“It has all been done before”. I would have to strongly disagree with this sentiment (Which I know you aren’t promoting). I feel like the art we desperately need is the everyday, the mundane, the struggle, the survival of those who are too busy and too hurting to make art. Those who have no money, no nice things. Those who have too many children and no help. Those who are in prison, on the hospital bed, or making another raunchy video to help pay for childcare. The “art” we need is truth-telling from the under privileged. The ones dismissed and erased. I feel like we will never get to a point in our society of “enough” art. We will only keep trying to allow those with something to say, the freedom to say it. I have so much privilege to have time to think…just coming out of 16 yrs of full-time child care. The fact that I can even sit here and respond is a huge ass luxury. It feels daunting to have time. Which problem within myself and outside myself should I look at? Which area of suffering do I have time for? I feel frantic!
I hear you, Maria! I was hoping that my words here would imply what you're saying. I 100% agree with you. I'll admit that I do have the great privilege of time to devote to my personal creative practice, and this is special to me because that wasn't always the case. I used to work full time, go to college full time and try to keep up with the hamster wheel of social obligations and all that. These days it's just me, my day job, my housekeeping, gardening, and art. And still, the time that I have feels so limited.
I think we should also radically expand our definition of what a creative practice is, as well. It's housework. Cooking up a nourishing meal for our loved ones. Those in poverty, living with disabilities, etc. are required to make it through life on a dime and I consider working through those constraints is in itself a creative pursuit.
I just wish that I'd had fit art into my life more in my younger years when I was really going through it. Even if its just a simple sketch with a cheap ballpoint pen , I do find this helps ground myself in reality. I'd love to chat with you about these ideas more sometime!
...always a cool reflection to reflect ourself into others and other things...your reflection in self portraiture is felt...for some reason i don’t mind painting it with words but all attempts to do so in drawing or painting often led to me either bending abstract or grotesque...i think i bore myself sometimes...but when i see me in a window, or another person, or just a rock on the shelf, i somehow find it more exciting/interesting...great art in today’s article thank you for sharing and the constant encouragement to create and consider...
I'm so torn over the feeling that I need to write after reading this gorgeous piece or the feeling that I should paint after reading this gorgeous piece full of gorgeous art. Such a lovely post! Thank you for sharing your thoughts.
"Begin with what is immediately around us." A brilliant principle for being more present in everyday life, even if it doesn't result in a drawing or a poem. I constantly remind myself that there is so much potential for fascination in daily rituals, ordinary objects, things I see every day. This changes the texture of my days and breathes life into my writing. Thank you for the reminder!
Absolutely! I hate to think I wasted so much creative energy before on contriving subject matter for my work that would be "interesting," but our actual lives are fascinating enough if we pay closer attention :)
I'm so grateful that your comment on my post drew me to your work. This is such a tender love letter to both your partner and making of all kinds. It left me energised to continue with my own little attempts to wrest control from devices and become present to my life through creation.
“It has all been done before”. I would have to strongly disagree with this sentiment (Which I know you aren’t promoting). I feel like the art we desperately need is the everyday, the mundane, the struggle, the survival of those who are too busy and too hurting to make art. Those who have no money, no nice things. Those who have too many children and no help. Those who are in prison, on the hospital bed, or making another raunchy video to help pay for childcare. The “art” we need is truth-telling from the under privileged. The ones dismissed and erased. I feel like we will never get to a point in our society of “enough” art. We will only keep trying to allow those with something to say, the freedom to say it. I have so much privilege to have time to think…just coming out of 16 yrs of full-time child care. The fact that I can even sit here and respond is a huge ass luxury. It feels daunting to have time. Which problem within myself and outside myself should I look at? Which area of suffering do I have time for? I feel frantic!
I hear you, Maria! I was hoping that my words here would imply what you're saying. I 100% agree with you. I'll admit that I do have the great privilege of time to devote to my personal creative practice, and this is special to me because that wasn't always the case. I used to work full time, go to college full time and try to keep up with the hamster wheel of social obligations and all that. These days it's just me, my day job, my housekeeping, gardening, and art. And still, the time that I have feels so limited.
I think we should also radically expand our definition of what a creative practice is, as well. It's housework. Cooking up a nourishing meal for our loved ones. Those in poverty, living with disabilities, etc. are required to make it through life on a dime and I consider working through those constraints is in itself a creative pursuit.
I just wish that I'd had fit art into my life more in my younger years when I was really going through it. Even if its just a simple sketch with a cheap ballpoint pen , I do find this helps ground myself in reality. I'd love to chat with you about these ideas more sometime!
...always a cool reflection to reflect ourself into others and other things...your reflection in self portraiture is felt...for some reason i don’t mind painting it with words but all attempts to do so in drawing or painting often led to me either bending abstract or grotesque...i think i bore myself sometimes...but when i see me in a window, or another person, or just a rock on the shelf, i somehow find it more exciting/interesting...great art in today’s article thank you for sharing and the constant encouragement to create and consider...
Thanks! I always admire the way that you elevate the mundane to the mystical/bizarre in your writing.
I'm so torn over the feeling that I need to write after reading this gorgeous piece or the feeling that I should paint after reading this gorgeous piece full of gorgeous art. Such a lovely post! Thank you for sharing your thoughts.
What a compliment! Thank you :) I hope you made something today.
"Begin with what is immediately around us." A brilliant principle for being more present in everyday life, even if it doesn't result in a drawing or a poem. I constantly remind myself that there is so much potential for fascination in daily rituals, ordinary objects, things I see every day. This changes the texture of my days and breathes life into my writing. Thank you for the reminder!
Absolutely! I hate to think I wasted so much creative energy before on contriving subject matter for my work that would be "interesting," but our actual lives are fascinating enough if we pay closer attention :)
Beautiful work
You’ve captured the process when making becomes being.
I'm so grateful that your comment on my post drew me to your work. This is such a tender love letter to both your partner and making of all kinds. It left me energised to continue with my own little attempts to wrest control from devices and become present to my life through creation.
What a lovely comment. This is exactly what I was hoping to do here : ) Hope to see more of your work soon!