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Is Art Important?

Wynton Marsalis answers ForYourArt's favorite question in the new editions of MAP ForYourArt, Chicago and New York

"All of us in the arts are part of one big family. We train the senses and we train memory and it gives us confidence to face the world. We are part of something that is great and something that is important and something that is very significant. The thing that the arts does is it integrates all of us.
The artists have done their work. Thoreau did his work, Whitman did his work, Duke Ellington did his work, John Philip Sousa did his work, Gershwin did his work, it is up to us to capitalize on the riches that they have bequeathed us. It is the most significant thing for us to pass on to our kids, the best of who we are." - Wynton Marsalis

For our first publications tailored to New York City and to Chicago, ForYourArt has created a new edition of MAP ForYourArt, the 72-page pocket-sized guide to give readers inside tips for the summer 2009 season of art and music.

In addition to Wynton Marsalis, Musician and Artistic Director at Jazz at Lincoln Center, we also asked special contributors Glenn D. Lowry, Director of the Museum of Modern Art and Dominic Molon, Curator, Museum of Contemporary Art, Chicago, why culture is essential to them in our regular feature Is Art Important?

With both MAPs themed for American Revolutionaries, Ovation TV’s annual summer programming event, MAP ForYourArt highlights jazz, blues and R&B icons that have been influential in the past 60+ years with a special section dedicated to African American musicians that have helped shape American music: Chuck Berry, Miles Davis, Aretha Franklin, Jimi Hendrix, Howlin’ Wolf, Wes Montgomery, Bud Powell, Bessie Smith and Ella Fitzgerald.

ForYourArt has also curated listings that include art galleries, museums, jazz clubs, bookstores and nonprofits throughout New York City and Chicago, to offer a bird’s-eye view of each city. In addition, our signature Plan ForYourArt offers readers a well-chosen schedule of events, concerts and art openings that should be on their calendars from June through September.

MAP ForYourArt is free and available at select museums, galleries, nonprofits, bookstores and cafes throughout New York City and Chicago from June through September 2009 or online at www.foryourart.com.