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The Art Of The True Self
By gartenfische | December 5, 2007
So Painter’s got me thinking about art. I am not an artist, not an art expert in any way, but I love art. I suspect that when I am drawn to a piece, really love it, it’s because the artist brought forth that creation from deep within—from the true, true self.
I’ve noticed an interesting phenomenon, though: Sometimes when I am instinctively drawn to a piece of art, I will then look more closely, bring in the thinking mind, and either decide that I do, indeed “like” this piece of art, or that I really don’t “like” it after all. I also notice that when I decide I don’t like a piece of art, it’s because it’s unusual, not something, for instance, that would have hung in my parents’ homes. I find the disparity between the soul’s preferences and the rational mind’s preferences interesting. I also think it’s useful to question this response, and override the critical mind to satisfy the soul.
So artists that I’ve been drawn to at one time or another, but my mind balked at. Marc Chagall. William Blake. Georgia O’Keeffe. Frida Kahlo. Hildegard of Bingen. This art is not mind stuff. Heart stuff.
Take Kahlo. I instinctively love her art, because I sense the intense Truthfulness—her soul right there, but the weirdness throws my mind into a tailspin.
Painter puts it beautifully: Images can echo the Divine, mirror them imperfectly. But I would still say a truer and deeper measure of a work of art’s spiritual nature, is to be found in the artist’s process, not the artist’s product.
That seems right to me. And I think it’s reflected in how we feel (not necessarily think) about the art.
Music, too. I have no patience for overworked, overpolished music. It’s got to touch my heart, my soul. Of course, as individuals, our taste in music varies, but for me, it has to feel real. Folk. Rock. Jazz. Classical. Whatever—as long as it’s real. As long as the heart’s still there, hasn’t been buffed right out.
Some people, including artists, musicians, are closer to the true self—maybe more willing to be vulnerable. To let go of perfectionism. To trust the true self and the Divine and what it brings forth. Children do it naturally, but art classes, music classes, being told “how it is done” (and whether or not we have ”talent”) can sometimes dampen it. Other peoples’ opinions, others’ criticisms can kill it if we let them.
Lately I’m enjoying Sufjan Stephens’s Songs for Christmas (I didn’t buy the whole thing; I bought eleven songs). He even does one of my very favorite hymns, Come Thou Fount of Every Blessing. Here it is, put to a video of African scenes, which is a bit silly, but the music is wonderful. This is my favorite Christmas music this year. (Thanks to my friend, T—you know who you are.) He also has a great song called The Transfiguration (yes, about that transfiguration; okay, the butterfly costumes are a bit much, but isn’t the music great?).
Oh, and I have to add here, this, Cyndi Lauper singing Joni Mitchell’s Carey. Oooo oooo awesome. Real.
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So what’s going on with blogger/blogspot? They’re hampering community by not allowing links to outside blogs. If you don’t have a blogger account, you’re invisible. Grrrr . . . Google has a lot to answer for.
December 5th, 2007 at 3:50 pm
Why do I always gasp in awe upon arriving here?
Another lovely post and thought provoking too. As it should be. Visually, emotionally, intellectually and spiritually provocative. Heaven to me.
What is up with blogspot? I just linked to you- as I am afraid I tagged you. Feel free to decline. I link to you often and it has worked. Is this new? Blogger…..grrr.
December 5th, 2007 at 4:29 pm
what do you mean about the links, G? I just linked to souljerky.com and it works fine….
December 5th, 2007 at 4:56 pm
Fran, thank you so much. It means a lot that you find meaning here.
Fran, Linda–what I mean is that blogger has recently made it so that when someone outside of blogger comments, there is no link to their blog. I’m sorry I wasn’t more clear. For instance, if I click on your names, above, I go to your blog, but if you do that on my name in your comments, you don’t go to my blog. Until a few days ago, blogger allowed that. So they’ve changed something and it’s not nice. I mean, blogging is all about community and when someone comments on my blog, I always like to go visit theirs. Bad Google, bad. :(
December 5th, 2007 at 6:44 pm
Aaaaaah. I love the song “Carey.” And I’ve seen that version of it and love it, too.
