" I have always tried to paint the way poets write their best poems with feeling, imagination and some semblance of the shape shifting truth" Edward Hughes
I took myself on an Artist's Date (The Artist's Way) rather unintentionally. I realized that The Chemistry of Color exhibit would be leaving our town after Mother's Day and I really did not want to miss it. Some of the paintings took my breath away, gave me goose bumps and reduced me to tears...the raw emotion in the art was that poignant! If this exhibit comes to your city or town or nearby, I highly recommend putting it on your list of things to see. You can read a review of the exhibit here This is an exhibit of African American artists with many of the artists not relishing that title. Most prefer their art to stand on its own...art for art's sake without the separating nomenclature. The exhibit included paintings, drawings, photography, quilts, sculpture and mixed media. My cell phone was burning a hole in my pocket as I longed to take photos of my favorites, however it can be damaging to the art and the museum police were there to make sure I was tempted even less.
As a frustrated artist (or wannabe) I appreciate the work, talent and soul that goes into each piece of art. It takes a great deal of courage to "put yourself out there" I had an opportunity to submit art for possible publication in two different books...this is what I learned...I am not good with deadlines...that the FEAR of rejection paralyzed every creative bone in my body (or either I was entirely too critical) and THAT FEAR manifested itself in the form of ill health. Oh yes, everything is connected. A couple of quotes by some of the artists really stayed with me, their stories and their vision inspired me. "Time is not important as an artist, you should just let it unfold" this was an Eastern proverb (?) quoted as a favorite by Earl B. Lewis.
One of my favorite singers, songwriters, mentors, (she wears many hats) Christine Kane, says basically that you just have to show up. If you are lacking courage, Christine has an excellent e-zine/blog post: 52 Ways to Build Your Courage that can be found here. So what would you create if you knew you would not fail?
"My art is about what I make as opposed to what I think about what I should make" Raymond Saunders
"The universe rings true wherever you fairly trust it" C.S. Lewis - I would love to talk to C.S. Lewis about his conversion to Christianity. I adore "The Chronicles of Narnia" and would love to pick his brain about the characters. C.S. Lewis was quite prolific writing non-fiction, science fiction and fantasy! He hung out with J.R.R. Tolkien and some lessor known writers in a group called the Inklings at a pub. How cool would it be to sit and chat with the Oxford professors about writing!
Jesus Christ, Dr. Martin Luther King, Ghandi - I would love to talk with each of them and discuss how they kept such great faith in humankind despite the cruelty, evil and oppression each of them experienced. What do each one of them see happening in our World in the next decade or generation. I could ask each one a million questions yet would rather just listen as each expressed themselves.
Anne Morrow Lindberg, Eleanor Roosevelt, Alice Paul, Queen Elizabeth I - I would like to talk to these women about being catalysts for change, being powerful women and to thank each for what this means to women in this day. Each suffered tragedies but left amazing legacies for us.
Paul Klee, Salvador Dali, Rene Magritte, Frida Kahlo - I love surrealism! Can you imagine sitting at a table with anyone of these artists and discussing their inspiration, their bad days, what stifles their creativity and what enhances it! I also wouldn't mind speaking with Gustav Klimt, Renoir or Jackson Pollock. I realize I am mixing periods and styles, however I just love art in all of its forms!!! I would ask Jackson Pollock what the heck was he thinking - what is going on with that and did he have a clue his paintings would be valued so highly?.jpg)