The Artist within Us: Part 1
What if I told you,
What if I told you that you were created to create? That you have this creative potential inside of you waiting to be unleashed? Would you believe me?
When I was in 9th grade, my art teacher assigned this one art project that I would never forget. We were assigned to a certain discipline of art, study an artist from that discipline, and create an art piece based on what we have learned. My discipline was performance art and my artist was On Kawara. Performance art was something I’ve never heard of until I was assigned to this project. It was different. It was the kind of art that didn’t just present a piece for people to view, but the kind that invited the audience to take part in the art. It could take on any form — a visual, a static photograph, a painting, a choreography — whatever the artist wished to create. But the main point was to invite the audience to also experience the art, and that experience became a part of the art itself. And I didn’t exactly create a performance art piece - so I was told. I can’t remember what I made for this project, but one thing that shifted since was my understanding of what art was and God in His creative nature.
I think so many of us shy away from the idea that we are all creative beings. The concept of creativity is so boxed into this sphere of things related to color, sound, images, and all that jazz. But I believe art is boundless. The word “art” carries beauty that goes beyond the scope of a certain types of creative pieces, but it encompasses processes, journeys, adventures, skills — from the most glorious of objects and performances to the most mundane of daily activities. Anything can be a work of art when seen with the right lenses and within the right contexts. I’m aware of the various definitions of the word “art” in the English language. I mean, I’m a writer; I’m no stranger to the fact that the usage of art itself is diverse. But this is how I see it:
“You are an artist.”Would you believe me?
What if I told you that you were created to create? That you have this creative potential inside of you waiting to be unleashed? Would you believe me?
When I was in 9th grade, my art teacher assigned this one art project that I would never forget. We were assigned to a certain discipline of art, study an artist from that discipline, and create an art piece based on what we have learned. My discipline was performance art and my artist was On Kawara. Performance art was something I’ve never heard of until I was assigned to this project. It was different. It was the kind of art that didn’t just present a piece for people to view, but the kind that invited the audience to take part in the art. It could take on any form — a visual, a static photograph, a painting, a choreography — whatever the artist wished to create. But the main point was to invite the audience to also experience the art, and that experience became a part of the art itself. And I didn’t exactly create a performance art piece - so I was told. I can’t remember what I made for this project, but one thing that shifted since was my understanding of what art was and God in His creative nature.
I think so many of us shy away from the idea that we are all creative beings. The concept of creativity is so boxed into this sphere of things related to color, sound, images, and all that jazz. But I believe art is boundless. The word “art” carries beauty that goes beyond the scope of a certain types of creative pieces, but it encompasses processes, journeys, adventures, skills — from the most glorious of objects and performances to the most mundane of daily activities. Anything can be a work of art when seen with the right lenses and within the right contexts. I’m aware of the various definitions of the word “art” in the English language. I mean, I’m a writer; I’m no stranger to the fact that the usage of art itself is diverse. But this is how I see it:
Art is the process of taking things that are independent of one another — sometimes totally unrelated and of its individual functions — putting them together in one harmonious collision to create something of added value, whether as an improved version of its previous form or an entirely new entity.In simpler words: you take things together to produce something that’s better than before. See, the work of a plumber is a work of art. Not everybody knows how to fix broken sinks. And yet, a plumber comes with a set of tools in its individual functions, collide the function of these tools with his handiwork, and given the right amount of time, a masterpiece: a sink that works once again. I believe this art is no less than a painting we find in a prestigious art gallery in Paris. It is unquestionably different, but just as beautiful if we choose to see it from a particular lens and context.
We were created in the image of God; which means that we carry a likeness to our Creator.
We are not God, but we do carry His characteristics. The first chapter of the Bible shows us the very first and underlying nature of our God — a creative Being. The first thing we learned about God is that our God creates. I believe we were created to create — to be an artist. To bring about beauty in a broken world. And this beauty comes in so many forms. A teacher is an artist that takes the next generation on a journey of understanding. A mother is an artist that sculpts the identity and future of a child. A mechanic is an artist that is specialized in the nooks and crannies of our favorite cars. A businessman, a chef, a gym instructor - they are all artists of their kind.
God has given to each of us different sets of gifts and talents, passions and abilities — and oftentimes, they look nothing like what the world considers as “art”. But regardless of what we believe about what “art” is, we are still called to be good stewards of what we have been given.
(to be continued.)
God has given to each of us different sets of gifts and talents, passions and abilities — and oftentimes, they look nothing like what the world considers as “art”. But regardless of what we believe about what “art” is, we are still called to be good stewards of what we have been given.
That’s the word: stewardship.Being an artist is simply being a steward — a good steward. It means we recognize what we have in hand, and purposefully do our part to turn what we have into something of good impact — that people can benefit from. It means we don’t just sit around with our resources and remain apathetic to the solutions we can offer if only we work a little harder.
(to be continued.)
- Lev.
PS: Dear teacher, if you’re reading this, this post is for you. But I know you can spot those grammatical errors, so please pretend you didn’t see them. Haha!
PS: Dear teacher, if you’re reading this, this post is for you. But I know you can spot those grammatical errors, so please pretend you didn’t see them. Haha!
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