Day 2: Words and Pictures- SCULPTURE

The gathering of “lace” about the neckline… Amazing- all one piece of marble.

The thought was that the sculpture was the depiction of the “lady” written by Verrocchio’s benefactor- Lorenzo De’Medici.

Notice the fringe on the bottom…

The above sculptures were on display at the National Gallery of Art in Washington, DC this past fall. My husband, son and I “metroed” in to see the exhibit about Andrea del Verrocchio. I had read about the artist /teacher (his most famous pupil- Leonardo de Vinci) and wanted to see some of his work. What I find so interesting is his talent in making a block of hard, heavy stone appear to be a delicate, translucent piece of fabric. (lace for the lady and the fringe on David’s loincloth) I find that when I know more about the artist, the work, the timeframe in which it was produced, the technique- I enjoy and appreciate the creativity so much more. Usually I am just a Neanderthal when it comes to anything art but I am always willing to learn.

Words and Pictures. What artwork inspires you? What gives you a glimpse into the beautiful and the truth?

What have you learned about creativity during this time of confinement? How have you been creative in the newly thrust upon home-schooling/ keeping my kids occupied mode? While we cannot visit art galleries for now, we can visit them online. Why not take a break from the news and the thoughts about the virus and learn something new?

Click here to escape to an informative video about an Italian artist Verrocchio.

Our truest response to the irrationality of the world is to paint or sing or write, for only in such response do we find truth. Madeleine L'Engle

Creative Pursuits

What are you doing this summer?

Seems like a question that I have been asked of late. It seemed that when we were young and on the school calendar mode, it was easy to break down our year into seasons: summer break, fall school start, Christmas break, winter semester, spring/Easter break, spring semester… It was easy to set goals and schedules: piano lessons, choir practice, soccer, field hockey, swimming, school play/musical, etc… Even the course work was scheduled for specific times: driver’s ed happened in the spring, “family planning” or any of the health classes occurred in the spring, local history was taught in the fall, etc.

So, when we ask each other what we are doing in the summer, I think there is a little of our preprogrammed schedules in our heads. “Visit family, hang out at the pool, go to camp, visit the beach, travel to Europe”….

I always think that the summer is a good time to pursue some type of creative or craft project. Guess I am reminded of my annual packing of my “craft box” to our summer house. I had a box that contained my bits and bobs: brick-a-brack, styrofoam forms, needlepoint, glitter, acrylic and water color paints, pastels, etc. You name the project, and I probably had the appropriate material stuffed into that box. One time my brother in exasperation for it taking up room in the car said, “Are you going to bring that **** box again?!” I always fancied myself as an “artiste”- hiking along the marsh edges, portable easel, paints and wearing an old smock and straw hat. In reality, I probably, only once, brought a small sketch book and pencils bought from the local 5 & 10 to sit at the edge of the jetty and left within minutes of getting thoroughly soaked by a wave.

This summer, I still have a hankering for something creative. I have scratched that itch (slightly) by making new pillows for our deck and screened porch. What I like is when I can “use up” some other material that I already have in the house. Such was the case with the pillows: I covered existing pillows with left over material from having re-covered our dining room chairs (that material was a painter’s drop cloth!) and used up some of my acrylic fabric paints by painting scallops shells on them (or my attempt at a scallop rendition). I also covered existing pillows with coordinating ribbon and used some starfish from a former wreath.

It may not be decorator’s choice but I like it.

What about you? Did you like arts and crafts as a kid? Did you do it at camp? What have you always wanted to learn? To knit? Crochet? Paint? Sculpt? Design a garden? Take design classes? Baking classes? Cooking classes? Woodworking?

Just because we are not formally in school or camp doesn’t mean that we cannot learn and try new creative pursuits. Maybe get some friends together and share the expense for a lesson or two. Or, have a sharing session where someone shares his/her skills with the group. Check out pintrist and youtube videos for ideas.

While the craft box has been dismantled and redistributed, I might still pull out my sketch book. I have also been thinking about making some new needlepoint eyeglass cases. Perhaps resurrect my old Kenya bag and add new rope handles? The list can go on….

I wanted to use up an existing pillow (tan) but wanted to tie it into my “beachy” theme so I found navy ribbon and used up an old starfish from a dismantled wreath.

What is Art?

