On Light, and the Art of Being

"Love the art in yourself, not yourself in the art." - Konstantin Stanislavsky

I play a LOT of music. But the music I play I can't love. It's not really my art. My art seems to be words. Words that aren't necessarily me, though they are my words.

Tolstoy said of art, "something that has been added to nature that wasn't there before." Uta Hagen adds, "that something is the artists point of view and his power of selection which comes from life and makes for new life."

For each of the written notes in my facebook, my blog, my repertoire, I have made a choice out of my "power of selection" and each written note also reflects my point of view on something that comes "from life."

The majesty of art is that it now allows you to be an artist. If these words are read, they become part of your life, and you have the power of selection to use them when and if they are right for your own art.

A Christian might be reminded that we are called to take 10% of our yield and not just give it back, but EAT, be satisfied, and SHARE. A couple former students reminded me that we should be willing to share more, not less, art.

So I rest now on this: For now my self-conscious has been assuaged by the willingness to say: "These words aren't God's, they aren't inspired by God, but they show that God, the creator, is in me. When I create something new, I (to myself) am reflecting Him."

Loving the art in myself, not myself in my art. There is no value statement to be frightened of in that. There is no "bad" or "good" art, only joy that the art is there as something new that was not there before. Those who understand my point of view, and/or appreciate my power to select will appreciate my art as they were intended to, respond to it how they will, and be critical when my power to select wanes. Hopefully it also allows them to see the art and creativity within themselves, and thus reflect the image of the creator in them.

A new light calling us to go be a light.