Thursday Thoughts: Receivers of Art

Be a receiver of art rather than a consumer. A consumer gorges himself on what he “likes” and contemptuously ignores the challenging or the unfamiliar. A receiver stands under a work of art and lets it speak. He realizes that it takes an act of love to make and share a work of art and an equal act of generosity to stop and listen.

Do you know any artists? Stop and listen to what they’re saying. Accept their gift.

Thursday Thoughts: Beauty

To paraphrase from Fujimura’s book Culture Care–Beauty is that which is a delight to the senses, a pleasure to the mind, and refreshment to the spirit. It invites our scrutiny and contemplation and then rewards it. Beauty is connected to satisfaction and we should not be content with only cheap alternatives (the cute or the pretty) that ultimately leave us unsatisfied.

Although beauty is satisfying, it can also, in one of the may paradoxes of life, leave us with a deep ache for more. If we do not have a worldview that allows for beauty that ache can be confusing or troubling. If we do have a worldview that understands what beauty points towards that ache can be a pleasant longing for the ultimate reality only hinted at in this life.

Two New Drawings

Here are two new drawings that made their debut appearance in my current show at Pearl River Glass Studio.

Chorus. Ink on watercolor board. 24″x17″

The Desert. Coffee and ink on watercolor paper. 22″x29″

Detail from The Desert

 

The Aesthetic of Illumination

Here are some photos from my show at Pearl River Glass Studio Gallery:

A huge thank you to everyone who came out and all my friends who gave me a hand with this! I could not have asked for a better venue, a larger turnout, or such positive reactions. What a great evening!

Sneak Peak: The Aesthetic of Illumination

My show is this Saturday and here’s a little sneak peak of the preparations…

The pile looks so small when they’re all stacked, but it ended up being the perfect amount of pieces.

The venue is perfect. Check out the pattern and texture of those glass doors! They match the pieces beside them perfectly. 

Lots of natural light!

The show is all hung now and I could not be more proud of the way it turned out. I’m fortunate to be surrounded by so many amazing artists. This would not have happened if a friend had not told me about the opportunity, if the gallery had not given me this opportunity, or if the artists at Pearl River hadn’t lent me their expertise as I worked on hanging everything. Also, I have some great friends who are taking care of the live music. I hope to see you there if you’re local!