Sunday, March 26, 2006

Home remedy

This image was painted years ago from a memory of a Guy Fawkes night bonfire party that I had taken the children to when they were quite young. I still recall the sights, sounds, smells and tastes from that night. The girls likely do too.

This image also serves as a reminder of the ideas that art creates. They are bright and sparkle, they have heat and light and take shape quickly, and remain in our memory, just as the flames and fireworks do.

Reading Robert Genn's twice weekly letters provided some food for thought. Here is an exerpt. You can find the full letter here
http://www.painterskeys.com

Joe knows my interest in the neurology of art. He told me that while Dr. Sacks blurred science and art, he thought that his studies of isolated peoples had shed light on the actions of the creative mind. Current Art Therapy practice has certainly been affected by his writings--and his ideas have implications for active artists. Joe said that there was stuff going on around our studios that could be just what the doctor ordered.

We came up with a few:

Focusing the mind on a higher purpose.
Exercising skills for sensitivity and understanding.
Employing idiosyncrasies and weaknesses for enrichment.
Blurring the area between reality and imagination.
Enduring monotony as the keys to freedom and action.
Yielding to and articulating the condition of isolation.
Making a contribution to the greater community.
Satisfying the inborn need for creation itself.
Attaching oneself to the miracles of nature.
Building of self-esteem by consecutive jobs well done.
Exploiting the richness of the childlike dreaming world.
Activating the mind to delay potential dementia.
Exercising the body through thought-gathering travel.
Making and sustaining friendships with interesting people.
Exercising the brain with bicameral interaction.
Building purpose-filled activity for joy of achievement.
Enhancing life through praise and appreciation.
Feeling of well-being derived from taking control.
Pacing work periods to suit individual capacity.
Seeking perfection in an imperfect world.

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