Piper Loebach believes the arts can help transform the world. A recent graduate of Pine Lake Preparatory in Mooresville, Loebach created The Artist Activist Project last January as her senior project. The cabaret-style event took place in Spirit Square’s Knight Gallery and featured Loebach and eight other local student entertainers. Their goal was twofold: raise awareness of various social and political issues and support arts education.
The high school and college-aged performers each spoke about an issue that is personally meaningful and then performed a song related to that cause at the free event. Topics ranged from bullying in schools to police brutality.
“[Kids in the Charlotte community] have such an intense level of drive and passion,” says Loebach. “I wanted to give people a platform to be able to share their beliefs and talk about that.”
Loebach had never rented an event space before but knew she wanted an intimate setting surrounded by artwork for The Artist Activist Project. When she reached out to Blumenthal’s Education Director Ralph Beck to tell him about her idea for the charity concert, he arranged for the students to use Knight Gallery for rehearsals and the performance free of charge.
“That was amazing,” says Loebach. “It was such a huge help in putting the show on.”
Using the gallery space at Spirit Square was also meaningful to Loebach and the other students since they each have a long history of involvement in activities at Blumenthal, including participating in the annual Blumey Awards. (Note: Loebach actually starred in her school’s production of BRIGHT STAR, which won this year’s Tier 1 Wells Fargo Best Musical Award.)
“We felt very passionate that we wanted to give back to the organization that has given so much to [us],” says Loebach, noting that each of the performers plans to pursue theater professionally. “I think Blumenthal was a huge part of that for all of us.”
In recognition of the impact Blumenthal has had on their lives, the students decided to “pay it forward” by raising money to support Blumenthal’s Junior Theater Celebration. Bright yellow Artist Activist pins were available the night of the show for a minimum contribution of one dollar. They raised $500, all of which will go to purchase a show kit for a needy elementary or middle school next year. Loebach says the cause was a great fit since the underlying theme of the concert was to celebrate young artists and their unique voices.
The Artist Activist Project also involved student artists as photographers, filmographers and graphic designers. In the future, she hopes to expand what was started back in January to include other artforms too, like dance and poetry.
This fall, Loebach will head to the University of the Arts in Philadelphia to study musical theater but she’ll continue to work on the Artist Activist Project with the intention of someday creating a full-fledged non-profit organization. She knows the arts and activism will continue to be her passion.
“The arts have always been a huge part of my life,” says Loebach. “I think that’s what’s shaped my life the most. I think it’s really powerful because it brings people together in a way that nothing else can… you sit there for an hour and you laugh together and cry together. I can’t think of anything else that even comes close to how special that is.”