Nice choice.
December 5th, 2007 at 7:40 pm
i thought the linking thing went both ways?
glad you are enjoying sufjan!
and i think someone needs to come up with an evilness rating sale, so we can all post on our blogs just how evil we are. i think i would rate pretty high :)
December 5th, 2007 at 7:46 pm
I agree with you about Blogger, but I found away around it. Set up a blogger account and then in your profile page it will allow you to put in a home page of your choice. Check out my profile (http://www.blogger.com/profile/16121993825575093047) on the left. I also listed my website & blog under my interests. I figured this out so I could comment on Jan’s wonderful icon post (http://yearningforgod.blogspot.com/). Thanks for pointing it out to me!
BTW- beautiful post as always!
December 5th, 2007 at 8:02 pm
I was just looking at Blogger and I think you still see the link to the blog — it just takes you to their profile page, and if they’ve entered their blog under “My Website” it shows up. At least mine does. But you’re right, it doesn’t show non-Blogger blogs under “Blogs.” And it isn’t a direct link.
Gorgeous art on this post!!
December 5th, 2007 at 8:08 pm
Cranky, someone has come up with an evil rater! Click
here dear. I’m 29% evil, 71% good (what if they didn’t add up!)
Painter, thanks, I’m glad to know that works. I was wondering if it would, but I thought if I signed up at blogger, I’d have to have a blog there.
YM, thanks! So I’ll do what you and Painter did. No, it’s not as good as a direct link, but it’s better than nothing.
Why, oh why did they change it? (Other than to try to force everybody to use blogger.)
December 5th, 2007 at 9:08 pm
Yes - I just realized what you meant when I was at my own blog.
That stinks.
December 5th, 2007 at 9:20 pm
Fran, it does stink, but I just did what Painter and YogaMum suggested and set myself up a blogger profile, so it’s an extra step, but better than nothing.
December 5th, 2007 at 10:53 pm
Oh, I love Chagall! In the city in which I went to college (Mainz, Germany), there is a small church (St. Stephan) for which Chagall did all the windows in the apsis. Absolutely amazing!
Being a musician myself, I have to say that training and “how it is done” allows you access to the divine behind the music–without the training, your entire attention and emotional energy would be absorbed in “getting it right.”
December 6th, 2007 at 10:43 am
Charlotte, I would LOVE to see that church! (I looked up pictures—it’s gorgeous!).
Good point about music. My daughter is a musician, too (she plays viola). I don’t think training is bad, and I didn’t mean to imply that, just that people have to retain their heart and soul in the face of being told how to do things.
I like how you said that training allows you access to the divine behind the music.
With art, some teachers teach by having the students imitate their style. This may be necessary in the beginning, but hopefully, the student believes in their own self enough to bring that forth; if not, they will be forever imitating.
December 6th, 2007 at 8:46 pm
this is just beautiful! I love all this art! I am really starting to notice art more and more lately!
And what’s the idea about blogger???
December 14th, 2007 at 9:20 am
[…] A Pearl 14 December, 2007, 9:20 am Filed under: music, silliness In a recent gartenfische post about art and the true self, I said that music has to feel real to be meaningful for me. Anyway, […]
December 14th, 2007 at 9:26 am
[…] The Art Of The True Self […]
December 19th, 2007 at 2:54 pm
I have just arrived for the first time at your beautiful site and have taken a small sip. I will be returning and drinking more from this well.
An artist that is expressing in truth from a deeper source, a spiritual expression, will speak to the soul of the viewer.
Thank you!!
December 19th, 2007 at 4:28 pm
Welcome, Andrew, thanks for stopping by, and glad you like the site!
Yes, I like that—soul to soul!