HAF: how important is Art to you?
“How important is Art for you?” I posed this question yesterday to a dozen of random HAF Artists. There were many heart-felt responses; thought it would be great to share several. When Lori Walters final remark to her comment was: “ how do you answer it?“ I got a wee bit choked up and shared a little of my Art life.
“For me Art has been my life for a very long time. In 1978 whilst I was an engineering student working at IBM in Vermont; I was introduced to photography. My frequent mountain hikes, with camera always in hand I could not believe the wonder of aesthetic expression inside of me. It was not until I saw the photographs did I see it. When I returned back to OSU, I changed all my Electrical Engineering Classes to Photography. Photography was my first art, it allowed me to recognize my eye, and from there, like a flower it has grown and still does. There is a lot of pain in my work, I shed the darkness maybe?
Please feel free to share your story.
Grazie Ron, meravigliosa domanda! cercherò di risponderti con poche righe: Il mio lavoro spesso è forte di simboli. Questi miei simboli sono il mezzo reale per accedere a quella visione del mondo corroborante per me che ” mi collega con la Terra-Madr…See More
Thank you ron, wonderful question! I will try to respond to you with a few lines: my job is often strong of symbols. These my symbols are the middle real for access to that vision of the world bracing for me that “connects me with the earth-mother”, Humbly I am respectful of life, which creates in me health and delight. I could not to express myself in a different way and I like to watch the other artists because this way of interpreted their life, it gives me joy! You are generous and playful that is why I feel so lucky of having you met!
Judy Shreve, To me ‘art’ is a way of moving in the world. I know many talented people who don’t pursue their art. Artists seem different because they see the world differently and react differently. Most of us tell of always making something since early childhood. You can become more skillful with practice, of course. But art is not a choice! I feel for those who are artists and not allowed to be who they are.
Catherine Thomas, To be creating is the way I am living ,the way I am breathing ,The only way I know to effort any pain ,to open any closed door of my mind , to go on up ,down. My way to Art was born when my hands could touch and make what my eyes were watching , to watch all what I couldn’t touch , to make what I couldn’t see , and to feel myself ,totally ,completely myself !It takes a whole life to succeed and I’m in a hurry now ,you know , time has been more than it will be for me ! My way until now was long and full of events ,which never reached me to the point where I could give up ………. and so ,I’m going on ,not to feel stronger ,better , just to feel and enjoy this way to myself , which means to the OTHERS living creatures through art language !
Linda Jalbert, Canada: Arts, specifically painting and singing, had been therapeutic for me. I wouldn’t be the same person without arts. Arts gave me self-confidence, to name one, and it had been a canal of energy and vibrations, kind of. It is hard to explain, especially in English! I feel lucky to have that tool in my life it make me feel richer.
Mary Wallace,, Ireland: Art is my life. I didn’t always KNOW I was/am an artist. Yes; there was an epiphany of sorts!
A decision in 1997 to take an intensive drawing course, which carried a commitment to draw for three hours every day for a year, changed my life. I had not drawn or painted since childhood. By the end of that year I knew something very special had happened; a desire so strong that it could not be ignored. At the time I was a mother of three young boys – ten, eight and seven. I had a very good work arrangement working mornings and had all school holidays off. Being a mother was very important to me. I was that ‘superwoman’ they talked so much about in the nineties! Something had to give! In Spring 1999 I got very sick and couldn’t speak for three days : the first words I did speak were “I’m giving up work”.. By June I was out. By August I was taking a portfolio course. In 2000 I started to paint….and I haven’t looked back!
Susan Porter , USA: Art is at the core of my happiness. In spite of the difficulties and realities of everyday life with earthquakes, train crashes, and the unpredictable events that keep us grounded, art feeds the spirit and keeps me connected to my inner joy at all times. It is my link to the ancestors and their stories, to our collective humanity, to the natural world, and all of life. Art — especially color— allows me to express all sides of myself no matter what is going on in my own life or in the world around me. And I’ve never been bored a day in my life!
Andrew Reach, USA: That’s a big question Ron. Art is as essential for me as breathing. It helps me cope with the pain that is with me every day. My main motivation for me to make art is to keep me mentally balanced as it gives me an outlet to express myself in a way nothing else can.
T-marie Nolan, USA: art is the best way i have found to express my ideas, my feelings. painting makes me feel right with the world. Important yes. Right up there with breathing.
Vincent Gayraud, Le Carbet; To answer your question, the art for me is a need, a necessity. It allows me to express what I do not manage to express by other ways(means). When I am not in creative period, I feel incomplete, dissatisfied.
Tyler Stone, U.K: Well the longer I am involved in art the more I realize how much it is entwined in my everyday thoughts , feelings and actions , it is now painful not to paint but also painful to create sometimes too. I feel it’s a way to connect to others , something that I can struggle with sometimes, it has helped form a basis for friendships. I feel making art is also about self discovery , often I don’t know what’s inside until it comes out through my art. I feel that being able to create art at any level is now a vital aspect of my life. Literature, paintings , sculpture, film, all forms of art is to me what makes this difficult life bearable.
Elke Trittel , France: ha, It’s my spice in life, never boring, always surprising, exciting, i created all my life, from a very age on, writing, drawing, painting, knitting, sewing, pottery, paper mâché, weaving, creating clothes, printing, everything besides felt hats !!!,so i cannot imagine a day without art! I do read a lot ,i have a busy mind and relax flipping thru magazines and ideas come all the time. Voilà,i don’t know what boredom means.
Lidwina Charpentier, Netherlands: Ron my art is my life tree. I learn when i do research. In a way I feel the most free. It is always a struggle but when I discover the way out. Then there is happiness and a free feeling, freedom is my payment. It is as if I found a treasure. I am ambitious too
MJ Bono, USA: What is important to me is the journey of looking, thinking, making, evaluating and trying again. Except for a few paintings, the individual works are not important to me. My exploration is important to me. My art has made it possible for me to rarely be bored.
Steve Judges, France: It feels that that is what I’m here on the planet for !!!
Rusudan Rusudan, Georgia: I have only one answer–it is very important maybe like a life smile emoticon cannot imagine myself without it
Lori Walters, USA: my art is as important to me as breathing, one of my true reasons to exist. and to share my existence through the lens of my heart. to share the goodness, hopefully uplifting others along with me! good question – thanks for sharing it with me. how do you answer it?
Sage Gallon, USA: Without Art we are silent, muted, dead. To not be able to create or to enjoy, be touched and transformed by Art there is no cause to exist. I have always defined God as the consonant Artist… Art is as important to me as a butterfly, a Sunrise.
Carol Heft, USA: It is a “calling”. probably one of the two or three things that I identify myself with as a person.
A link to some kind of spiritual experience, and desire to find out some kind of truth about my existence.
Guarino Carla: The art for me is a different way Of looking at life.
The art is my life.
Story by Ron Shelton, Curator of HAF
