One of the things experienced artists can do is respond really well to catastrophe.
I do not necessarily mean global catastrophe or local even, but when a painting looks terrible they can navigate that space and usually tweak and do something that puts it in better track and looks good.
They do not stop and thinkabout how horrible it is and stop. No. They observe and reflect and ask the question: what is needed?
There is this space of freedom and soverignty in this space of curiousity, free to make decisions to change what is. How beautiful the unexpected aspects of going outside the lines, what does it mean to stay in the lines and go outside of hte lines, and metaphorucally what does that mean to be in the lines and what rules are and breaking rules.
Not just being okay with what is, but falling in love with aspects and pushing it further and experimenting further on the canvas. Art is a platform to explore and go through that psychologically, emotionally, spiritually to practice that ability and skill of being uncomfortable and being in space of freedom to see what next will come.
And co-creation. This paradox of having control and having zero control is true in all aspects of our life, not just art, it doesn’t matter where we are or what we are talking about. But being in body, and in form, and being in a particular time and space and location, that means there is a certain amount of unpredictability and possibility, unpredictability and possiblity go together, and there is a way of emotionally, physically, spiritually of responding to that unpredictability that leads to better results.
Really good artists are able to turn yucky-looking paintings upright into beauty and compelling imagery with a couple of flicks of their paint.
And that is because of their ability to respond to what is and make tweaks.
And so too it is in our lives and this time in society where we are living in this time of crossroads — cross road after cross road — of what is it we want to be creating? Regardless of politics, but who do we want to be as a society? How do we respond to things that are out of synch and do not look like what we want them to? How do we be honest with where we are and where we want to be and move forward with it?
I am really curious to seewhat happens next, layers upon layers. Another thing is we think that there are endings, and there are lots of endings, but they are always paired with new beginnings. We start over all the fucking time, and that it so beautiful. And has so many possibilities in and of itself.
Much love.
