It’s simply amazing how surrounded we are by people who are deeply creative in so many ways.
Just in the last week, I’ve revelled in so much beauty. We’ve had Christine’s Self-Portrait; the story of Guns to Guitars at Possible Water; the gift of Church of the Old Mermaids; Joyce’s labour of love and buttons; Jen’s spectacular poster (yes I have ordered one!) and today Abdur Rahman’s poem, So Why Waste Time?:
Hearts were made for seeing truth,
so why waste time
with harshness and blind rigidity?
I did a little surfing and found out that the last seven days have seen the birthdays of these extraordinary creative forces of nature:
French artist George Seurat, born on the 2nd December 1859. There aren’t many artists who have created a new form: in Seurat’s case Neo-Impressionism. He used Pointillism to create illusions of colour and mood, taking both a scientific and emotional approach to his painting.
Legendary operatic soprano Maria Callas was also born on 2nd December - in 1923. Her life was dramatic and sometimes tragic. Even her talent was controversial:
It is very difficult to speak of the voice of Callas. Her voice was a very special instrument. Something happens sometimes with string instruments—violin, viola, cello—where the first moment you listen to the sound of this instrument, the first feeling is a bit strange sometimes. But after just a few minutes, when you get used to, when you become friends with this kind of sound, then the sound becomes a magical quality. This was Callas.
Carlo Giulini
If you don’t know what all the fuss was about, this short video may give you a hint. Consider that it was recorded towards the end of her career, when her gift had started to fade.
Also born this week: French director Jean Luc Godard on 3rd December 1930, Russian artist Wassily Kandinsky on 4th December 1866, Mexican artist Diego Rivera on 8th December 1866, and English poet John Milton, on this day in 1608.
I end with The Lizard King, Jim Morrison, who began his short but meteoric life on 8th December 1943. On the surface almost stereotypical in his beauty, his live-hard die-young rock star trajectory, Morrison was a gifted poet:
Death makes angels of us all and gives us wings where we had shoulders smooth as ravens’ claws.
Even when we lived in caves, we drew on the walls. The expression of our art, whatever it might be, is a deep celebration of our humanity.
Have a blessed week, everyone.
{ 4 comments… read them below or add one }
Elaine 12.09.07 at 7:06 pm
Well, Tess you never disappoint with your Sunday collections. I’ve learned to read them early in the day because they always lead to much more reading and contemplation.
I confess this morning in church during our “Sunday collection” I peeked into the book I was carrying in my purse: Jan Richardson’s “Night Visions”, which arrived in my mail on Friday. I have a whole week of Advent readings to catch up on so I’m using every quiet opportunity to do so.
Now, how’s this for synchronicity with your post. From the introductory pages, my eyes and mind focused on these words: “I believe that the ways in which we create is linked to the manner in which we find patterns and make sense of the different pieces of our lives.”
This sentence evoked an “Aha” response in me. I keep wondering why I spend so much time blogging and responding to others’ posts — perhaps it’s my way of being creative or trying to make sense of complexity within and without me.
Yes, I agree. I am amazed by the deeply creative people AND the diversity of artistic expression. Science is not enough to understand the world (although my skeptical, rational sibling would be upset with me for saying this).
My, this is turning into a post. See how you inspire me. Or at least get the mental wheels rolling in new directions.
Tess 12.09.07 at 8:24 pm
Thanks Elaine, I’m going to have to look at the book you mention, it sounds very interesting. I love this kind of synchronicity, and I think patterns are enormously important: the way leaves filter sunlight, the way a window frame can contain moonlight, the habit almost all children have of trying not to step on the cracks in paving stone.
Your science comment is interesting - I think the best scientists are not entirely rational, and that they use creative leaps of intuition in their work. The worst scientists, though, are hidebound.
Abdur Rahman 12.10.07 at 8:15 pm
Peace Tess
Thank you for your quoting my short poem. God bless you always. I am honoured indeed.
Abdur Rahman
Tess 12.11.07 at 9:51 am
You’re very welcome Abdur, your poetry always makes me think.