Wednesday, May 4, 2016

A Rambling Muse On Art, Creating Reality And Business

Image: Adam touching the hand of God, Michelangelo, ceiling of the Sistine Chapel

What is “art”? What is creation and its links to creativity? Is “Build it and they will come” or Ray Bradbury's advise “First you jump off the cliff and build your wings on the way down.” sound proposals for starting a venture? Do we create our reality or is it all a crap-shoot? Are Art and Science mutual means to realizing ones goals? In today's post I will muse on these things a bit.

Back in the 90's a friend, Chris, and I being totally frustrated with the local arts scene in regard to the prevalent attitude that most crafts were not “art” decided to form an artist's cooperative. She is a bead-worker and I am eclectic in my creations. It was open for a good run but because of location we struggled. One idea made manifest. Enough on that.

The line between art and craft has been debated for years. This article by Denis Dutton on art and craft I found to very good as well as the comments below the article “Tate Debate: When is a craft an art?” I have been thinking on this as I am in the process of attempting to create a new business venture and have put out my feelers for this relying on some of my Social Currency with an emphasis as a basic operating principle of creating a sense of community. I know many folks are out in the community that have "Arts and Crafts” they would love to share and also make a bit of money for their efforts. Two problems I see: Many lack the financial resources to pay the high price of most well established events and fairs and also may not have enough of their creations to fill the standard 10X10 booth space. My intention is to create a space that will accommodate those two needs.

This brings me to the next point of this post. As it has been widely determined , art is greatly defined by Aesthetics. An aesthetic I embrace that flavors my world view as well as art is the aesthetic of Wabi-sabi. In most respects this has served me well for many years. As Bradbuy advised I have always been one who takes the leap instilled with abundant faith in myself and the workings of the universe. Recently I have been consumed with these thought and more. But here is the rub.

Events of recent years have contributed to a gradual decline in my physical abilities and general adventurous spirit which I have identified in terms of “who I am”. Finding the true essence of myself has been clouded in terms of “what I do” to define that self. These may be the inevitable consequences of aging. Perhaps Otium is a state I am ready to embrace? Well there is a spark within me that says “No, not yet.” So “what to do” I ask. Where do I gather and reestablish the ingredients of my Mojo?

Yes, this has been a rambling mini-muse, has it not? Like my nature spirit the frog I am in the mood to take a leap into the unknown again. This post has now evolved into another outreach to vendors of different stripes. Not just artists or crafters but folks of any entrepreneurial persuasion with desire to share their passions. Collectors, musicians, writers, tarot readers and more...

Any one else ready to “build your wings on the way down”