Sketches- The WhyART.com Newsletter

	SKETCHES - The WhyART Newsletter "Transforming Education Through Art" February 2006
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!
What's Genuine...from a creative perspective "I've painted 1200 pictures; 2500 of them are in America." Henri Matisse "All bad poetry springs from genuine feeling." Oscar Wilde "If I create from the heart, nearly everything works." Marc Chagall "Reality is found in the reflection of, not in, the observing eye." Michael Gerrish We live in a society which espouses the pursuit of happiness, and said pursuit has often whetted an appetite for the newest and the best. Whether we search for examples of excellence within the realms of real estate, technology or art, we want to own a masterpiece. This sometimes leads to the circumstances noted in the first quote, where the market rises to meet demand, regardless of provenance. Such is life in a consumer society. Why do we engage in the search? Will finding what we seek make us happy? In the quotes above, Oscar Wilde and Marc Chagall don't address such questions; they ignore them...because as artists they represent creative, not consumer forces. To creative types, to be genuine is to be tapped into the source which inspires you.That's a huge gift, even if it inspires you to write or paint poorly! Why push that gift aside in order to copy someone else's masterpiece? It does get tiresome being bombarded with consumer messages. And yet, every time individuals respond positively to fresh, well-designed products, it is a reminder to artists that being genuine, being true to your purpose has value. Be genuine...it's good for you. Part Two...Our Mystery Road Trip We traveled to Washington, DC over the Martin Luther King, Jr. weekend. Carol and I visited our own Imperial City to participate in a conference on Politics and Spirituality and were amazed by the size of the gathering. Jim Wallis, Richard Rohr and Anne Lamott led the forum, "Seeking a Public Integrity." Why was nothing posted in the news media about this remarkable event? That's a real mystery... 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 Jim Dine. Born in 1935, Mr. Dine moved to New York from his native Cincinnati, Ohio in the late 50's and stirred up a variety of artistic expressions from Happenings to Pop Art. What better representative for Valentines' month is there than an artist and visual poet whose work has touched our hearts. Google him to learn more. "Western art is built on the biographical passion of one artist for another." Jim Dine
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 • ©WhyART.com 2006