This week there are many opportunities to support the arts in West Central by attending the Festival of Arts being hosted at Salem Lutheran Church. It isn't just a fundraiser or another event to jam into your already full schedules, it's a missional movement. Neighborhoods that face the challenges and opportunity of increased poverty are ripe communities for the nourishing fruit of art.

Art celebrates truth and beauty, be it the darkness or light aspects of human and divine experience. As people of witness, we are a sharing people. Our stories are our offerings, and our testimonies. Through song, poems, paintings, pictures, dance and crafting of anything that nourishes the body, soul or spirit, we commune with one another and God from whom all our voicing come.

All fruit is best enjoyed when eaten and I want to encourage you to come to the festival and feast on the bounty lovingly provided by the artists and our neighborhood friends in West Central. These neighborhoods have wonderful people and places to celebrate. By attending you bring encouragement and joy to those who have worked so hard to put this event together. So come down, get a coffee at INDABA, view the many different types of art displayed, buy something beautiful, create art at one of the interactive tables, talk to an artist, or just say thanks for the good work being done in West Central through the Book Parlor, Salem Lutheran and the many other folks creating beauty in our city.

Don't forget about the Thursday night's Poetry Reading at 7 pm. in Salem Lutheran's sanctuary. It should be an moving presentation of spoken word by a handful of local poets.

"When power leads man toward arrogance, poetry reminds him of his limitations. When power narrows the areas of man's concern, poetry reminds him of the richness and diversity of his experience. When power corrupts, poetry cleanses. For art establishes the basic human truths which must serve as the touchstones of our judgment. The artist. . . faithful to his personal vision of reality, becomes the last champion of the individual mind and sensibility against an intrusive society and an offensive state."
-John F. Kennedy

Festival Calendar

• Sept. 24, 26, Gallery open 11a.m-1 p.m; 4 p.m-8 p.m
• Sept. 27, Gallery open 11 a.m-1 p.m; 4 p.m-9 p.m, Poetry readings 7 p.m-9 p.m
• Sept. 28, Concert night 7 p.m-9 p.m