Artists' Needs and Longings

I was going to take what I got from reading this forum and condense it into a formal post, but I don't think I can do it justice by summarizing. A leader of a ministry posed a question to CreativEdge Artist Network. The question is "If there was ONE THING that would make a tremendous difference in your life, work and calling as an artist, what would it be?"
The responses go on and on and on, and they resonate so deeply in my heart. If you're an artist, read them for encouragement--to know that you're not the only one struggling through some things and that there are plenty of people who care and support you. If you are not an artist, read to understand, learn, and to know how to pray for us. Regardless, I think your hearts will be touched!

http://www.thegrovecenter.org/forum/topics/what-are-your-greatest-needs

A Quote for the Day

I was going through some old paperwork and found a list of quotes about art I had written down...Maybe I'll sprinkle them throughout posts here and there. Here is one from Dante's Inferno:


Art, as far as it is able, follows nature, as pupil imitates his master; thus your art must be, as it were, God's grandchild.

Purpose of art?

So I’ve been tossing around in my head for the last while the idea of the purpose of art. It was triggered by a great article written by Colin Harbinson. Check it out—here’s the link:

http://stoneworks-arts.org/stoneworks/archives/1558

I think that, in my experience, the best art, or maybe the most powerful and influential art, is art that challenges people to seek and go deeper. It doesn’t dish out answers about whatever it may be addressing, but it inspires you to try to find some. It challenges you to ask questions. To find the deeper purpose, point, message, or meaning and decide for yourself how it applies to you and what you want to do with it.

This article got me thinking a lot about Jesus’ parables and how we can compare them to art. At surface level, the parables are interesting stories, and if you never go any deeper, it was a story that kept you occupied and entertained for whatever period of time. People do that with art and media. They take it in and choose not to think about it any deeper. It never goes beyond “that was a good movie” or “a pretty painting” or “cool” or “that was intense” type comments. Sometimes that may be all there is—but I would argue there is almost always more to be found, even in “art” created solely for profit and entertainment value. Jesus’ parables left work for his hearers to do in order to understand. His disciples never quite grasped that concept completely…they always seem to be wanting an instant application and explanation. Jesus usually appeases them. In that, too, I think there can be a relation. Some sort of explanation or remark about the artwork can greatly help the presentation and the audience’s connection to it. This is why programs are important in performance art.

As an artist or presenter or producer, what I want to continue to think about is how I can create, present, produce in such a way that gets people’s attention and entertains them while at the same time giving them something much much more that once they have left the art behind stays in their thoughts, urging them onward to new questions and discoveries. If someone completely forgot any and every detail about the choreography, costumes, lights, set etc of a dance performance they watched but remembered the feeling it left in their heart and/or a powerful concept or truth or question it helped them grasp in a new way, I would consider that dance performance to be immensely successful.

A movie that had tremendous impact on me was Freedom Writers. I have only seen it once. I couldn’t tell you a single line or explain the complete storyline to you very clearly anymore. But I do remember that after watching it, I spent a good hour journaling. I remember the emotion it put on my heart. I remember thinking that at its core I found a powerful message of hope, love, and perseverance. I remember that it made me want, even more desperately, to be a part of bringing art like that to the world. The movie made me think, it drove me to reflect, and it moved something in my heart that brought me forward into a deeper understanding and revelation of what I desire in my life. It may not have technically or artistically been anywhere close to the greats of films, but it succeeded in the art’s task of influence, at least for me.

In Christ, we have been given all authority. Wherever we walk the presence of the Holy Spirit leaves a footprint. We have been given power. We also have truth. And the ability to love by the author and definition of love. We have so much to give. We do not, however, have the ability to make people choose Christ, and we cannot control their hearts. People find God when they seek him with all their hearts. I want, through art, to get people to seek. 

Expanding the Scope of Art's Importance

The following quote was in the conclusion of a reading assignment for my class on Presenting Live Performances. The article was mostly talking about the decline in arts attendance and participation in the last decade or so, why that might be, and some things she thought should change in order to turn that around. I thought this quote made some very important, thought-provoking, and inspiring points: 

A 1965 Rockefeller Brothers Fund report, The Performing Arts: Problems and Prospecls, states "The arts are not for the privileged few, but for the many. Their place is not on the periphery of daily life, but at its center. They should function not merely as another form of entertainment but rather should contribute significantly to our well being and happiness." The US came a long way but didn't fulfill John D. Rockefeller III's vision in the 20'th century. But wouldn't it be great if we-all of us---could do it in the 21't? If we could actually put the arts at the center of daily life? Who in this world couldn't use a little more happiness right now? Look at the countless people whose lives and well being are affected by the declining economy, or by war, or who are simply worn down by the daily grind. The arts have the potential to contribute to anyone 's well being and happiness. Let's not buy into the idea that some people are simply "disinclined" to the arts and so we should not bother with them. And let's not declare mission accomplished just because we get people in the door. Attendance is cheap. We need to hold ourselves accountable for mattering to people, for making life better. 

Excerpted from The Excellence Barrier, an address given by Diane E. Ragsdale on July 22, 2009 at the annual conference of the Arts Marketing Association of the UK.