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love and art

updated fri 7 sep 01

 

John Jensen on thu 6 sep 01


In some views, love is truth. and so to feel love is to feel truth. in
some views love is compassion and where would we more likely need to feel
compassion than in the presence of what might be considered deeply
disturbing. Love can be considered the ineffable quality of life...too
sacred to be uttered.

We have all agreed that defining art in terms of abstract standards is
impossible in this day and age. As much as we might enjoy discussing art,
it is endlessly open to dispute. I know that, you know that..we all know
that. Still, I do like to ponder the matter. I like to strive to create
art and I would like to understand why some of my works seem to approach
what I believe art to be and some other pieces fall short. By the same
token I notice that some works of art have a very mysterious effect on me,
which seems to transend aesthetic appreciation or intertainment. When I
read Doestoyevsky for example, or Faulkner I feel transported to another
level of awareness. I am exalted beyond my normal conciousness in a way
which is very much like being in love. The same thing can happen when a
painting, sculpture, piece of music gets through to me. It matters not
whether the piece of art is disturbing, ugly, or beautiful.

John Jensen, Mudbug Pottery
mudbug@toad.net www.Toadhouse.com

vince pitelka on thu 6 sep 01


> In some views, love is truth. and so to feel love is to feel truth. in
> some views love is compassion and where would we more likely need to feel
> compassion than in the presence of what might be considered deeply
> disturbing. Love can be considered the ineffable quality of life...too
> sacred to be uttered.

John -
It would seem apparent that defining love is as difficult as defining art.
It would also seem that when it comes right down to it, we really do not
disagree on these points. One of the supreme joys in life is when art stirs
our innermost passions. I just do not relate that to love, but I think we
are both talking about the same thing.
Best wishes -
- Vince

Vince Pitelka
Appalachian Center for Crafts
Tennessee Technological University
1560 Craft Center Drive, Smithville TN 37166
Home - vpitelka@dtccom.net
615/597-5376
Work - wpitelka@tntech.edu
615/597-6801 ext. 111, fax 615/597-6803
http://www.craftcenter.tntech.edu/