So, it’s been really long time. Is anyone still reading this? Is anyone still reading blogs?
Life has gotten kind of weird for me. I am home from work. I am not sure for how long.
What have I been up to? You might be (but probably aren’t) asking yourself this question.
I’ve been whipping out about a painting a month. I have a shared photo album here if you are interested in seeing any of them. I still do Haiku Friday every Friday (well almost every Friday) live on Facebook. The videos wind up on my YouTube channel.
I have such a love/hate relationship with Facebook. I really don’t feel like I have much to say that adds to the conversation, anymore. I alternate between being angry at what is going on in our country, proud of what is going on in our state and sad to see many of my old friends succumb to a worldview so different than the one we once shared. I would ditch Facebook in a minute if it wasn’t for my needing it to do Haiku Friday live. HF has been a discipline of sorts and an actual lifeline for me. Through hard times at work and at home, a transition which was scary, sad and happy, and through sickness, I have plugged away at Haiku Friday. At first, I did it on Twitter with a live video function. When I started broadcasting it on Facebook, I saved the videos to YouTube and then put them up on my HaikuFriday site.
Like a lot of you these days, my day subsists of doing some art, going on long walks to nowhere, working in the garden, reading, playing some games, Zoom visiting with family and friends, installing bidets, weighing in on social media (sigh), watching TV, listening to podcasts, eating and drinking. Lately, we’ve been playing the game Morels and actually growing shiitakes and blue oyster mushrooms.
We’ve been watching What we do in the Shadows and Killing Eve. We’ve eaten takeout pizza from Benniditos and burgers with a cocktail kit from Nyne. I have to say, if anyone was cut out for quarantine, it’s me. I might come off as an extrovert, but that was something I learned how to do as a bullied kid. My natural inclination is toward solitary pursuits.
I made this shirt. I have only wore it once in public and the results were satisfactory, in that people avoided me:
OK.
I really think the only way left to save our world is through art. When I say “art,” I mean music, storytelling, painting, singing, poetry, dancing, theater, cooking, baking, photography, humor, etc. Art is anything that we do as a gift for others (and ourselves) to bolster our humanity and the overall cause of not-feeling-dead-inside. We have seen where, on social media, arguing, presenting facts, pointing out hypocrisy, sounding the alarm bell at for our friends’ sinking ship of credibility has resulted in nothing but hurt feelings. Throwing fact-rocks at someone who pictures himself as “one man against a world of socialism,” and rallying against those who fantasize about being armed combatants at war with the conspiracy of The Invisible Illuminati does nothing to change the way they see the world.
Would art?
I know I have been transformed by beautiful words on paper, actors on the stage who risk all to give all and with paint smeared in the most correct way. The right song at the right time can pull my heart into my stomach. A warm piece of crusty sourdough might reverse the process. Pondering the stars, a sunset, my first cup of coffee in the morning, my grandkids, my kids can make me, well, swoon.
I fully realize, that in order to fully experience life, love and the beauty of all these things, I need to be open too. I need to realize that maybe I am wrong in the way I see the world. However, I am pretty sure that experiencing the intentional gift of someone else’s creativity will probably not push me into violence, into fascism, into totalitarianism, into xenophobia, suspicion or hatred. In fact, I would think that encounters with art will push me further into the opposite direction - but I am open to being wrong on this.
I was writing all of this in order to propose something to you, something rather mundane. I wanted to hear your opinion on my proposal, but I think I will let it sit for a while longer. Because, well, I need to shut up now. Thanks for reading this….
5 comments:
Regarding art saving the world, I'm right there with you, Maeve. I am focused on making and playing music. I look for stories to write songs about. Some pertain to society. Some are simply stories where I try to put myself in someone's position and try to convey the same empathy that I feel towards them. I try to connect to people's emotions through song and hope for the best. I may not save the world but hopefully I can get at least one person to pause and take a good look at themselves.
I am baffled and saddened by friends and relatives who wholeheartedly embrace the grievance politics designed to distract them from the real issues affecting us all. The rationalization of selfishness and callousness makes me want to yell, "Listen to yourself! Have you no heart? Do you not see how people are hurt by this?"
You have piqued my interest. I'd like to hear your mundane proposal.
Thank you Hank! Music, including your own, has such a transformative effect on those who hear it. The musician really takes such a risk to stand there and perform and tell their story. That kind of beautiful creative courage is inspiring and your actual product is lovely.
I wonder sometimes if the divide in our nation is less about conservative vs. liberal and more about people who choose to stay ignorant and comfortable, people who see the world divided between winners and losers, people who seek comfort in a community of stagnant hate versus those who want to create, to dream, to move forward. who want to leave the world a better place than they had it and see their connection with others through the risk of vulnerability.
Have you watched Nanette by Hannah Gadsby? This incredible performance, among many other difficult but positive perspectives, changed my view of "art" forever. specifically arts relationship to wealth. As we enjoy our lives filled with preferred forms of art,what does that imply about our relationship to wealth?
I have not, Travis. But I certainly will! This sounds like a really cool movie. Thanks for the recommendation!
It's been a while since I've tuned in. It's great to see folks like the ones here still have their heads on straight. Just like I remember during bike rides and watching sing along blog movies.
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