum at Arts Riot. Responses have been published in alphabetical order without editing. Find […]
This letter was written collaboratively by visual and performing artists for the benefit of Burlington’s mayoral candidates. To Burlington Mayoral Candidates: Steve Goodkind Greg Guma Loyal Ploof Mayor Miro Weinberger Miro, Greg, Loyal & Steve: Below you’ll find an idealized arts policy position statement produced by close to a dozen local arts leaders collaborating via […]
A note sent today to Burlington arts champions and the city councilors who have kindly conversed on these subjects. Hey, All – Wishing a happy new year to everyone, with high hopes that we’ll see increased attention for transparency, inclusion, and a sustainable long-term vision by the city for its arts community. This note is […]
I made this statement to the Burlington City Council on January 12, 2015. I’m here to make a couple comments about how the city could make smarter and fairer plans for supporting the arts with its annual taxpayer-funded budget for that of more than $700,000. I work with creative people of all generations and artistic […]
I made the statement below on September 23, 2014 as a panelist during the ‘Burlington On Burlington’ discussion series presented by Arts Riot at Hotel Vermont. The Arts Riot crew — Felix, PJ, and Hillary — pulled together people from different backgrounds in local arts to talk about a different topic at each event. The title […]
The essay below started as a statement made to the Burlington City Council on January 27, 2014. The Burlington Free Press invited that the statement be expanded for their ‘Heart of Art’ series. It was published February 23, 2014. Special thanks to Emilie Stigliani, BFP Story Editor, and Brent Hallenbeck, BFP Arts & Entertainment Reporter. […]
This essay was published by the Burlington Free Press as a Heart of Art feature on November 29, 2012, http://www.burlingtonfreepress.com/article/20121202/ARTS/312020001/Heart-Art-James-Lockridge-makes-case-cultural-commons The arts encompass some of the most meaningful expressions humanity has to share — they embody our intellect, emotion and essential experiences in the most complete manner possible. The movement, color, words, melody, and the intricate […]
