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vince: about "artist"

updated tue 26 aug 03

 

Earl Brunner on sun 24 aug 03


And of course, my most recent reply to Lily WAS NOT within the context
of this, which she wrote, I believe, prior to what I was responding to.
I agree whole-heartedly with what Lily is saying here. And perhaps I
wasn't disagreeing so much anyway as commenting.


Lily:

>When all lines are blurred what exactly does language become?
And if
>language disappears how can clear thought, analytic thought,
survive?
>
>Today, people don't do wrong anymore. They make mistakes.
>To me a mistake is driving to Smith Place instead of Smith
Street;
>it is dressing too warmly or coolly for the weather.
>Theft, fraud, adultery, perjury are not mistakes; they are
crimes. Call'em sins.
>
>Today every dingy shop is a "boutique"; every dreadful culinary
concoction
>is a "gourmet" item. Need I go on?
>
>The debasing of language is terrifying. It is why so many
people have been
>given high school diplomas without ever having learned to read.
Nothing
>needs to be earned anymore. Everything is an entitlement.....
>
>If everyone who takes pencil to paper is an artist then what do
we call,
>well, erg, the Artists. If every two-year old up to her
fontanel in clay
>is an artist then what do we call Lucie Rie?
>
>I have no problem with "potter", "painter", "sculptor" and all
that. Fine.
>Accurate. I have no problem either with words like "kind",
"good",
>"thoughtful", "generous" --but not saint, not saint.
>In my life I have known two people I would call saints. Only
two. But I
>have been fortunate to know many good, kind people.
>
>I like differentiation. I like deference. I like words that
show honor
>and respect. I do not feel lessened by calling a rabbi "Rav" or
"Rabbi" rather
>than Mo. We need to honor the office more often; it influences
people in
>those offices to honor their office as well. (At least I think
--or do I
>mean hope--so)
>
>Having said all that: of course I agree with you that we need
more
>imagination, more spiritual freedom, more innovation and
creation and
>joyous
>exuberant thought, more painting, more writing, more song, more
>dance.....But that is what life should be--a constant creation a
constant
>leap forward....it makes us aspiring, striving humans. And yes,
a few will
>become saints, a few will become artists.

Janet Kaiser on sun 24 aug 03


For all the discussion, talk, chat, squabbling, bickering,
nit-picking, exchange and general discourse which takes place
through this forum (on-line and off) IMO there is very rarely any
profound thought and even less which is in any way spiritually
enriching: good for the heart and the soul. Thank you Lili for
putting what would otherwise sound woolly and abstract into
simple words.

Profound thoughts and resulting beliefs, transcend all religious,
political, racial and social dogma. Of course that is mere
opinion and cannot be proved scientifically or otherwise.

Yes, thank you Lili

Sincerely

Janet Kaiser

*** IN REPLY TO THE FOLLOWING MAIL:

>When all lines are blurred what exactly does language become?
And if
>language disappears how can clear thought, analytic thought,
survive?
>
>Today, people don't do wrong anymore. They make mistakes.
>To me a mistake is driving to Smith Place instead of Smith
Street;
>it is dressing too warmly or coolly for the weather.
>Theft, fraud, adultery, perjury are not mistakes; they are
crimes. Call'em sins.
>
>Today every dingy shop is a "boutique"; every dreadful culinary
concoction
>is a "gourmet" item. Need I go on?
>
>The debasing of language is terrifying. It is why so many
people have been
>given high school diplomas without ever having learned to read.
Nothing
>needs to be earned anymore. Everything is an entitlement.....
>
>If everyone who takes pencil to paper is an artist then what do
we call,
>well, erg, the Artists. If every two-year old up to her
fontanel in clay
>is an artist then what do we call Lucie Rie?
>
>I have no problem with "potter", "painter", "sculptor" and all
that. Fine.
>Accurate. I have no problem either with words like "kind",
"good",
>"thoughtful", "generous" --but not saint, not saint.
>In my life I have known two people I would call saints. Only
two. But I
>have been fortunate to know many good, kind people.
>
>I like differentiation. I like deference. I like words that
show honor
>and respect. I do not feel lessened by calling a rabbi "Rav" or
"Rabbi" rather
>than Mo. We need to honor the office more often; it influences
people in
>those offices to honor their office as well. (At least I think
--or do I
>mean hope--so)
>
>Having said all that: of course I agree with you that we need
more
>imagination, more spiritual freedom, more innovation and
creation and
>joyous
>exuberant thought, more painting, more writing, more song, more
>dance.....But that is what life should be--a constant creation a
constant
>leap forward....it makes us aspiring, striving humans. And yes,
a few will
>become saints, a few will become artists.

