Daisaku Ikeda has described the potential of art to reveal a common humanity: “A living work of art is life itself, born from the dynamic fusion of the self (the microcosm) and the universe (the macrocosm) ... If we accept ... the interconnection of all living things, then art becomes the elemental modality through which humans discover their bonds with humans, humanity with nature, and humanity with the universe.”
New Face Productions was an enabler of that phenomenon at the end of February. In collaboration with Fort Lewis College Community Concert Hall, it brought Tim Robbins and The Actors Gang to Durango to perform “The New Colossus.”
This collaborative effort fostered a cultural exchange that honored the identities and experiences of countless migrants and refugees who seek a better life for themselves and their families. By evening’s end, an interconnection was forged within the confines of the concert hall. Borders were not erased, languages remained incomprehensible and yet the spirit to strive for what is best in humanity was revealed.
The mirror of human struggle faced the audience, who in turn embraced the knowledge that no matter how diverse a body of people may be, fundamentally they have more in common than not. Unmasked and vulnerable, the audience was able to respond in kind to the performers and one another. That is a colossal achievement among strangers in these times. Most excellent.
Thank you, New Face Productions.
Katherine LoagueDurango
