|
|
SKETCHES
- The WhyART Newsletter |
| 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! | |
| The
Soul of Artful Living.... "Articulate the obvious; ignore the evidence." Thomas Moore "I don't like to say I have given my life to art. I prefer to say art has given me my life." Frank Stella "True art takes note not merely of form but also of what lies behind." "Art is much less important than life, but what a poor life without
it!" "If
Art can Heal, why not write a few extra prescriptions?" Michael
Gerrish There was no March Whyart SKETCHES newsletter. It's not that I was too busy; after all it takes maybe 2 or 3 hours on even a busy night to get it done. It's just that I was listening to a few other voices. One of the voices I paid attention to was Thomas Moore's. The first thing he said to do was slow down. So I took a break. So what else did I hear? That experiencing Art was important, even necessary, for the health of the human soul. I understand that because Mr. Moore is known as a spiritual writer, some folks won't listen to what he has to say. However, in the context of his conversations about life, psychology, and spirit, he brought up Thoreau, Emerson, Rothko, and several other artists as examples of humans who were both grounded to the experience of living and connected to the creative force of the divine. Listen to what many artists have to say about Life and Art...they understand that to experience life fully it is NECESSARY to experience art regularly. Humans respond to Art because humanity responds to beauty...whether it is the beauty of movement, color, line, shape, shadow, poetry or prose. Feel a bit overwhelmed? Take a moment to enjoy being creative or the creativity of someone else. Not only will it freshen your spirits; it will nourish your soul.
Part Two...Hearing Other Praise...remembering our value As I hinted earlier, I spent part of last month at a conference listening to writer Thomas Moore. He talked about the importance of art; he sees art as a necessary experience for humanity. When I heard his comments I remembered the news broadcast I'd heard minutes before I'd walked into the conference...the report was one of many noting the diminishing role of the arts in a public education system hyper-focused on math, science and reading. If we believe what we create is as important to humanity as Mr. Moore states, we'd better take every opportunity to join him in expressing our beliefs...before no one understands what we are talking about! Artist Surf "I
actually like to play down...the ego that goes with the work of art." | |
|
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 | |
