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Why Supporting Local Creativity Matters
By Amani Chiari
Twin Cities, MN — July 9, 2015
On July 9, 2015, I bought a painting of Marilyn Monroe from a local Twin Cities artist, JJ Burner, the founder of Zealous Paintings. At first glance, it might seem like a simple purchase—a familiar cultural icon, an eye-catching portrait—but in truth, it was part of something much bigger.
Supporting local art is revolutionary.
Art has always played a vital role in shaping culture, preserving truth, and imagining new futures. Whether through protest banners, murals, poetry, or portraits of past icons reimagined in modern tones, creativity is the lifeblood of resistance. It gives language to what systems try to erase. It gives us beauty in the midst of grief, vision in the midst of despair, and joy as a tool of survival.
Artists are architects of social memory. They document our moments. They challenge norms. They remind us who we’ve been and help us dream about who we could become.
That’s why supporting local artists—like JJ Burner—is not just about hanging something pretty on the wall. It’s about choosing to pour resources into creativity rather than consumption, into imagination rather than oppression. It’s about recognizing that even a painting of Marilyn Monroe, made by a neighbor rather than mass-produced in a factory, carries a different kind of power—one rooted in relationship, originality, and freedom.
In times like these, when so much of our world is built on disposability and disconnection, investing in local art is one of the most radical acts of care and community we can offer.
You can see JJ’s work at @zealouspaintings_jjburner. And wherever you are—support your artists. Their vision helps shape our collective liberation.
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