Art and The Sense of Confinement - #141

U. Htein Lin* reported that people don't understand his desire to reconnect with a sense of confinement. An artist, he believes the six years he spent in prison produced his best work.  
 
"I was completely cut off from art critics and an audience," he said in an interview. "I just did what I wanted. In the cell I found freedom. It was the most important time in my art career."

I find the "confinement" of publishing a blog post twice a week enables me to do what I want: I've always wanted to write. Lately, I've also been driven to capture images.  

My schedule isn't anything like prison (I've watched Orange is the New Black!). Nevertheless, I'm feeling the need for parole - until Blog Post 142 which will appear on January 9, 2014.

So until then, give yourself parole time from anything that confines you - and enjoy yourself. I'll look forward to 2015 and continuing to explore the mystery!

Thanks for exploring the mystery - Nicky Mendenhall


The above portrait of an Egyptian woman, by Howard G. Buffett, can be viewed at the Photography Exhibit, World Food Prize Building, Des Moines, Iowa.  To see more of his stunning portraits: www.40Chances.com

*New York Times International, December 7, 2014. Interview by Thomas Fuller.

Mid Week Interrogative

Last week's discovery, that asking questions of an art object establishes a relationship with it, continues to intrigue me. 

A Saturday morning visit to the majestic World Food Prize Building would have been the perfect opportunity to practice.  

I was so excited to be in the building that housed my favorite library when I moved to Des Moines - the biggest city I had ever lived in - that I forgot about asking questions of the art work and instead captured images and soaked up the atmospheric beauty. The image above is a section of a mural in the lower level.  

It was later that I asked the work what the horse was doing in the midst of the crowd? We are all animals was the message. The visible passion in people interested me. The colors. There is lots to learn from this one section.  

As for the word interrogative in the heading, it is to alert you to a fascinating book, The Interrogative Mood, which is 164 pages of questions.*

Here's a sample from page 48: "What are three basic things you need to be content in life? Would you rate yourself as more tired than you used to be or as a person who still has all the get-up-and-go that it takes? When offered meat or poultry with a stuffing or dressing, do you first taste the meat or poultry or the dressing? Do you favor a hemline above or below the knee? Has your position with respect to birders changed over the years or remained the same? If right now you were on your deathbed but not feeling too bad and could have some one thing brought to you, what would it be? Do you like flannel? Is there a location or locale on earth you consistently think of as preferable to the one you are usually in? If asked to draw a circle, will you freehand it of effect a compass with the tools at hand? When you trap a rat in a spring trap, to you feel triumphant or bad?"

That wasn't even a full paragraph! 

In this holiday season, ask questions of art and of the people you meet and of yourself, then listen. Ask yourself if you need to take a break and get some rest. Let me know how questions work for you.

Thanks for exploring the mystery of questions. Nicky Mendenhall

*The Interrogative Mood by Padgett Powell (2009)

The Envelope Please - #140

There's no doubt about it - the final message from Lenore metrick-chen, my former docent instructor, has changed my relationship with art. 

Here are her wise words:

"The main idea is that you need to start with the art - ask questions of the artwork, see what questions it leads you to ask. Eventually you might ask a question that requires an answer within the artist's life, or within a broader cultural understanding or one that needs more history - and then of course by all means continue research outside of the art.

"But the biography of an artist is not an explanation of the art. It is not the meaning of the art (which changes each time you develop your understanding by asking another question).

"Start with the art."

 She suggests, "after an initial meeting with the art, we read as much as possible. Biography. History. Art Critics. Not to explain the art but to let it speak even more fully." 

It is a shift for me to relate to art for itself. There's no secret formula for deciding whether of not the art is good. I'm feeling excited that an art object is as worthy of attention as any person I meet. I don't judge people by their parents, why should I judge an art work by its creator.  

The more time we spend with a person, the better we know them and the more we can step back and let them speak for themselves. I bet it will be the same with an art object.  "Long looking" is recommended by Jeanette Winterson in Art Objects.

Does any of this make sense to you? Will this change your relationship with art? How? Please share so we can learn from you. Reply to this email or click on the underlined exploring the mystery below to access the comment section.

Thanks for exploring the mystery - Nicky Mendenhall

Mid Week Elephant Help

"I am a rider on the back of an elephant.......

"I'm holding the reins in my hands and
by pulling one way or the other I can tell the elephant to turn, to stop, or to go. 

"I can direct things, but only when the elephant doesn't have desires of his own. When the elephant really wants to do something, I'm no match for him."*

What a great metaphor!

My elephant needs lots of cajoling before it will actually take a walk in the cold, work on learning Balance Gym, or address Christmas cards.

This time of year my elephant desires sugar. Once I give in, there's no stopping him.  

Introduce yourself to your elephant. Get to know him. I'm betting that he's more active this time of year.

Thanks for exploring the mystery - Nicky Mendenhall


*Cal Newport's blog, Study Hacks, is a favorite because his discipline to plan every hour intrigues and horrifies me. Cal attributes the elephant story to the first chapter in Jonathan Haidt's, The Happiness Hypothesis.


          

ART: Black or White? - #139

In the last few posts, I've been sharing my confusing art issue and silly pictures.  I'm clearer now so here's the issue in a few words (you're on your own with the pictures): Why/how is it problematic to use an artist's life to evaluate his/her work?  

If you ask: "where did that question come from?" I will tell you:

Des Moines Art Center docent class instructor.  In 2002, we were forbidden (that's how strong I heard it) to judge art work by the artists' life.   

Sometimes, I fail to recognize "an infusion of simplicity"*  that slips over me manifesting itself in how I receive instruction.  

"An infusion of simplicity" makes it possible to see things in black and white. It flattens out layers. It is not an infusion I recommend.

Deciding to further investigate what I remembered from class, I found a working email address for the instructor and wrote her asking for clarification. 

In the meantime, while reading Art Objects: Essays on Ecstasy and Effrontery** by Jeanette Winterson, I had an epiphany!  

Winterson suggests when an artist creates art, he/she creates it in a separate reality. The "art" is then a reflection of the separate reality - not of the artist's life. Does this make sense to you?

Late breaking news: I received an answer from the instructor - a delightful message that I will share next numbered post - probably not midweek.  I want to get her permission to share her name and that may take time.

And we have lots of time. Please be sure and share your thoughts on any and all issues we discuss. It's how I learn.

Thanks for exploring the mystery - Nicky Mendenhall

*Thanks to Ann and Barry Ulanov for the phrase an "infusion of simplicity" found in Religion and the Unconscious (1975), page 38.

**Isn't that a delightful title? 1995.

Midweek Meows*

 

Have you noticed the last few exploring the mystery posts are exploring art? 

Here is a variation of the question I posed in Surprise Bonus Post: What is the relationship between the artist's work and their life?

And while I have your attention: Do you think the above image is art?

If you determine that there is a relationship between the artist's work and their life and you think the above image is art, tell me about my life.

This image is possibly the silliest image I have ever received. 

Christine Valters Paintner writes, "taking" photos with the head is often an act of analysis or grasping......"receiving" photos with the heart is an experience of grace.**

Are you practical and wrestling with the question: What is art for anyway? Send me all your ideas, positive or negative (and your silliest image).  

Thanks for exploring the mystery - Nicky Mendenhall

*My midweek dream: After hearing kittens meowing in my silk purse for several days, I decide to investigate. As soon as the purse is open, an elegant full grown purple cat makes her way across the room. (I'm open to dream analysis should any of you feel so moved.)

**Gratitude to Christine Valters Paintner and her book, Eyes of the Heart, for these ideas.