I am currently listening to “Where the Heart Beats” by John Cage. I knew Cage was a musician but never understood his music. Where the Heart Beats is a great read and an excellent audiobook. The man had a unique way of looking at the universe, both its natural and spiritual sides.
Starts with a Photograph, a set of images I created over the past few years. There are a few that I took on my walk to Minneapolis Community Technical College.
Some of you know that I am recreating this blog, so people have seen some of the images, but there are new ones, too. I hope you enjoy it.
While working this month on my Labyrinthine/Labyrinth in Second Life, I discovered Jorge Luis Borges, an author, poet, and philosopher (1899 – 1986) born in Argentina. I used a quote from him in my last post. He wrote a short story that I am still digesting, a short story he wrote. The Library of Babel was published in the book The Labyrinths by Jorge Luis Borges.
I read the first few words and was hooked to read more of this man’s works.
The universe (which others call the Library) is composed of an indefinite and perhaps infinite number of hexagonal galleries, with vast air shafts between, surrounded by very low railings. From any of the hexagons one can see, interminably, the upper and lower floors. The distribution of the galleries is invariable.
~ Jorge Luis Borges, The Library of Babel, 1941
What separates artists from ex-artists is that those who challenge their fears, continue; those who don’t, quit. Each step in the artmaking process puts that issue to the test.”
― Art and Fear: Observations on the Perils (and Rewards) of Artmaking
Besides my grant project, I have been finding all sorts of things to do and work on. Somewhere I read, start with the small, easy things. I like that idea.
Fear of messing it up and fearing something does not up to my own expectations or how it will be judged, I think, confronts all artists.I read this book, Art and Fear, a long time ago. Milton Glaser, an artist I love, told me that is bullshit. Not so many words… but I got the idea so did my students.
Posting is one of my distractions, and so is creating this image.
It is enough to say that the Greeks thought it was Chaos who, with a massive heave, or a great shrug, or hiccup, vomit or cough, began the long chain of creation that has ended with pelicans and penicillin and toadstools and toads, sea-lions, lions, human beings and daffodils and murder and art and love and confusion and death and madness and biscuits.
Stephen Fry
Mythos: The Greek Myths Retold
At least that is how it feels at times. I am whittling down options and getting to know media. I am still drawn to Blender, Procreate, Affinity Photo, Second Life, drawing with Micron Pens, graphite, and Color Ease erasable pencils.
I have been reading Mythos, by Stephen Fry. I wanted to get to know Greek Mythology better. Stephen Fry does an excellent job, and it is written with humor I enjoy. The piece included in this post is called the Chaos Machine.