*** THE MAIL FROM Lily Krakowski ENDS HERE ***
***********************************************************
The top posted mail was sent by Janet Kaiser
The Chapel of Art : Capel Celfyddyd
8 Marine Crescent : Criccieth : Wales : UK
Centre of Excellence for The Arts
Home of The International Potters' Path
Tel: ++44 (01766) 523570 http://www.the-coa.org.uk
Open: 13.00 to 17.00hrs : Tuesday to Saturday
************** AVG Virus Protected ********************

Mildred Herot on sun 24 aug 03


Hooray for you, Lily. I like what you write and I like the way you write
it. MIldred Herot, Cheltenham, Pa.
----- Original Message -----
From: "Lily Krakowski"
To:
Sent: Sunday, August 24, 2003 8:50 AM
Subject: Vince: About "Artist"


> Dear much-admired Vince:
>
> I start another thread name because this if far from the newbie thread.
You
> ask why I am so leery of the word "artist". Has Western Culture spoiled
it
> for me?
>
> Certainly Western Culture has spoiled much. But that is not it.
>
> I believe in differentiation. I believe in clear lines between the sacred
> and the profane, night and day, and so on. No doubt it is a profound part
> of my being Jewish...A recent series in COMMENTARY by David Gelernter
(sp?)
> has one segment on that topic-- but to keep religion out of it...Let me
say
> this.
>
> When all lines are blurred what exactly does language become? And if
> language disappears how can clear thought, analytic thought, survive?
>
> Today, people don't do wrong anymore. They make mistakes. To me a
mistake
> is driving to Smith Place instead of Smith Street; it is dressing too
warmly
> or coolly for the weather. Theft, fraud, adultery, perjury are not
> mistakes; they are crimes. Call'em sins.
>
> Today every dingy shop is a "boutique"; every dreadful culinary concoction
> is a "gourmet" item. Need I go on?
>
> The debasing of language is terrifying. It is why so many people have
been
> given high school diplomas without ever having learned to read.Nothing
needs
> to be earned anymore. Everything is an entitlement.....
>
> If everyone who takes pencil to paper is an artist then what do we call,
> well, erg, the Artists. If every two-year old up to her fontanel in clay
> is an artist then what do we call Lucie Rie?
>
> I have no problem with "potter", "painter", "sculptor" and all that.
Fine.
> Accurate. I have no problem either with words like "kind", "good",
> "thoughtful", "generous" --but not saint, not saint.
> In my life I have known two people I would call saints. Only two. But I
> have been fortunate to know many good, kind people.
>
> I like differentiation. I like deference. I like words that show honor
and
> respect. I do not feel lessened by calling a rabbi "Rav" or "Rabbi"
rather
> than Mo. We need to honor the office more often; it influences people in
> those offices to honor their office as well. (At least I think --or do I
> mean hope--so)
>
> Having said all that: of course I agree with you that we need more
> imagination, more spiritual freedom, more innovation and creation and
joyous
> exuberant thought, more painting, more writing, more song, more
> dance.....But that is what life should be--a constant creation a constant
> leap forward....it makes us aspiring, striving humans. And yes, a few
will
> become saints, a few will become artists.
>
> I don't think we really disagree, Vince. I think we just arrive at the
same
> goal differently.
>
> All good wishes
>
> P>S> How is your ponytail surviving the Summer heat?
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
> Lili Krakowski
> Constableville, N.Y.
>
> Be of good courage....
>
>
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John K Dellow on mon 25 aug 03


Lily Krakowski wrote:

> Dear much-admired Vince:
>
> I start another thread name because this if far from the newbie
> thread. You
> ask why I am so leery of the word "artist". Has Western Culture
> spoiled it
> for me?
>
> Certainly Western Culture has spoiled much. But that is not it.
>
> I believe in differentiation. I believe in clear lines between the
> sacred
> and the profane, night and day, and so on. No doubt it is a profound
> part
> of my being Jewish...A recent series in COMMENTARY by David Gelernter
> (sp?)
> has one segment on that topic-- but to keep religion out of it...Let
> me say
> this.
>
Good post Lilly.

The flower pot man ,not bill or ben or even weed .:).

John Dellow "the flower pot man"
Home Page http://www.welcome.to/jkdellow
http://digitalfire.com/education/people/dellow/