What I am doing here …
I sometimes wonder if it is worth it to spend so much time “talking” about art. When I stand before what I would call truly great art, I find all my thoughts about art theory and criticism slip from my fingers and get carried away somewhere, as if I am ashamed to have brought such lofty ideas in front of something that defies my understanding with it’s pure beauty.
I believe I have said before that I think art exists to speak things that words can not express. It is a higher form of communication that has it’s origin in the same creative spirit that created the stars and planets. It is one of the chief ways that we are made in his image. If I haven’t said that before, then I meant to say it.
I will admit that this type of writing does not come easy to me. Give me an old wharf at sunset, an angry woman with red lipstick, or a quiet old dog with wise eyes and a bad leg, and I could write for hours with the greatest of ease. If I hit a log jam, give me a good night’s sleep and some time to bounce a ball against the wall, and I’ll be back in top form. But this … this essay type stuff … man, sometimes it is like pulling teeth. So why do I do it?
I feel that if I take some time throwing thoughts like this out around the world, that somehow my thoughts will come back to me followed by a few other people who have similar thoughts. Maybe we’ll start thinking together for awhile, and come up with even better thoughts. And then maybe, just maybe, the thoughts will turn into actions.
I have no idea if that is what’s going to happen.
But I have another idea that makes this whole endeavor worth it. It has to do with the times I have spent standing before great art, and it has to do with us being made in His image. Even if someone is not an artist, they can appreciate art. They can let it bring beauty to their life, they can let it challenge them, and they can use it to help them understand their own condition. I really hope that something I say here helps someone, maybe a couple of people, have a conversation about art, because I feel that it is so often put on the backburner.
When funds are low, the football team isn’t the first thing to get cut. You can ask the theater teacher, the art instructor, and the choir director about that.
For Christians, it’s even worse. We have developed this hatred of art and the media. We have made it the primary front in the Culture War … which I think is a war Christians need not fight. The battle for the hearts of men was never meant to be fought with angry rhetoric and legislation. His kingdom is not of this world.
When Christians think of art appreciation, they are usually talking about how much nudity, vulgarity, and violence is in a work of art, and whether or not they can label it is as “filth” or “family friendly” based on the amount of these vices (the former having a lot of vice and the latter having none, just to clarify). Christians judge art using the same method they use to judge people: how much sin is there. Too much, and you won’t be invited to our house, mister.
And we miss out on so, so much. Good art, even with its vices, can challenge us in ways we never expected. If you encounter art that offends you, you don’t have to agree with it to appreciate it. Learn what you can, let it teach you something about its artist and subject, and then move on. You can turn it off when the kids are around, until they’re old enough to draw their own conclusions. If you encounter art that touches you, then let it in your heart, and never let it go.
I used to say that I offered no mission statement or purpose … that isn’t true. I offer a helping hand and an open door. I want to create a place where artists can be encouraged to tap into that God-breathed creativity, and the rest of us can watch them do it in awe. This is a safe place, where it’s okay to ask questions. It’s okay to show your art. And its okay to look at it.
The reason I spent two weeks on an essay by Francis Schaeffer was not just to help artists approach their craft, but it was to help the rest of the world know that it’s okay to take a break from soccer games, Saturday afternoon football, fishing trips, reality t.v., and strip malls, and take in something beautiful and wonderfully made by someone who was beautiful and wonderfully made.
Like I said earlier, this stuff doesn’t always come easy to me. I hope it made sense.
February 26th, 2009 at 8:08 am
You know, I find that part of the joy of a blog, is that it is a blank canvas in front of people. That’s why I wrote a less than 500 word short fiction story the other night. Because I posted it to my blog, I took more pride in it, but because it was so short, I didn’t feel like I was just throwing away good work.
But I agree with you about writing essay style as opposed to writing about a response to art or even just writing about art. So you should take the compromise (Like me!) I’m trying to learn to write critical essays about the films that I respond to, starting first with All the Real Girls. I thought I’d be able to crank it out last night, but turns out it is a ton harder than I thought; but in a good way.