I finished reading a recent article on Christians and the arts and
realized so much of what is being said is so mamby pamby. So much of
the conversation is painfully timid. It made me long for someone to
let lose a whip in the temple. God have mercy is there any fire
burning in anyones bones today? I appreciated the discussion
presented in the article but found myself hoping for something more
salty. Many of the thoughts though correct in my opinion were tired
and bland. They felt like words with mittens on. I long to see some
bare knuckled writing, taking the gloves off and go for the knock
out. So much of the conversation sounds like two English women
sipping tea instead of the iconoclastic ruminations of an artist on
the edge. Maybe the artists need to start speaking up instead of the
ones consuming the art?
In fact, that really is what is needed...more artists to just do
their art in the boldness and in your face rawness of the artistic
tradition. More talk just seems to muddy the water. It reminds me of
conversations I have with people who tell me they are "into" art. I
ask to see their work and they make up excuses to why they have
nothing to show. An artist does art, a writer writes, a photographer
takes pictures, a film maker produces a movie! STOP TALKING AND DO
SOMETHING!!!!
Write something that grabs me by the balls and ignites my freezing
blood. Throw out the buffet style discussions that all taste the same
and are made for dying people eating with dentures. Give me a thick,
juicy steak that awakens the feasting madness in me that is needed to
break out of this MSG culture.
For God sakes and for hell bound souls...Somebody pick a fight and
throw a punch that matters.
2 comments:
I think one of the problems is that art has become so fashionable and reachable. Media has innundated us with it and it rarely lasts or deserves to. It takes quite a bit to come up with something good, so in order to keep the "programming" full, whether it be radio, tv, internet or otherwise, it becomes a big task. So a lot of quick copy art ends up posing as art, even being presented as "good". It's not and many know it. Part of the problem is the population buying it doesn't know any better. They are usually pre-teens, you can't blame them. Why do they have so much money? Part of the solution is to be critical (without being overtly negative), why is it bad art? If we can explain ourselves clearly, then we show we get it and we help others "get it". The other solution is creating something really good, that's even more difficult.
I feel ya brother. So much hemming and hawing (I'm guilty) when there should be filming and drawing.
You've inspired me. Not to write a scathing article...well, that too. But to pick up a pad and pen and get to drawing. To paint with the blood, sweat and tears of the talent God has given me.
I love being an artist!
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