At the beginning of the week I finished reading a book called 'The Gift: How the creative spirit transforms the world' by Lewis Hyde. I'd thoroughly recommend it, it's extremely thought-provoking stuff. I was prompted to read it by this review by Jeanette Winterson Because she explains it so well I'm going to leave it to her and just add a couple of passages from the book that I jotted down whilst reading it. The first is a quote from Walt Whitman. I wasn't familiar with Walt Whitman before I read this book (which outlines his life and work) but I'll certainly be picking up some of his poetry in the future."This is what you shall do: Love the Earth and Sun and the animals, despise riches, give alms to everyone that asks, stand up for the stupid and crazy...,argue not concerning God, have patience and indulgence towards people...dismiss whatever insults your own soul, and your very flesh shall be a great poem and have the richest fluency not only in its words but in the silent lines of it's lips and face and between the lashes of your eyes and in every motion and joint of your body..."
This second passage was lifted directly from the book and describes how art is both enduring and nourishing. I just thought this beautifully put;
"In a live tradition we fall in love with the spirits of the dead. We stay up all night with them. We keep their gifts alive by taking them into the quick of our being and feeding them to our hearts"
'The Gift' creates many more questions than it gives answers but what it does cover touches on some, in my opinion, absolute truths, for one; that creativity comes from a higher unified place, that it is a gift to those who can channel it and in turn a gift to those who can then appreciate it's fruits. The nature of the gift sees that it just keeps on getting bigger and being passed on, gaining more and more worth and momentum, belonging to nobody and everybody, spreading and confirming unity.
If only more efforts were made to make sure an important space was made for it in each and every persons life. To live in a culture of creating rather than consuming, I think, would really sort us out. And I think it could be possible, simply because there is no better feeling than that creative 'buzz', when else do you feel quite so alive?
posted by Moonpie at 4:37 PM
8 Comments:
Sounds very interesting.
How true that the creative spirit does, and indeed HAS, transfomed the world.
And yet it has to fight so very hard to be heard in Schools by academic headmasters who dismiss it, in cities by councils who under fund it, in religious faiths which bannish it, and in political systems which censor it.
Maybe it's the struggle to survive and be heard which makes great art so great.
1:50 PM
Hi Ian,
Sorry about the disapearing post, I published by mistake then didn't make it back.
In the book the author explains how during the cold war alot of money was put into the Arts in America (it was written by an American in 1979) because they wanted to promote the idea of the west being free thinking (as opposed to the oppressed like the Russians.) When the Cold War ended it was all taken away again. I'm not sure if we were affected in the same way but art is so under valued in our society, it's tragic.
But yes it will survive always, I guess because it's just so fundamental and so powerful.
8:33 PM
That is interesting, and it should not be a surprise but it is - the way Art was manipulated. And that money continues to be redirected and channeled to favourable causes that soon become unfavourable. Nothing changes.
I have half-admiration and half-worry for artists; I am interested in Ian’s comments. The struggle is part of the muse. I went to art college, had ambitions, and if you asked me twenty years ago, I was to be a successful graphic designer.
I am ashamed to mention how easily the perpetrators mentioned extinguished the desires. Back then, creative teachers were expressing how they were being squeezed. Back now, they express the same problems.
In the last five years, I have been rediscovering what is meaningful to the pursuit of my own happiness. I have my Gibson, and mini-marshal stack, my bookcases, and an easel in my den, my underground. When I paint, I still start by thinking can I still do this. But I love those who have the talent, confidence, and honesty to put themselves out there. I love your last couple of paragraphs. Creativity is something I know I need, to participate or to watch. I value those who provide.
4:01 AM
Interesting post, Moonpie.
I think creating is a human need, whether it's a song, a piece of art, or a fantastic cake. It's how we express our connection to the world and life around us.
12:51 AM
You sold me, MP. I'd be into learning a heap about how "we fall in love with the spirits of the dead. We stay up all night with them. We keep their gifts alive by taking them into the quick of our being and feeding them to our hearts". I am considerably distracted or I would say filled with love to visit my grandparent's grave. More recently, there's another on my scroll. Truly.
Walt Whitman sells me every time otherwise. And JW is divine. I love her work. Love it.
-ginab
5:57 AM
Gina,
I'm sorry to hear about the loss in your family, I hope everyone is holding up well. I'll be sending you all my best wishes. XXX
8:31 AM
Ahh, ta MP.
6:01 PM
I am so happy I came here tonight.....Ah, WW is wonderful indeed. Only the name was known to me....now the spirit remains.....
I agree that if we created more than we consumed, we would be "sorted out" ...
2:48 AM
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