September/October 1984 RAIN Page 25 Ho//y Near (Photo by Irene Young) Holly Near and Cultural Work serves the people/community/world, but also to creating networks and organizations that support the artist. I believe that to be a cultural worker one must be dedicated to the study of history, politics, and other people's art, maintain respect for humanity, stay in touch with people who are working for change, have a willingness to receive criticism from coworkers, and stretch so one's art keeps up to that state of mind. Above all it is important to recognize that this is work . .. work that deserves acknowledgment and respect in political communities." Over the past few years. Near has performed with various musicians from different cultures and musical traditions, including the Chilean folk group Inti- Illimani, the West Virginia folk group Trapezoid, the Weavers' Ronnie Gilbert, and the reggae group Afrikan Dreamland. She has visited many countries and learned from the cultures. Near writes, "Music has always helped me learn about people's lives, work, passions, and hopes—for people's music and culture make up the heart of a nation." For more information about Holly Near and her work, contact Cultural Work, Inc., 478 West MacArthur Boulevard, Oakland, CA 94609. Founded last year by Holly Near and her co-workers, Cultural Work is a nonprofit organization whose purpose is to further Near's educational, political, and noncommercial projects. Members contribute $15 or more per year and receive an occasional newsletter. Cultural Worker. □ □ by Tanya Kucak Folk music and women's music are at the cutting edge of social change. These are the people who are expressing humanistic and progressive values in what they choose to sing. Lyrics speak of values and of the life lived by the singer. There are scores of progressive musicians, but my favorite musician in this genre is Holly Near. She encompasses a broad range of concerns in her music, and she does so effectively and with much depth of feeling. Near's songs are beautiful and strong, and they penetrate to the heart. She sings about personal issues as well as political issues, work as well as love. Her vision is of a gentle, equal, tolerant, aware, caring humanity. According to Holly Near, "Progressive culture documents the past, it helps us to understand and survive the present, and it provides a vision for the future." She calls herself a cultural worker-. "Cultural Worker is a title usually associated with a progressive artist who is dedicated not only to creating conscientious art that The Chilean folk group Inti-Illimani
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