by James L. Sides

There exists a plethora of publications crowding every 7-11 on every street corner in America. If you pick up your local hodge-podge cram everything into one issue publication you will be enlightened on the dating habits of middle age overweight mammals, as well as the latest basketball fashions. You can find an ocean of information extolling the virtues of every hot dog stand and t-shirt shop on planet earth. If you look toward the front of your favorite we do everything but nothing well publication you can even read a note from the editor explaining why those middle age overweight dating habits are important to Mr. or Mrs. Fat Farm Editor themselves.

Does it sound like I'm ranting? Again?

My point is- trees are important to our environment while most publications are not. It doesn't seem right that trees are chopped down so that worthless printed matter can litter our streets and fill our landfills. Freedom of speech allows anyone to print anything they wish, but we as consumers are not forced to pick up these products. If consumers are willing to continue to patronize these publications, then nothing will change. If the public is willing to participate in mediocrity then mediocrity it is. Americans seem to buy into the least meaningful, most trite publications they can find. Pick up a publication and check out what is not in the issue, substance for example.

A problem exists when an article, written by a journalist (a person without an artistic clue) explaining what Vincent Van Gogh was really thinking when he painted his Sunflowers goes unquestioned by the readers.

Our forefathers thought everything in print was true. It seems that the pendulum has swung the other way, everything in print should be viewed as untrue until proven otherwise. Your local run an editorial on any burger stand that will take an ad publication will and does tell you whatever the advertiser is paying for. This is what we have come to accept as quality in a publication..... It is up to you as the consumer to demand quality from any product that you patronize.

We at Visions are going to tell it like it is. It is part of our job as artists to see things with a fresh eye, to look closely and question what is often overlooked. Our job is to accurately portray our particular vision of life, often that challenges or enlightens or inspires. That is what self-expression and creativity are all about, and that is what Visions are made of. We're not about the bottom line. We're not about going along with the good ole boy status quo and pretend that everything is fine when it is not. We call it integrity, a word not included in the vocabulary of most publications.

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