What is art seems to be a question that resurfaces every time there is some new “development” in the art world- new technique, unusual objects, even artists. Is it art to reject conventional ways of painting and only put on canvas your immediate impressions? (Impressionists, 1863) Is it art to hang a urinal on the wall? (Marcel Duchamp, 1917) Is it art if an animal creates it? (Koko the Gorilla, 2014) Is it art if a computer generates it? (GAN, 2018)

Portrait of Edmond Belamy, 2018, created by GAN (Generative Adversarial Network), which will be offered at Christie’s in October. Image © Obvious.

This week Christie’s Auction House will auction a “portrait” created/generated by GAN (Generative Adversarial Network) . It was not created by any human mind but rather through an algebraic formula. On the Christie’s website, one of the scientists behind the experiment states, “‘The algorithm is composed of two parts,’ says Caselles-Dupré. ‘On one side is the Generator, on the other the Discriminator. We fed the system with a data set of 15,000 portraits painted between the 14th century to the 20th. The Generator makes a new image based on the set, then the Discriminator tries to spot the difference between a human-made image and one created by the Generator. The aim is to fool the Discriminator into thinking that the new images are real-life portraits. Then we have a result.’

Is art what is created or is there more behind the creation? A need to express a feeling or an emotion? Does it have to have original thought? Is it art only if it creates a response from the viewer? Is it art if no one sees the work? Is it art if it is created by aesthetic principles and by form? Or can art express something conceptual?

I think art is another opportunity for us to be co-creators with God. Not that we are God but we have the opportunity to bring to fruition an original idea. Regardless of the genre, the artist has “breathed life” into his/her work.

Just like God created us for community, I also think art is intwined with the viewer. For art to be impactful and to have lasting purpose, it needs to be shared in community: it needs the viewer (others) to respond to it. While there is a need in artists to create regardless of the response (not for others’ viewing or financial gain) ultimately we create to share new ideas, concepts, emotions in a communal sense. Art provides a way for us to explore, to understand and to explain our world.

It seems to me what is lacking in the machine generated image is the need to create and express oneself. Of course, the question could be asked, was Koko expressing herself when she painted the bird or was she performing a task? The computer and the algorithm were performing a task. The equipment didn’t have the need to create, it was responding to a programmer.

I just wonder if there can be any original art from AI (artificial intelligence). It seems to me the originality and the creativity of a piece of art is the pull or the reason for the response from the viewer. It is the originality and the creativity that produces the strand that connects the artwork to the viewer.

Koko not only painted but also titled her works. This one is “Bird” based on the bluebird that would sit by her window.

What do you think? What do you consider art? Something that is aesthetically pleasing to your eye? Or the representation of a concept or idea? Do you think that we need art in this world? Does art need to be viewed in order to be considered art? Do you think artificial intelligence can produce a work of art?

While I think the “portrait” is interesting, I do think that only humans can conceive and produce a creative work. For me, there is something “alive” in paintings by humans: the creative you speaks to the creative me. What a blessing to be able to see, think and discuss the creative arts.

The Book of Doing

As I am want to do, I was looking at used books at a local thrift shop.  I was wanting my own copy of Moby Dick and I just had a feeling that there might be a discarded, hardly read copy from someone's English class.  Eureka.  Found one in pristine condition.

I also happened upon this little gem:  The Book of Doing:  Everyday Activities to Unlock Your Creativity and Joy  by Allison Arden.  She reminds the reader that  we have turned joyful pursuits into chores. "We've minimized the value of what these acts of personal creation can fuel in our society: the perspective, centeredness, and sense of accomplishment they give us. ....In the same way we have allowed technology to infiltrate every area of our lives, we must allow our creativity and passions to infuse our daily activities."  Amen sister!

And so, dear reader I offer to you some of the suggestions from her book (and a few of my own).  Perhaps 2017 can be the year that you try and engage in some type of creative doing.  It doesn't have to be the beret-wearing, scarf-tossing artist (accent on the second syllable).  Doing can encompass anything, as Ms. Arden states, "Creating, making, mastering,  perfecting, helping, inventing, initiating, experimenting, learning, drawing, changing, constructing, reading, moving, trying, challenging, testing, building, writing singing, dancing, hosting, cooking, painting tasting, sharing, smelling, imitating, playing, enjoying, being, giving,  

"It is not in doing what you like, but in liking what you do that is the secret of happiness." ~J.M. Barrie, creator of Peter Pan.

