Why so inquisitive?  Well – it intrigues me to know what it is that other artists do, how you might define your own art, and even your approach to the creative process.

I really want to encourage you to share your thoughts on this.

My guess is when we look back through the posted comments; they’ll reveal a descriptive array of thinking that resembles an ornate fabric of creative diversity woven together, which reflects what inspires us to do what we do.

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When you think of negative spaces what comes to mind?  Cynicism, criticism, pessimism – a lot of “isms?”

I like to step to the side for an oblique perspective and think of negative space like a film negative, which reverses the way I (we) look at things like relationships, community, spirituality, humanity, art and more.  It’s the backdrop of everyday life; honesty, truth and beauty gently nudging us to slow down and pay more attention to perhaps what’s an unknown territory to many of us.

A friend of mine said to me this week, “When something is taken away, it means that space is cleared for something better.”  Those words my friend spoke resonated in my heart and extended truth, beauty and hope to me when I needed it most.

Finding beauty, unexpected beauty in negative spaces attracts and stuns us in ways never imagined before.  Where and in what do you find beauty?  Are there negative spaces around you in need of light to reveal beauty, truth and honesty?

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One quote I’d read years ago and stumbled upon recently is “Architecture is frozen music.”  For me, revisiting this quote was like meeting an old friend on the street by chance and getting reacquainted after many years.  What power in four simple words.  The power of architecture as an art form has always captured my imagination and there is something musical about it that seems timeless and when well done, is awe-inspiring.

Select one of your favorite quotes and share it.  Maybe it’s connected to a defining moment in your life or perhaps it just made you smile and laugh.

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The Russian novelist Leo Tolstoy said, “A man who professes the teaching of Christ is like a man carrying a lantern before him on a long, or not so long, pole; the light is in front of him, always lighting up fresh ground and always encouraging him to walk further.”

No matter what, who or whom you believe in – or perhaps, don’t believe in, belief at any level takes some degree of faith.  I think Tolstoy’s quote beautifully captures that journey of exercising some sliver of faith in ourselves with his imagery of the lantern lighting up fresh ground, as we place one foot after the next moving forward on the path we travel.

While this reflects each of our own personal journeys, it also reminds me of the process the artist walks through to create, which requires an exercise in faith to put brush to canvas, pen to paper, voice to a melody.  There are plenty of persons around who will tell you what you can’t do or cannot accomplish; but few who will say what you can do.  I say – walk on.

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But I like to think that art is a kind of confession for artists, some blatant, others more or less oblique, but all digging deep below the surface of life, probing beyond the ordinary and mundane, unearthing insight and meaning in its stories.

If we choose (and we do have a choice), the art we create and share can have the audacity, the dramatic suddenness to move people, to be a bit impolite perhaps and so disquieting that it challenges fixed perceptions and perspectives.

And while our work is like preparing for a good accident to happen, I like to believe our art is meant to reveal and give life a shape, whatever that may look like, and we as artists are in a sense, God’s little pickpockets.

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Days later, an email arrives in my inbox from him saying that obviously we see things from different perspectives and approaches, and that he will not share with his audience about what we do.  That was it – done and dusted, no other explanation.  Initially, I was a bit disappointed, but really – mostly perplexed.

I’m okay not getting a mention on his blog, but idealist that I am, what troubled me most is I had hoped that in the arts, culture, faith, current events – you know, wherever or whatever direction your political, economic, geographic, religious, cause-related compass points, that ultimately, there would be room enough for diversity and discussion.  Yes, feel free to pity idealists like me…

What do I take from this as I walk away and glance over my shoulder?  For some people, there may be room enough for diversity in the matter of opinion – as long as it aligns with their own, but unfortunately dialogue doesn’t always seem to be a part of the process, and that is indeed a shame.  Why?  Because if we choose not to dialogue, how will we ever begin to understand one another and where we’re coming from.

If you’re inclined, let me know if there’s something I’ve missed.  Idealistically Yours.

It was once said, “Artists are the real architects of change, and not the political legislators who implement change after the fact.”

Given all the talk of change in the States, what’s your opinion of this quote?  Do artists really fill the role ‘real architects of change’ and if so, what are you seeing to make you believe this?

Living a Creative Lifestyle

Most of us in the fine arts and performing arts live what many consider, a creative lifestyle.  And while that’s good and great, and sometimes not so good and great, I know there are many of you that read these blog postings that see yourselves as enthusiasts – not artists.

Last week I was having coffee with a friend and in the course of our conversation (and between my incoherent ramblings…) we managed to talk about how people who aren’t or don’t consider themselves artistic or creative can actually live a creative lifestyle.  I like that because it’s inclusive and not exclusive.

For an enthusiast, this isn’t necessarily going to be through artistic endeavours nor should it need to be, but it can be through creative endeavours that don’t include picking up a paintbrush, a guitar, or other tools of the artistic trades.

It may be how and what you model to others through your life – the little things in everyday life that eventually add up so much so that they become something bigger than you, leaving a lasting impression or impact for generations to come.

Imagine that.  You – the enthusiasts can live a creative lifestyle and practice the art of helping others.  This is something we all can participate and share in – as it should be.

And let’s be honest, it’s probably best not to leave it only to us artistic types since we tend to be as organized as a herd of cats.  Hey – just speaking from experience here.

One interesting topic of discussion at the conference that resonated with many of us was the thought of art as a hammer to shape culture.  This comes from the quote, “Art is not a mirror held up to reality, but a hammer with which to shape it.”  So what does that mean?  That’s a good question, which I may not have a watertight answer for – but I do have an opinion.

While I believe we should hold a mirror up to everyday life and reveal the reality – even the frailty of the human condition, we should pick up the hammer, be forward thinking, innovative and imaginative enough to be creatively dangerous, and shape our “circles of influence” in our communities, which will eventually affect culture itself.

So, what is the hammer?  I like to think in part it’s the words you write from the depths of your heart that inspire others, the lyric and melody of a song longing to be heard, a painter’s brush wielded with emotion and faith across a canvas, a moment in time captured through the photographer’s camera lens that needs no words yet leaves us in awe.  The dancer that dances first, then thinks later.  It’s the power of the arts to uncover truth.

Disregard what others expect of you or may think and employ the hammer passionately – use it differently than ever before.