|
Joseph
Kagle Jr.
Professor, McLennan Community College, TX
Field: U.S. Studies - Art History
Arts Consortium: Georgia State Academy of Fine Arts, Tbilisi State
Conservatory, Art Villa Garikula.
Dates of Grant: June 23, 2003-July 7, 2003
It is evening of the second day at Garikula. I hung my exhibition
at the house and then took it down since the wind was a critic
and blasted it from the walls. Four nights ago I opened my major
exhibition at the National Gallery, Georgia Art and Culture Center,
to over 1000 in attendance, 15 interviews for TV, radio, and newspapers,
and one offer to host a cooking television show (since the American
Embassy thought that an artist would be good to have on a cooking
show). Taking the exhibition down for the Fourth of July American/Georgian
Freedom Celebration makes no difference. I will put it up again
on the 4th. Between the exhibition at the National Museum and
this event in Garikula, I will have shown over 225 new works.
 |
It was refreshing to go back to Georgia and work with the new
Museum Association (which I suggested and then stepped back so
that Georgians could take it over). We worked on a mission statement
(patterned after the American Association of Museums' model).
It was good to see that what I began has taken root and is now
growing. I told them last year, "If you rise the cultural
waters, all the institutional boats will go up."
They have. What I got started this time was a new collaboration
between the opera society, the leading theater company, a film
museum and some other arts organizations who always went their
own way, afraid to trust others and suspicion of linking into
a collaborative team. I think that this one might also take root
and grow. They are at least talking to each other and sharing
ideas now on a monthly basis (I am told by e-mail).
 |
One of the best things that I got to do on my grant was the first
International Silk Road Symposium. Besides having my writing published
with other leaders along the new silk road, I got to know scholars,
thinkers, and activists along the new silk road of information
(which is now two main strands-that through Tbilisi and Istanbul
and now that through Moscow). By working closely with individuals
who were also searching for ways to bring democracy and freedom
to the emerging nations along this new road of information, I
found that many of my stereotypes that are built from the media
images of people were shattered. I met two Iranian scholars who
were a true joy to know. We discussed how we could continue to
communicate in a world at conflict and war. We just may bring
it off now that we trust each other.
 |
With the two exhibitions of my new work and ideas that my Fulbright
grant gave me, I brought some of the artists friends and new acquaintances
into a 21st-century mind set for looking at the world. What American
artists and educators can do is bring ideas, images and systems
to Georgia which can be wedded to the rich cultural heritage and
again grow into something that neither they nor I realize will
happen. What Fulbright Specialists and Scholars bring to a culture
is flexibility of thought, a love of inquiry and a passion for
learning (which has found and will find fertile ground in Georgia,
along the silk road and all through the Caucasus). Working with
the students on new ideas, we as Fulbright representatives are
setting the scene for profound change in a society where the Soviets
set the mind backward instead of the visions extending into a
bright, new future. I saw some of the students had expanded their
visions since I was last with them. With e-mail, there is no reason
that I will not hear and see new changes that they will initiate.
|
