Art as a Place of Refuge
Timeless Creation, Appreciation, Openness, Change
For the person creating, time can stand still. There is nothing else in the world than the creation at hand. When one dances there is only movement. When one paints, there is just color and form. When one plays the sounds of music, the music becomes the world you breath. Though not exactly mediation, the process of creating is potentially just as mindless and potentially just as timeless.
But art is also a refuge in other ways. Though there is always criticism, there is always the security of unique creation - something which doesn’t need to be defended - something which is your own. And though there is competition in every form of art - in its true state it is more of a collaboration and appreciation. We do not create in a vacuum and we do build upon each others ideas - whether they are current or from another time. Art is generally not about tearing down unless rebuilding is to follow.
There is another place of refuge for art as well. In Gilroy, CA (see Dispatch) 11 Palestinian, Arab, Jewish, Israeli and American artists have gotten together to have a show entitled "Piece Process 3". The premise is that “It’s not a ‘peace process’ it’s about the process. Art cannot undo things, but we can demonstrate how we can work together,” said Granite Amit, an Israeli born Jew curating the event. “The goal is to create a space where we can meet and talk. The idea is we’re not going to censor each other.” “Our art pieces are having a dialogue … some of it is angry, some of it is overflowing with love. We’re not telling people to feel a certain way,” Pitman-Weber explained.” In our little art show we’re kind of acting out a (way to live together.)”
This open listening and acceptance is part of the creative process and for it to carry over into the political world is both natural and part of history. The above is a wonderful example but not the only one in today’s news.
In a story about an artists’ collective in Minneapolis-St. Paul, the Minnesota Women’s Press, states “What I’m trying to do with my art is build a different kind of society and to do that, we have to learn how to work together,” said Meg Novak, one of the founding members. “So it’s definitely a direct experience in direct democracy and decisionmaking by everybody involved that I really value.”
Art and Creativity are best when open to possibility and differences. Because of that they provide a refuge both from the world and to a better world.
See Also
- Collective Consciousness
Twin Cities Artists’ Collective - Art Exhibit Offers Hope
Gavilan College Art Exhibit