Here are some suggestions:

• Master how to say "hello", "please" and "thank you" in five different languages  (once you have done that, go on to completely learn a language- at least be able to communicate if you travel)
• Remove the words, "never", "can't", and "stupid" from your vocabulary (think of other frequent words you might use and try to change them up)
• Add a new word to your vocabulary each week (https://www.vocabulary.com/ is an online "game" for learning new words)
• Train to participate in a something-a thon ( marathon, bike-a-thon, bowl-a-thon, etc.)
• Be inspired by a dish you love from a restaurant and try duplicating at home
• Taste a slice of pizza from every shop in town- rate it  (bring friends and/or family along.  If pizza is not your thing- try ice cream, same type of sandwich, coffee or tea)
• Look at the world through a camera lens (literally  as you see things through new angles and then figuratively as you view the same ole, same ole in a different light)
• Learn to play chess
• Go to a farm where you can pick your own fruits and veggies. (make something with the harvest)
• Craft something special out of a sentimental piece of clothing (favorite t-shirts into throw pillows or quilts)
• Change something "unmovable" ( your birthday, a room, your hair, your point of view)
• Build something out of a natural material- preferably if you "find" the material on a nature walk (last year I made a bamboo fence to contain our raspberries)
• Pick and celebrate quotes that Inspire you  (pin them up around your desk, mirror, by the kitchen sink)
• Memorize a poem or scripture  (you'll never know when that gem will need to be recalled)

The point of all these suggestions is to get out there and do something.  Something that feeds your soul and opens you to new possibilities. Something that can stimulate one of your five senses.  As you do your activities, try to enjoy the experience.  I am going to try this year.  What about you? 

The "Pro" in Procrastinators

Last week we were taking our son back to college.  It is a long journey and we forgot to take along an audio book.  Fortunately we were able to listen to an NPR station which had on their TED Radio Hour program.  It was fascinating. The topic for this week was slowing down.  (Click here for the program)

There were a series of reports on different ideas of slowing down.  One that caught our ears was the idea of procrastination.  Adam Grant is a professor, psychologist and author.  And by his own admission a "pre-crastinator"- someone who gets anxious if he hasn't completed his tasks way ahead of time.  

Even though it would appear that "pre-crastinators" get a jump on a goal, he has found that it is the procrastinators who are more original and creative. 

Being a recovering procrastinator, I was interested.  I have written and talked about planning ahead and have changed my own habits to allow time and space to do so. His research suggests that when we are faced with a challenge sometimes we need to put the work off for awhile. Who knew? 

He had many reasons to explain why.  Part of it he calls, serious uncertainty.  When you are uncertain you escape to something else, evenly passionately to avoid putting off what you were doing. It is during that time that the uncertainty stays active in the back of your mind.  We have a better memory of that which is incomplete rather than a completed task.  Once something is completed it is as if our brain says, "Okay that is over and done.  Wipe my hands of that and move on."  But if it is incomplete our mind keeps ruminating on it.  

In looking back, all my avoidance of a deadline in order to alphabetize the spices was probably my mind working on the task!   Seriously, he does make me reflect on how I do work.  Having a thinking type job, I need to figure out what is the best scenario for completing my goals. His study gives freedom to improvise and permission to change. As I am ruminating about an idea, I might decide to explore a totally different tangent. For example, he explains how Leonardo de Vinci took over fifteen years to paint one of his canvases. During that time he also explored the science of optics and the way light is seen.  His discoveries led him to paint in a different way- the masterpiece we know as the Mona Lisa. 

When is procrastination destructive or creative?  His suggestion: when actively grappling with a problem we can use procrastination to our advantage- to be quick to begin and slow to finish.  There is a learning curve of how to be skilled between toggling between creativity and productivity.  There is a time to ponder and there is a time to get going.  But we can give ourselves permission to hold tight, think a little and explore new ideas before we have to check another item on our to-do list. 

What about you?  Are you a "pro or pre" crastinator?  Has any delay in a decision, task or project resulted in a favorable outcome?  Or not?  In light of Dr. Grant's suggestion how could you have handled your latest project?  Do you need to slow down?  Or do you totally procrastinate, avoiding completely that which you need to do?  How can you jump start what you need to do?  Would knowing that you don't have to finish immediately (being slow to finish) get you to start quickly? 

What are the "pros" in your procrastination?