Older kids sometimes want to leave. Sometimes really badly. They feel grown up, they feel trapped, they feel more adult than the parents. They feel misunderstood, not trusted, not respected, not treated fairly. But they can’t leave. They don’t really want to. So, what do they do? Hopefully they turn to art. Better than drugs or other destructive escapes.
Do you help them turn to art? Do you encourage it in your kids or friends or the ones you have in your school or youth group or just out and about? Do you help them find their voice in creativity? Do you show you are proud of their artistic accomplishments, do you hold that in high value?
Art allows them exploration, growth and discovery. It allows them to process their feelings, angst, anger, feelings of being different and alone. It is a bridge into adulthood and self awareness. It is comfort.
When I have an art exhibition I can guarantee there will be a number of people who want to know what the art means. They will not feel comfortable or at ease without knowing what it is I meant to say in the art. What I usually say in response is a question. What do YOU think it means. That is not to say I don’t have a reason for doing what I did. But I know part of the fun of seeing art is using it as a springboard for one’s own creativity. I want to hear what others think, how they interpret, to see their mind gears turning. I know other artists do and enjoy the same thing.
The reason we do this is because we know that our intention, our meaning, is not the end of the artwork. It is not the only thing that can be gathered from it. As a matter of fact, if it is the only thing that can be gathered then it isn’t art, it’s propaganda. Propaganda is created in such a way that there is almost no chance of it being seen or interpreted in any way but the way the creator intended. Everything is spelled out.
I love quotes that surprise me with their idea. I hadn’t really thought about the idea of art influencing how I looked at nature in quite this way. I can see how art I have looked at over the years, that I have admired, has helped me see the natural world. It helps me see the organization and order, the chaos and confusion, the transitions of color and texture and material.
“I wonder whether art has a higher function than to make me feel, appreciate, and enjoy natural objects for their art value.” – Bernard Berenson, 1865-1959, American art historian
One of the most important things we can do for our kids is to expose them to the larger world. Whether that is as simple as going to a museum, watching a show on TV about an unfamiliar topic or as complex as a vacation abroad, letting your children see a world beyond their own daily life is essential to helping them make sense of their place in the world.
The goal isn’t to have them be disappointed with their daily life and the ‘lesser’ things that inhabit it. The goal is to understand how those lesser things connect to the larger world. Maybe they will understand how the TV show they watch actually has it’s roots in Shakespeare. Maybe they will realize the graphic design and photography they love in the windows at the mall had it’s roots in the museums of Europe or the pyramids in Mexico’s Yucatan, who knows.
The point is that no one’s world, no one’s things are truly ‘lesser’ if they know how to connect them to the large forces of culture, art, science and history.
“Man must be disappointed with the lesser things in life before he can comprehend the full value of the greater.” – Edward Bulwer-Lytton, 1803-1873, English author. He wrote the famous line ‘It was a dark and stormy night’. San Jose State University (one of my Alma Maters) has an annual writing contest to find the worst original opening sentence for a novel. The contest is named after Bulwer-Lytton.
I woke up early, around 5am (had to pee) and laid back in bed with thoughts of accomplishment in my head. I am not sure why but the question ‘what would you say is your greatest accomplishment’ came to mind. I envisioned it being asked by an interviewer as if I was on a morning talk show.
My first thought in response was this: My greatest accomplishment is continuing to be positive, confident and happy in spite of what life has thrown at me. Following right behind was the thought: My greatest accomplishment is continuing to be an artist most every day of my life.
Both revolve around knowing and being who I am, who I want to be. If I struggle with knowing and acting to be who I want, it is a struggle not to become someone else, but to adjust myself enough to fit in as I might need to fit in in certain circumstances. I am not always successful at that.
So, what about you? What is your greatest accomplishment? I am NOT talking about careers or how many kids you have or something like that. I am talking about your emotional, social and psychological accomplishments in life.
“To be yourself in a world that is constantly trying to make you something else is the greatest accomplishment.” – Ralph Waldo Emerson, 1803-1882, American Philosopher and Essayist
No matter your work you have to do the hard detail work if you want to be considered a professional. You have to be meticulous and thorough. You have to think about entire projects, plan things out and work to make it happen. Hoping is fine, dreaming is fine, wishing is fine. But none of those will create your work for you, none will create your destiny. Only work and perseverance will do that.
First off, a Philistine is what Goliath was in the Old Test. Over the centuries since that little spat the tribe came to represent those who as have no class and no taste or interest in the finer things in life; art, music, dance, books, ideas, etc.
Think how messed up this is. One has a set of tastes. He thinks his tastes are pedestrian and common. He looks up to others who he thinks have better taste. Those are the very people who make fun of his tastes.
So, a few questions:
Aren’t the snobs actually judging the Philistine exactly as he judges himself, as inadequate and ignorant?
What should the Philistine do? Try to acquire the tastes and sensibilities of the snobs or accept himself and his tastes as they are and stop thinking others are superior to him?
What should the snob do? Lower his perceived standard of taste to include the philistine? Change his mind and realize that all tastes and cultures are equal?
What do you think? if you get this via a reader, go to the actual blog and put in your two cents worth!
“A mind all logic is like a knife all blade. It makes the hand bleed that uses it.” – Rabindranath Tagore
I know this one is a bit creepy but the quote had knives and blood in it, what was I going to do? But there is a truth here. The truth is that logic is a step-by-step process of thinking through a problem, not a way of life or the exclusive method for interpersonal relationships.
You ever come across that person who gets irate if you don’t comprehend and go along with his or her logic? I used to be that person. I am still that person some times. I thought I was right. I had my reasons. They were good reasons. My arguments made sense. But the other person didn’t agree, didn’t see, didn’t understand, or plain didn’t care. grrrrr.
It wasn’t until I went through marital counseling with my now unwife that I realized the difference between trying to win an argument and trying to win someone over. I had always just been thinking the logic of the argument was enough. After the counseling I realized that the argument wasn’t what was important, my wife was who was important.
Just as a side note, it was ironic that the best, most real communication we had as a couple was in the final year of our marriage. It didn’t save our marriage but it did teach us both great lessons on how to communicate and care for the feelings and thoughts of another person. I am better for it and am grateful I went through it, even though the cost was high.
Hello Everyone! ‘Absorbent Ideas’, an exhibition my napkin drawings is open at DoubleShot Coffee here in Tulsa, Oklahoma. I thought those of you who aren’t local (there are a LOT of you) might want to see it so I put together an online version.
The drawings are for sale and you can buy them online as well as in person at the show. If you don’t like using PayPal you can email me and we can make arrangements to pay another way.
Enjoy the show and thanks for all your support from around the whole world! I love that the napkins and the ideas they hold are going everywhere people love to think, smile and be better in life and love.
