One of my favorite sins (and I say this from a place of candor . . . not proudly) is envy. Only a little of my envy is of material things. Okay . . . I would like to have a large sail boat with lots of teak decking . . . and a old, stone house on Italy's Amalfi coast would be nice. Maybe I could moor my boat nearby.Some of my envy comes in the area physical characteristics in others. For example I catch myself thinking if, only I was tall or handsome like him, or smart as him, or with his/her personality.
But my most common target of envy is the artistic ability of others.
We are having a huge art festival on our island this week. I walked through town last night and looked at the work. It literally took my breath away. Colors, textures and media were put together in ways that would never have thought of, but the right combination was like two notes in harmony. It resonated with something within me, and I'm sure within all humans who gaze upon them with open eyes.
When I see the visual arts (and not the junk art, crap in a can etc) I am moved in the same way as beautiful music. Something screaming that God is there because something inside these people, the artists, is ringing in harmony with that God and I can see it, while I can't see Him directly.
Pythagoras has observed the unity between mathematics and music. He gave that unity as evidence of a higher realm. I think there is the same unity with the visual arts. A type of harmony of colors and textures to speaks to our natural selves.
I envy those with talents in other art forms as well. I wish I had the voice of some of the great singers so I could cry out in a beautiful vocal what I feel in my heart.
I also envy those great writers who can take threads of words and weave them in a way that reaches the part of the reader that no other form could reach. Something so visceral that we walk away from that novel speechless. Oh, what a gift to have!
There is something amiss in the our present socio-economical hierarchies. I think in the new earth, the artists will live in the big houses on the hills. The Donald Trumps will clean their gutters. But there at the top of our ladder would be the painters, sculptors, singers, photographers, dancers and writers. Sure a few of them reach the top here in this earth but far many more great talents are "starving artisans" who come to these street fairs hoping to make enough money to pay their gas home. What a shame. If I were wealthy I would have bought everything I saw . . . and paid them ten times the asking price.
I ask God, if it fits into his big scheme of things, that in my new body I will be such endowed. My voice will sing out like an angels or I will be able to weave colors or words in a way to express what we all feel inside. But again, maybe in the new earth and the new heaven . . .we will all be artisans. One can only dream.
8 comments:
"There is something amiss in the our present socio-economical hierarchies. I think in the new earth, the artists will live in the big houses on the hills."
I would tend to agree, but I don't think that sort of system is viable on this old earth. Part of the reason artists are driven to create is that they don't live in big houses. Art tends to spring from suffering, and suffering is more plentiful at the bottom of the hill. Art often serves as an important expression of hope for an oppressed people. The spirituals and work songs, often considered America's greatest contribution to world music, were created to uplift and hold together people at the very bottom of a hill.
So tragic as it may be, I think there is a reason so many artists start at the bottom of the hill. All we can do for now is try to make the hillside a little less steep and a little less slippery. At least until the new earth. Like you said:
"maybe in the new earth and the new heaven . . .we will all be artisans."
Here's hoping :)
Trey
MJ...in the future, based off your profession, can you blog about the effects of evangelcial Christianity on mental health? Can you think about, or research what the effects are on evangelcial Christinaity. Is there more depression, addictions, anxiety problems that exsit becuase of how it's practiced.
Thanks!!
Maybe your are right Trey. Even for many of those painters, whose work sells for millions, lived and died in poverty and were only famous and "rich" posthumously.
Eagle, I did talk about mental illness within the church for a while about 6-8 months ago. I don't know if I can think of much more. I work in chronic pain and do run into a lot of mental health issues.
I think one of the biggest problems is the evangelical church nor recognizing mental illness for what it is, but seeing as a spiritual issue (or in some cases a "gift" from God)
There is a tremendous devaluation of the arts in US society. I see this regularly, be it the "oh, won't you draw x for me" (always as a favor, and understood to be valueless, much like fetching a drink from the vending machine) or the recent, awful article on how to hire (read:exploit) an artist.
That's a whole different rant from what you've got here, and has its roots in a lot of places, but why should it be (or be perceived to be, which is close) more blessed to have the drive to create a physical object than, for instance, the drive to maintain a system? The drive to absorb, innovate, and appreciate? Or perhaps the ability to offer good and insightful critique?
I agree with you about loving art fairs. And like you I'd love to buy a lot.
My weaknesses are photography, and glass paperweights (and crosses)
I like your idea of artists having a special place in heaven, and perhaps near there would be a place for their patrons, which is my dream of being
MJ- So Christians arn't likely to expereince more depression or anxiety becuase of their culture. Their approach's to alcohol and sex, and making normal human activities criminal doesn't result in a higher rate of addictions? I've always thought it wouild be fascintaing if someone examined the psychological impact of evangelical Christianity on people.
I think one of the biggest problems is the evangelical church nor recognizing mental illness for what it is, but seeing as a spiritual issue (or in some cases a "gift" from God) - MJ
"The Gift of Men is a bitter gift indeed."
- Arwen Evenstar, after the death of Aragorn
Though in my experience, a touch of mild mental illness might actually be necessary to trigger or charge the creative process, and the strong (and often negative) emotions are often what puts power behind the words or visuals. In these cases, it can be a "gift", but can also be a bitter gift indeed.
My weaknesses are photography, and glass paperweights (and crosses) - Anna A
My weakness is "furry art" - imaginary upright talking animals as a subject.
Their approach's to alcohol and sex, and making normal human activities criminal doesn't result in a higher rate of addictions? - Eagle
Uh, Eagle, in my experience "normal human activities" when spoken of in such context usually means some sort of kinky sexual behavior. Of which the big bugaboo nowadays is usually something homoerotic. Just like "Lifestyle" has come to mean something weird and sexual.
Headless Unicorn Guy
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