Sketches- The WhyART.com Newsletter

	SKETCHES - The WhyART Newsletter "Transforming Education Through Art" December 2005
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!
Why Art Rules...rules... "I think one of the things art does is lead you to forget the rules." Brice Marden "My instinct about painting is, if you don't think about it, it's right." Andy Warhol "It's not wise to violate rules until you know how to observe them." T. S. Eliot For as long as there have been envelopes, there have been envelope pushers: individuals who try to expand the playing field by resisting the constraints of society's expected behavior. Envelope pushers bug many people; they can be irritating, but I usually like them...as long as they don't push MY buttons...<G>. Some of the greatest envelope pushers in history have been artists. Since a primary role of the artist is to be a commentator on his/her culture, it makes sense that artists push at boundaries to see how their cultures will react. Their creative spirits thrive on the edges where freedom meets discipline and normalcy meets anarchy, because it is in such tense peripheries that growth occurs. Awareness, too. Like artists, adolescents are envelope pushers; however, their pushing is a product of impatience not awareness. The challenge for those of us who mentor adolescents is getting them to appreciate the value of learning the rules before forgetting them. It is quite simple. Rules may be obstacles to creativity, but they are obstacles which cannot be overcome unless they are recognized and until they are learned. Part Two...When Enough is Enough People get goofy when the shopping holidays roll around. I find it sad that most Americans would suffer little if they received a lesser share, while many in the world will suffer more because they have less to share. Listed below are a couple of options to investigate if you are looking for ways to share more and gather less. Doctors without Borders International Rescue Committee CARE World Food Program The Heifer Project Here are a few links to check out as well... Darfur Information More info here International Crisis Group Human Rights Watch And, whatever you have to celebrate, have a blessed holiday! Artist Surf I know I will never learn enough Art History! Perhaps I can make up for it by sharing information about someone you may not know well. This month's star is Brice Marden. Born in 1938, Mr. Marden earned a MFA from Yale University in 1963 and moved to NYC soon after. He became associated with the Minimalist movement, but his work is more often lyrical and ethereal rather than simple and stark. Google him to learn more. "The less you have between you and what you're making the better." Brice Marden
Sketches is a free newsletter of WhyART.com and is available by subscription. Your contact info will not be shared, and you may unsubscribe at any time. I appreciate your thoughtful comments. Michael Gerrish • 159 1st Street • Troy, NY 12180 • (518)266-0304 • mrg@whyart.com ©WhyART.com 2005