What does art mean to you?
How does it resonate with your soul?
How would you describe art if you were asked? These are all questions that I asked myself
this morning.
I had not intended to feel
philosophical about my artistic feelings, but outside forces shifted my focus
to look at this glaringly today. I am
thankful that this opportunity arose early this morning as I was walking around
our neighborhood lake.
I was challenged this morning to think of art as a personal
journey when someone close to me noticed my OM tattoo for the first time. This person mentioned to me, “Art should be
viewed on a wall, not on the skin.” I am
human and my first feeling was one of defensiveness, but that gave way to introspective
thoughts about what art meant to me and how others perceive my art or how I
perceive the art of others.
As long as no living thing was harmed art is neither wrong nor
right.
A gamut of emotions can follow when viewing art. Take the tattoo, for example, the reaction of
the person viewing it was one of unpleasantness. I can think of a host of reasons why body art
doesn’t appeal to some. So, in a sense,
the art of a tattoo can elicit a response that can be visceral, entertaining or
even spiritual. That is art.
Artwork is something that is visualized or
experienced and evokes a response. Just
because the response isn’t always favorable doesn’t make it true art. In fact, some great artists attempt to
challenge the person experiencing the art to feel something other than
pleasantness.
I thought about the saying, “Beauty is in the eye of the
Beholder.” If I am a beginning artist and
I artistically create something that brings me great joy, then I am happy. If I am a seasoned artist and something I
make doesn’t seem finished then, I am
not happy. So who wins? I guess it would be the person who connected
spiritually to the experience. You could
line up ten people from different artistic strata and ask them to critique the
work of a young artist and they might change the vantage point of that artist,
but nothing can take away that feeling of actually creating something
for the first time. That critiquing is
where the great conflict emerges.
So, I challenge you to create. Find your artist within. Ask no one if what you design is good
enough. If it connects with you
spiritually and gives you a sense of fulfillment, then you have released the
artist you know is evolving. I use the
word “evolving” because artistry work is a process of constant evolution. The more we think and work like an artist the
more we feel the role.
My OM Tattoo
Seed=design idea
Bud=playing with the design
Blossom=feeling the design ignite your spirituality
Release the fragrant nature=feeling fulfilled with the
design
Reseeding=sprouting new design ideas from the original seed
~Susan Barzacchini
Feel the shift within by creating your own bouquet that
makes you feel accomplished.
Namaste, Susan
Hmmm... Good food for thought. I find that I am at a loss for words. It's not easy to spill them out over something so deep and personal. It requires thought. :) But, your advice is very good. I also like to say it like the Nike commercials do. "Just do it!" I think if you have something in you that wants out, then it will find it's way through your hand to whatever medium you choose. You just have to do it, start it, so it will have a chance.
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