Over the years I have had many many wonderful experiences attending plays at the Oregon Shakespeare Festival (OSF) in Ashland, Oregon. I have, of course also spent thousands of dollars in hotels, restaurants and stores in Ashland in order to avail myself of these marvelous experiences.
I am, thus, a member of OSF’s longstanding audience and I am writing today in support of OSF and of Nataki Garrett. I am most pleased with what I have seen of Ms. Garrett’s leadership and I feel she deserves to be lauded and thanked for her many important contributions made in a short period of time under unprecedented difficulties.
Criticisms based on race and gender have no place in civil discussion of the merits of artistic presentations and should be opposed or omitted. I would like to see every effort made to support and protect Ms. Garrett, who is doing her job very well and to good effect. I would like to see those who make threats and offer criticisms based on race and gender confronted and countered publicly.
Ashland needs good artists of all backgrounds to continue to be the wonderful place I have found it to be for these many years. I hope all who read this will support OSF and Ms. Garrett.
Lillian Buchanan, Ph.D.
Austin, Texas
