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| Welcome to SKETCHES, Michael Gerrish's WhyART.com newsletter. I offer thoughts to stretch your mind and spur your actions to produce positives for you and those you touch. Author Daniel Pinkwater said, "I believe it is impossible to make sense of life in this world except through art." Artist Francis Bacon said, "The job of the artist is always to deepen the mystery." This "talking head" sees truth in both statements; let's start making sense by exploring and expanding the mysteries which surround us! |
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Art at the Crest...of What? "Hatred, rancor and the spirit of vengeance are useless baggage to the artist." Henri Matisse "To be an artist is to believe in life." Henry Moore It's summer, and the time is ripe for something lighthearted. However... We live in a divided land. As passions rise above the cresting point, actions influenced by the tide bump and slide over civility. Everywhere we turn there is noise: commercial noise, war noise, culture noise, class noise. We make noise, and the noise makes us angrier. What if all we could do was make art in anger? Our art would become the definition of monotony, the "B" word. We are called to do more. Artists must reflect the times in which we live, but ought to do so in order to reveal the kernels of truth hidden within our daily struggles. Across centuries and cultures, artists have used allegory and symbolism to portray ideas and beliefs which may have been too dangerous to share openly. The compassion of Rembrandt and Van Gogh, the sorrow of Klee and Gorky, the indignation of Picasso and Haring all flowed into the creation of masterworks now enjoyed by millions who live untouched by the vitriol surrounding the artists while they worked. Great Art quiets noise. If we are fueled only by anger we too will be consumed, and what is consumed can no longer illuminate. Be passionate. Do care. But, let your contributions rise above the noise, not contribute to it. if so, what you offer will last...and heal. Part Two... Looking for words of wisdom, free books (and some neat
images) in your email box? Check out Bruderhof,
and consider subscribing to their "Daily Dig." Choose to accept
it, and the Dig will arrive in your inbox each weekday with something
provocative and beautiful. Where will this opportunity for "truth and
beauty" lead? That's up to you. "I'm not a hard edge painter...I'm...something else." Richard Diebenkorn |
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Sketches
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at any time. I appreciate your thoughtful comments.
Michael Gerrish • 159 1st Street • Troy, NY 12180 •
(518)266-0304 • mrg@whyart.com |
