Perspectives

[photo] Artists come in many different shapes and sizes. They exhibit a multitude of personalities and speak a variety of different languages. Each speaking to us in their own way. There is one particular artist, tho, who touches our souls by speaking to us with timeless beauty......Mother Nature. Utilizing various mediums she pours her heart out upon the canvas of our world, leaving her art in the most unsuspecting places.

It is said that in this electronic world we are taking less and less time to be introspective. Maybe if we paused every once in awhile to look closely at a flower or some other Mother Nature masterpiece we might gain a different perspective on the day ....and maybe even on ourselves. Experience the art that is all around us. Enjoy.

Commonality

[video] It is said that art is subjective yet we find a commonality in not only the fact that various art stirs our inner being, but even a commonality in the artists themselves. Whether their art genre be sculpture, painting, literary, performance, media or design, the universalism is not in the medium itself, or even in the method by which it stirs our emotions, but rather in the simple fact that we are somehow changed by their art. It influences us in subtle ways at times, but the impact on our lives is definitive. 

When we see someone bare their soul through art we are encouraged and strengthened, to whatever degree, to bare our own souls as well. Artistry can be a very humbling experience. But for artists, the drive for creativity and compassion for expression transcends any fear of rejection. When we realize the artist is creating art for himself, not for us, it releases our burden of acceptance. We no longer need to find value in art, but rather to simply let the art add value to us. Art moves our consciousness in subconscious ways. 

I am filming a series on artists at the The Rail Walk Studios and Gallery in the beautiful Arts District of Salisbury, North Carolina, USA. These are different minded people whose artistry include different mediums, but they all have a common passion for creating sharing their art. The first one is Patt Legg. I hope you enjoy.

VisitArt.us          zoomz.biz         Patt Legg

Cultural Arts

The term, "Cultural Arts," is more about describing a certain group of people rather than providing a definition for them. It is a collaboration of arts that reflect and explain the culture surrounding it. It helps us make sense of our environment through an exploration of creativity that is endemic with both large groups of people as well as small ones.

Here are a small group of people who reflect the creativity of my little town. I hope you enjoy.

Creativity Check

So much of creativity is channeled into an entity we call art. I think sometimes we spend as much time trying to categorize it as we do enjoying it. My art, if you want to call it that, sometimes simply involves capturing the creativity of nature. It doesn't pay much but it sure does make for interesting interpretations.

I shot this time lapse footage on the coast of South Carolina a few months back. Nature was in a very creative mood that day.

Talk about it

One of the greatest benefits of my work is meeting new people. People in such a diverse society with a wide variety of personalities, mannerisms, customs and even quirks. There is much to be learned from observing people and even more to be gained by simply talking to them. Engage the people you meet daily and open yourself to a vast world of cultural experiences. Maybe you'll put a smile on someones face.

Here are some interesting people and places I experienced one day not long ago.

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Readjust

I tend not to make big announcements about new directions I plan to take my life. It seems to make it easier if I need to adjust that direction slightly when circumstances change or my attitude shifts a little. But it's important that I  stop ...retool ...rethink ...and readjust myself periodically. It's not a hard thing to do, I think, I just tend to forget to do it often enough. Most of us get caught up in balancing the world we create with the world in which we interact. Sometimes it takes a little reflection and prioritization to make it all work smoothly.

What do you do to keep things in perspective? Consider taking time to look at yourself objectively. You just might find something to smile about.

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Art Ways

Thomas Melton said that art enables us to find ourselves and lose ourselves at the same time. I like that quote. I've used it for years. Art enriches our lives and inspires us to find our own personal outlet for expression. Art is not something separate from life...Art is life. Everywhere you look you see art. We are all artists creating our own masterpiece.... ourselves.

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http://goo.gl/0YRU9

See

It seems to be human nature to take things for granted. So much is misunderstood about what goes on around us because we frequently look at the world only superficially. Left to our own vices we often insulate and detach ourselves from what is around us.

When was the last time you were really struck by the beauty of a sunrise? .... moved to tears by a piece of music? ....or felt your heart flutter when you looked into your partner's eyes? We look with our eyes, but we see with our mind and heart. Now, go see what you have been missing.


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http://goo.gl/qnF7u

Living Visually

From the moment we are born we live visually. We think visually ..... and we act visually. When we tell stories or relate events we create visual images in people's minds. We project visual images about our lives to those we meet on a daily basis. Through these images we define who we are and what we really care about. We are visual beings. We all live a visual life. How do you live yours?

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http://goo.gl/jtCN5

Celebrate

We're reminded of the birthday of our country. It's a good thing I guess .... but I suspect we unknowingly celebrate every day. The smile of a child; the chatter of friends; the smell of sunshine.  As much as there is wrong with this country there is that much more right with it. I don't know about you but I'm glad to be here.

Celebrate the positive things in your life today. After all, it's a holiday.

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http://goo.gl/jtCN5