About
The artist team, Literati Players, have created "Art is Long, Life is Short" as a social art project. Using comic book styling, animation, audio and audience participation, the artists are creating webisodes that portray the daily struggles of teens living at risk.
Far too often, we live our day-to-day lives without taking the time to learn about the struggles, pain, and joy of others beyond our immediate social center of influence. This project looks to break down those barriers and help our audience see beyond themselves.
Children do not choose the environment they are born into. They do not decide if their childhood will be filled with innocence and wonder, or whether it will be filled with doubt and pain; whether they will be born into poverty or wealth, or whether they will be surrounded by love, or hate.
Far too often, we live our day-to-day lives without taking the time to learn about the struggles, pain, and joy of others beyond our immediate social center of influence. This project looks to break down those barriers and help our audience see beyond themselves.
Children do not choose the environment they are born into. They do not decide if their childhood will be filled with innocence and wonder, or whether it will be filled with doubt and pain; whether they will be born into poverty or wealth, or whether they will be surrounded by love, or hate.
Imagine you are a young boy. You are born into poverty to a father who is incarcerated, and a mother who is hooked on drugs and lives with an abusive boyfriend. At first you are young and trusting. As you grow up however, you begin to realize your life is a constant struggle. You mom's boyfriend hits you when he gets drunk. You feel ashamed that you can't stop him from beating you, your mother or your younger brother. Your mom has lost her job. The electricity has turned off in the house. Then the gas turns off. And finally, an eviction notice appears from the landlord. You are torn between what is morally right and what you feel is necessary for your family. Angrily, you lash out. You steal a car, you join a gang. You begin to sell drugs. You get caught. You get thrown into a juvenile detention center. And here begins the cycle. Who is to blame?
Time and time again, The Literati Players team has come across stories such as this, and time and time again, the team has questioned the very same thing: Who is to blame, and how can we stop this seemingly endless cycle of destruction? By combining art with social consciousness, we truly feel we can begin to shift social perception and break down barriers between people based on race, status, political beliefs, and religion. After all, we are all one.
Time and time again, The Literati Players team has come across stories such as this, and time and time again, the team has questioned the very same thing: Who is to blame, and how can we stop this seemingly endless cycle of destruction? By combining art with social consciousness, we truly feel we can begin to shift social perception and break down barriers between people based on race, status, political beliefs, and religion. After all, we are all one.
About Literati Players
The Literati Players, (a collaborative artist team consisting of Michele Fritz - a professional multimedia artist, Richard Fritz - a professional artist and entrepreneur, Crystal Gould - a professional actor, director and playwright, and collaborative artist Marcus Meriwether - writer), aims to build community awareness and social consciousness through the power of art.
The team has over 14 years experience working with youth and adults in community settings, shelters and rehabilitation centers, school environments and detention centers
Literati Players Project is the proud recipient of a 2012 Rocket Grant. And it is through this generous grant that the team was able to begin this project.
Support for this work is provided by a Rocket Grants project award, a program of the Charlotte Street Foundation and the University of Kansas Spencer Museum of Art. Funding is provided by the Andy Warhol Foundation for the Visual Arts.
The team has over 14 years experience working with youth and adults in community settings, shelters and rehabilitation centers, school environments and detention centers
Literati Players Project is the proud recipient of a 2012 Rocket Grant. And it is through this generous grant that the team was able to begin this project.
Support for this work is provided by a Rocket Grants project award, a program of the Charlotte Street Foundation and the University of Kansas Spencer Museum of Art. Funding is provided by the Andy Warhol Foundation for the Visual Arts.