Dreaming of Silver Roses

Artistic temperament sometimes seems a battleground, a dark angel of destruction and a bright angel of creativity wrestling.  ~Madeleine L’Engle

     I often underestimate the internal battle ground in me as a creative person. It is overwhelming some times how volitile the emotional roller coaster can be when you are suppose to be open and in touch with who you are and what is happening in the world around you. What is happening and where we are is a source of inspiration, but not an excuse to make everything we write an autobiography.

     Being in touch verses spreading out dirty laundry to write it out of our system is a fine line, I believe. There’s vulnerability and transparency and then there is over exposure and soul stripping. Being real as an artist (or communicator of any sort) means I allow how I learn and grow in the world to touch others. I have learned this from reading and listening and watching and viewing real works of art from real artists not because of my own accomplishment or competence.

     A friend once asked me “What makes truly great literature? What makes a work classic?” For me the real question implied there is a question about all art. What makes art great - and notice the question was addressed to me so I can offer only my opinion as a response, right!  So the question becomes then, “To April, what is great or high art?” That is such a big cosmic sized question, so here is my microcosmic answer!

      Madeleine L’Engle’s book, Walking on Water, discusses what art is or is not and the relationship between faith and art. It is not the only source I have studied on this topic, but it is my favorite.

“Art should communicate with as many people as possible.”
(L’Engle-WALKING ON WATER, 50) 

“A great painting, or symphony, or play, doesn’t diminish us, but enlarges us, and we, too, want to make our own cry of affirmation to the power of creation behind the universe. This surge of creativity has nothing to do with competition, or degree of talent….This response on the part of any artist is the need to make incarnate the new awareness we have been granted through the genius of someone else.”
(L’Engle- A CIRCLE OF QUIET, 147)

     An example, for me, of what makes art high or great is that the difference between the late Dr. Michael DeBakey cardiovascular surgeon and health advisior to presidents verses Jack the Ripper. Both take cut away views of life, one to heal and one to just see what’s there or even destroy. One is life affirming, with healing in mind; the other is self serving and wickedly curious and destructive. With my own art, I really want to be the first. I pray, I am the first. And in neither case is there the absence of pain or exposure. The reasons and motives behind the exposure and pain are what sanctify or profane art, I believe. And I also do believe it is up to the artist to justify their motives, if necessary. You should be able to say what you were thinking and that you were thinking. If you weren’t you were creating chaos and randomness and for myself since this is my opinion, pointless chaos and randomness doesn’t speak to me.

I like the fact that in ancient Chinese art the great painters always included a deliberate flaw in their work: human creation is never perfect. ~Madeleine L’Engle

     There is nothing more revealing about the artist than the creation itself. As I type that it frightens me. The thing I must remind myself of is that the body of work as a whole is representive of the artist, not just one element of a certain creation or even one specific work. The body of the artists’ work, several pieces viewed, gives you insight into the one who created it. It is not a recreation of the creator, but it is a way to begin or assist with knowing the creator. Every piece is unique and in high art is sacred. Every piece in high art should be judged individually and a part of the the body of work at large.  

     Dr. Calvin Miller once said in a lecture I attended ‘that the most audacious act of any artist is signing their name to the work’. Signing off, taking responsibility for, claiming an artwork as your own as indicative of what you think or feel or believe takes great courage. Some art claims us first. It is obvious who created it. If it is high art the artist should have little qualm about claiming it.

     Whether or not I like an art piece doesn’t determine whether or not it is high art to me. For example there are many of the master painters who created art I just don’t care for personally- for example El Greco. Not my favorite art to view for asthetic pleasure. But is it still fine art or high art? Yes. I love Chagall and Monet. Some love Baroque music, I am a Romantic which I am sure surprises no one! Is Baroque still high art? Yes. For that matter to me, so is Stomp, Carolyn Arends, or Alanis Morrisette. I consider modern art sculptures such as Karen Garrett’s Trash or Treasure or Rob Ward’s Gate at the Cass Foundation and classic pieces like Michaelangelo’s David or the Venus de Milo all high art that I love to view. I am not really a fan of Lyn Chadwicks’ Ace of Dimonds III, but I know it to be high art. Now velvet Elvis’ and pool playing dogs aren’t.  It isn’t about whether or not it is pleasing to my senses as much as does it speak to me at all? I saw an exhibit on the holocaust that was horribly offensive to my senses, but it spoke to my heart beyond words and I would view it again because it was high art!

    So that is the answer from me about what I believe about fine art. I will say I am no expert. I have had no real classes other than a few intro classes in college. But being an artist, I should be able to answer this question as best I can. Being a human being with a drive for beauty I want to answer this question as best I can.

Currently reading : Madeleine L’Engle Walking on Water Reflections on Faith and Art