Monday, January 25, 2010

Stop searching for a new job until you understand the word creativity...

So shocked I dropped the book.



Has that ever happened? The boldly printed words pasted to a page only your fingertips know and the single thought presented reveals not only the characters much deeper identity but without doubt the author’s presentation mimics the secret tales you’ve kept hidden for many chapters of your own.



Everybody from Julia Cameron to Pierre Matisse, Peter Max and even Grace Slick from Jefferson Airplane and Starship have gently explained the continuation of art to me—not one of them truly knowing its origin, just that they could no longer keep it inside.



When you think art…its only natural to assume its what’s left on a canvas, paper or wood then proudly displayed in galleries and or carry price tags so high the truest fans of the expression can never support those who’ve reached into their channeled emotions and afforded them the opportunity to hang the art openly and freely on their walls.



My mentor in life Dr. Ronald Mack spent his final year’s nose deep in a personal drive to locate the purest form of arts history—a man in his late seventies then quickly into the eight oh’s of everyday living…we spent hours verbally discussing the brush strokes of Georgia O’Keefe, Rembrandt, Picasso and others who finely tuned their beings into a well crafted bewilderment—basically meaning, like you...art just happens and they knew it. Some people become more famous for being connected to it.



I love talking about art in the way that it’s everywhere. The Ford Mustang is art. So was the Volkswagen Thing with its cousin the VW Bus. I’ve never believed we don't see the best part of a tree—what we’re given are the arms that connect the wood creatures to valuable sunlight and water…therefore each branch makes up the rooting system of a world humans never touch located below the surface where other animals keep free from the murky mess we’re creating to benefit mammal selfishness.



I hear it all the time, “I love to create! Creating is my life!”



The average person doesn’t call what they make art because if it’s not linked to something famous it’s nothing more than a doodle or hobby. Shocking to me was when I learned that 99.9999 percent of us also have no clue what creativity is. It’s far from being the envisioned destination of an expressed relationship between self and paper.



When I walk into Wentworth Gallery to do nothing more than study the pieces so readily available…it never dawned on me how out of focus today’s most brilliant names truly are. A stroll through Charleston's art district unveils a sense of passion versus search while trying to capsize the performance of a heart being held by an invisible fragrance of love that’s vowed to be accepted. Study the framed piece a little longer while keeping the other eye in glance state at the other paintings being offered by the same artist.



I love Peter Max because he peaks his acrylics…its thick, rich, unforgettable and filled with an artists flavor to be spotted in places where the rest of the world seems flat. Peter does flowers, the Statue of Liberty, Mick Jagger, a flash of Oriental inspiration while constantly taking pot shots at Andy Warhol all because a cab driver had no clue as to whom he was hauling around the large city. Peter masterminded late 60’s early 70’s American art culture…Peter Max’s style hasn’t changed in decades. Peter is not creative.



What?



You can be the most brilliant salesperson on your team but unless you are reinventing your performance on a daily or weekly basis you’re allowing the rest of the world to not only catch up to you but to use your methods of performance against you. People see your work and scream talent. Unless you continuously create newer ways to manifest the next level of expressing then what you have is every reason to feel stale and completely burned out.



As an artist my best work are eyes. I paint angels without faces because it allows your imagination to mysteriously disappear into whatever visions you see creating music your heart will soon sing. I have hundreds of eyes, birds and angels. They are stacked up, put in boxes and hang on peoples walls all over this country and each time I see them I don’t feel what was delivered the moment they suddenly appeared out of my fingers. Not one single piece of my art is seen in the four walls I call home.



My art went silent three years ago…not a single drop shared since. Although my ego calls each effort an attempt by an artist…the answer as to why I had gone silent wasn’t available to study until the book read, “Creativity only exists when you are creating new ways and means not doing the same thing over and over again. Creativity is creating not doing the same thing over and over.”



Maybe I should be drawing giant noses with oversized hairs battling diseases. Then next week I’ll leap into well rounded shoulders followed by a billion plus one different hair styles then toes that aren’t perfect and looking at them creates a scent so strong you’re forced to cover your nose with long hairs as you walk by.



We demand technology to change everyday. We never tell the image in the mirror to get back to work. The thought of us doing it on a more personal level is liking waiting in line to die. We spend our childhood reaching into cabinets that don’t belong to us then one day we turn our backs on every reason to want to keep reaching.



Darius Rucker’s attempt at Country Music was a bold step in the right direction. Fans of Hootie and Blowfish don’t see it that way…the new stuff is Hootie. Sorry it took those who support Country so long to catch up with the rest of the Alternative music world. The group KISS will never make it into the Rock n Roll Hall of Fame…the only thing they mastered was marketing—every song sounds the same making no impact on the industry that supported it.



I will never make it to the higher ranks of radio—I smile too much and demand the inner creative flow to keep everything I talk about positive. I’ve never wanted to be the bearer of bad news…the decision to be Mr. Happy cost me a career.



What are you keeping yourself from? Take one good look at the word creativity and honestly answer the question…do you truly exercise your right to be creative by constantly creating new ways and means?

Maybe that’s why you’re stuck doing a job you can’t stand.



It’s time to invite change…everyday, every second and every life connected to yours in the many years that take place after you.



arroecollins@clearchannel.com

No comments:

Post a Comment