because art

John R. Killacky served two terms in the Vermont House of Representatives. Previously he was executive director of Flynn Center for the Performing Arts, program officer for arts and culture at San Francisco Foundation, executive director of Yerba Buena Center for the Arts, and curator of performing arts for Walker Art Center. Other past positions include program officer at Pew Charitable Trusts, general manager of PepsiCo SUMMERFARE, and managing director of the Trisha Brown and Laura Dean dance companies. He received the First Bank Award Sally Ordway Irvine Award in Artistic Vision, William Dawson Award for Programming Excellence from the Association of Performing Arts Presenters, Dance USA's Ernie Award as an unsung hero, Fan Taylor Distinguished Service Award for Exemplary Service to the Field of Professional Presenting, and Vermont Arts Council's Kannenstine Award for Arts Advocacy. He co-edited the Lambda Literary Award-winning anthology, Queer Crips: Disabled Gay Men and Their Stories.

Review Quotes:

“In his concise collection of essays and interviews, Killacky offers behind-the-scenes perspectives on his decades of arts administration, and his own struggle to deal with physical limitations. His insight on the successes and failures of arts funding, and government censorship at the height of the 'NEA Four' and Robert Mapplethorpe controversies, provide a look back at the ups and downs of funding efforts to support the arts. Q&As with several notable creators (Bill T. Jones, Tim Miller, Janis Ian, Judith Smith, Tony Kushner and more) make for insightful reading for anyone in the arts, and those interested in how art gets made.” -Jim Provenzano, Bay Area Reporter

“[John Killlacky's] new book offers a raw, personal account of the legislator's life and career connected through art. The mosaic he produced, bound in a black and pink cover, and composed in three parts-commentary, critique, and conversation-spans from 1993 to 2021. Many of the essays offer snapshots into Killacky's personal life, his early career, his experience as an openly gay legislator and as a queer, disabled artist” -Avalon Styles-Ashley, The Other Paper

“Officially, because art is an anthology of thirty years of written works and edited speeches. But read together, it is a series of meditations on the social role of art, the sometimes dysfunctional structures of the cultural sector, and the effect that unexpected, horrific loss-and the necessity of moving past it-can have on a person, a community, and the art created in response. -Debra Cash, The Arts Fuse

“The book's subjects of critique and conversation comprise a who's who of late 20th-and early 21st-century American art and culture, including composer John Cage, choreographer Bill T. Jones and cartoonist Alison Bechdel.” -Sally Pollack, Seven Days

“What a magnificent book! The whole book reflects his courageous spirit of inquiry and independence. We need this book so profoundly in our insane world.” -Meredith Monk, composer/performer

“John Killacky has a wonderful book out: because art. A combination of conversations, critical reviews, interviews with people ranging from yours truly to Meredith Monk and Bill T. Jones. Plus, a striking cover—who could ask for more?” -Janis Ian, singer/songwriter

“John Killacky, a former dancer and arts administrator, now a member of the Vermont legislature and driver of a cart pulled by his Shetland pony, has written because art, a book you ought to read because he's both incisive and fun.” -Leah Garchik, former columnist San Francisco Chronicle

“Some great interviews and essays herein. Bill T. Jones: "This is my religion; something keeps pulling me forward that has to do with artmaking as a spiritual activity." -Wendy Perron, former editor Dance Magazine

“Opened my eyes to the generation before mine's struggles and pains around the AIDS epidemic that put it into (tearful) context.” -Justin Marsh, Pride Center of Vermont