Paradise Art Alliance brings The Ridge's artistic community together under one giant umbrella.

Human Resilience Through Art

Prior to the Camp Fire, the town of Paradise very likely had more artists per square mile than any other neighboring community. A thriving arts scene had established itself in the town long ago, and many of these artists persevered and were determined to revive it in the community following the fire. This effort to overcome often insurmountable obstacles to continue to create was noticed by a number of art organizations in Paradise. They also witnessed collaborations happening amongst artists and recognized a new opportunity to help lend leadership to the community on public art issues. The Paradise Arts Alliance was born from this desire to support artists and the town of Paradise.

David Leon Zink, who sits on the board of directors of the Paradise Arts Alliance as the vice chair says that the community “recognized a need to help increase awareness of Paradise as a burgeoning, arts-engaged community as The Ridge recovers and grows.” Their mission is to raise the profile, support communication, educate, and encourage art appreciation and collaboration in the arts community.

Perhaps the best way to understand what the Paradise Arts Alliance does is to take a look at the occasion which fostered the organization. It began with the idea of planning several events around the one-year commemoration of the Camp Fire. During that initial gathering, organization after organization stepped forward for the opportunity to join in, resulting in a weeklong roster of activities. One such event was Joy Will Find a Way: Experience Butte County’s Resilience Through the Arts at the Paradise Performing Arts Center. The twohour-long show ran twice and consisted of 29 different acts. Over 150 artists of various types of media performed including poets, musicians, dancers,

photographers, and videographers. Songwriters collaborated with the Paradise Symphony Orchestra, and poets from Paradise High School offered a mixed media performance combining film, spoken word, and music. There was an art gallery in the lobby. David says of the extravaganza, “It said, ‘look, we’re recovering.’”

Following the fire, the landscape of Paradise was dark and black, then after the early rains, green shoots began poking up from that sea of darkness, and that’s how David views the art spirit in human beings. “It’s the first sign of human resilience, when a human begins to create. The spirit of that event was to hold a mirror up to the community and say, ‘look, this is you in the act of the recovery.’” It was a narrative of hope which addressed the tragedy head on, but then pointed to a great new future that the community could look forward to. The process of putting together those events for the one-year commemoration brought all the arts organizations together for the first time. They were able to begin to talk about how they could help with the recovery of Paradise. It was out of the community working together towards one shared goal that the Paradise Arts Alliance was born.

David Leon Zink says, “The art we create is our way of saying, ‘I exist.’ The enjoyment of the arts is a way of catching each other in the act of living.” Paradise Arts Alliance members see engagement and involvement in the arts as a great way of catching the community in the act of being alive, being well, and creating a bright new future.

To find out more about the Paradise Arts Alliance, visit their new website at www.ParadiseArts.org