It’s been a couple of
years since I began my monthly guest spot here at the Working Stiffs. In
preparation for this, my last post, I looked back at subjects I’ve
touched upon in prior posts. Some were writing related; some were inspired by
news events; some poked gentle fun at my family.
Several were on the
serious side, and I appreciate having a forum to write about difficult topics
like wife killers,
cop killers,
tree killers,
and pedophiles.
I don’t usually go to such dark places, but here I had the freedom to push the
envelope and test both the audience and my own writing mettle. I thank you for
that.
In that vein, I want to
write about another sensitive topic: Writers as Artists.
In February, as those of
you who’ve read my excited babblings know, I was awarded a residency at an
artists’ colony. The Fellows--which is what you become forever and ever once
you are selected for a Fellowship—included visual artists, composers, and
writers. I experienced many warm and generous moments in my time there. One of my
favorites was witnessing a Fellow greet a new arrival and ask this question:
“What kind of art do you make?”
It was a good question because it encompassed all possible answers: I paint, I write stories, I compose music, I make prints, I write poetry, I sculpt. The person who answered the question that particular time said, "I write."
Some people don’t think of
writers as artists. Some writers are among those who don't think writers are artists. If you think this, you are wrong. To make art is to create something
out of nothing, or to mold something into something else. The creation
expresses an emotion, captures a moment, explores an idea, or shares a story. That
is art.
“Artist” is a scary word
to some people, and I don’t just mean legislators who think supporting the arts
is a big waste of taxpayer dollars. (Those people are wrong, too.) It saddens me when a writer tries to deny or shrug off the title, as if being an artist is too flighty or high-falutin’ or
ambitious for someone who writes stories to entertain or to earn a living.
Artists make us think.
Artists make us feel. Artists make us wonder. Writers do all of this too,
right?
As the regulars here know,
writing can a lonely business. It helps to have an online or in person
community to support your creative spirit.
I have been fortunate in having opportunities to work with young artists
and to encourage them to understand that self-expression is important and
necessary in our world.
So with this, my last post here, I encourage each
person reading to think about the next generation. If it is within your power
to influence the artists in our future, whether by visiting a school, reading
at a library, helping a young writers club, volunteering at a prison, or any
other donation of your time and experience,
I hope you will do so. You will be rewarded tenfold.
If you are shy and not
sure how to approach a young artist, try this question: “What kind of art would
you like to make?”
Art will never go away.
You can cut the funding but you can’t stop the creation. As long as people have
minds and hearts, they will seek expression.
It has been a great pleasure to post here. I
wish you all the best of all things.
xoxo,
Ramona
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