Arts Community Rallies Around ‘Tattered’ LACE : Marginalized Artists Need a Creative Forum

While I could comment on many aspects of Allan Parachini’s article “Mending a Tattered LACE,” I will only address the quote that was attributed to me suggesting that “. . . maybe LACE shouldn’t exist anymore.” I believe that LACE is a vital and irreplaceable part of the Los Angeles arts community. It is an artists’ organization dedicated to the principles of self-determination for artists, particularly marginalized artists (people of color, women, gays and lesbians and those making art the content or form of which is not readily accessible).

LACE has been committed to freedom of expression, multiculturalism and the presentation of work without the limitations of the marketplace long before it was in vogue to do so.

As such, the discussion of whether LACE should exist or not is a dialogue that we have always engaged in--even when LACE was in its prime. Our strength came from being willing to close our doors rather than to compromise an artist or the work of any artist. Any organization that is responsive to artists’ concerns must challenge itself by rigorous re-evaluation and redefinition. These are concepts that allow change to take place. They should not be read as demise.

Yes, artists’ organizations are in crisis. They have always struggled, but now they are in the forefront of the censorship debate and are a most vulnerable component of the arts community. However, we are like cockroaches--we have scrounged for so many years we’ll be around for a long time.

To help ensure that artists and their presenting organizations can continue to do their work in an open and free environment, I left LACE to start the National Campaign for Freedom of Expression. I also left because organizations like LACE need new blood.

Los Angeles needs LACE, reinvigorated and kicking.