Because artists tend to do most of their work out of public view, the common perception remains that artists are different, doing their work under cover of secrecy, ala Tom Waits’ sung question, “What’s he building in there?”
Whatever the sauce…or source of the inspiration, the art rarely is chalked up to the reality. There’s the hours of introspection and practice, the days filled with toil that yields small rewards, the years of learning, experimenting, analyzing, and re-adjusting, always with the idea of striving to make the outer reality reflect more accurately the inner vision.
In short, the general public rarely sees the reality of the work involved.
The spring season art shows provide plenty of opportunities to celebrate art in the broadest and deepest sense:
- To proclaim, to publish, to perform publicly. The artist is publishing what he or she has created. It indeed is a public event that involves not only the work of producing the art, but also the work of displaying it and making it accessible to the public.
- To solemnize. There is nothing to be taken lightly in the exhibition of the product resulting from a person’s spiritual and cultural landscape. It is with deep thought that artists mount an exhibit of their work and offer it to the public.
- To honor by a great assembly. The word from which celebrate derives meant “to frequent,” to be in attendance. That means that attending an art show provides a way for the public to honor the work of artists.
- To consecrate. The word consecrate includes meaning to bless. When the public views art, engages with the artist, and perhaps buys art, they not only honor the artist, but they also bestow a blessing on the work through their acknowledgement.
[Photo of Kate Settle Ruland and Stacy Lamson, Miles City MAP artists, installing their booth and art at the 2014 MAP Artist Gathering.]
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