Today is World Art Day, a global celebration of the fine arts. It is a reminder to be aware of the creative spirit that spans our world. So what does that actually mean? How do we live, aware of the art that surrounds us?
Art is much more than a painting on a wall or a marble sculpture. It is the thought behind the creative expression, the joy that shaped it into being. It is the words brought to life with a poet’s hand, the ear that hears music before notes have been scribbled on a blank music sheet, the image held in a photographer’s soul the instant he or she captures a sunrise.
Here is my take on art. It is being present in the ordinary moments. It is recognizing that art is universal, within our reach, not simply for the privileged or recognized artists. Art is simply gratitude for being alive.
ChasingART 
I am reminded, once again, that we do not have to look only at “the Greats” to find and appreciate art. We can make our own contribution to art, if only small but unique to ourselves.
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I agree wholeheartedly!! We abdicate our responsibility for creating art simply because we think that we are unqualified. We are the only ones who can make our contribution. We cannot delegate to others what is ours to give.
“The privilege of a lifetime is being who you are.” Joseph Campbell
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What a magnificent tribute to Art, thank you Rebecca!
This day is well worth celebrating and I’d love to add another of Picasso’s thoughts (very provocative!):
“Every child is an artist. The problem is how to remain an artist once we grow up.”
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Oh!!! That is a wonderful quote – it is the one question that resonates within us as we experience the aging process. We may age physically, but we can always experience a renaissance in our hearts. Thank you for your comments – much appreciated.
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What a beautiful definition of art you have!
I’m reminded of this quotation by Martha Graham:
“There is a vitality, a life force, an energy, a quickening that is translated through you into action, and because there is only one of you in all time, this expression is unique. And if you block it, it will never exist through any other medium and will be lost.”
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Goosebumps!!! “it will never exist through any other medium…”
There is an profound urgency in that statement, which overwhelms us by its singular demand to act. We hesitate because we think we are not good enough; we seek the approbation of others before we accept our uniqueness. Alas. We should all be like Salvador Dali when he said, “Each morning when I awake, I experience again a supreme pleasure: that of being Salvador Dali.” 🙂 🙂 🙂
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“Art is simply gratitude for being alive” …. what a wonderful way of putting it!
Happy Art Day, my dear …or: Happy Celebration of Life! 🙂
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If anyone is able to celebrate art, it is you, my dear friend! I love stopping by your blog – every post is a testament to artistic endeavour!
“I found I could say things with color and shapes that I couldn’t say any other way – things I had no words for.” Georgia O’Keeffe
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Ah, my dear Rebecca, what a compliment! Thank you so much for your very very flattering words! 🙂
I couldn’t agree more with her!
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🙂 🙂 🙂
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I love your take on art. Here is another one who may have a similar take http://www.leunig.com.au/index.php/cartoons/cartoons
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I cannot believe how you connect the dots on the internet. Thank you for introducing me to Michael Leunig, who has a wonderful way of exploring humanity’s creative side. I especially am interested in how he explores the idea of an innocent and sacred personal world, an how he links this world to a wider natural world. It seems he likes quotes, too!! Here are the ones that I found on his website.
“True art does not look like art.” – Lao Tzu
“In the artist of all kinds one can detect an inherent dilemma which belongs to the co-existence of two trends; the urgent need to communicate and the still more urgent need not to be found.” – D.W. Winnicot
On an unrelated topic, I note that the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge just had a tour of the Botanical Gardens in Christchurch. They also paid their respects at the RNZAF Memorial Wall at Wigram Air Force Base.
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Yes, the Royals were here and, despite the dismal weather, they smiled, and we smiled with them. Now they are in Australia, home of Michael Leunig. I love his paintings too.
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🙂 🙂 🙂
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“Art is simply gratitude for being alive.” THAT’S an amazing quote that I will remember. 😉
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My dear friend, LaVagabonde! You always bring joy and laughter to my day. Over the past year, I have been thinking a great deal about artistic endeavours, as you are well aware. As I write these comments, I am listening to Pharrell Williams – Happy, which has 185,668,640 views on YouTube, and has many spin-off around the globe. And it is all about happiness and celebrating diversity. Compare this to the statistics on Depression – according to WHO, there are more than 350 million people, of all ages, with depression. It seems to me that art has healing power. Lions Gate Hospital, in North Vancouver has a program called “the Healing Power of Art.” They have found that art can “enhance patient care and promote healing by reducing stress and creating a relaxing environment that replaces anxiety with hope for all our patients, their families and visitors and staff.” Something to consider….
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love the spirit of your text. Totally agree with that, art can be find everywhere. beautiful sculpture by the way! xx
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Thank you for your generous comments. Sometimes we forget to enjoy what is in front of us, because we become immersed in our set schedules. Pablo Picasso once said,“The purpose of art is washing the dust of daily life off our souls.”
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Oh, I almost forgot about the sculpture. When I visited the Victoria & Albert Museum, I was particularly drawn to this sculpture. I still want to do more research on this.
On the sides there were these words:
Side one – “Scared to the memory of Emily Georgiana, the beloved wife of George William, Earl of Winchilsea and Nottingham who died July the 10th 1848. aged 39 and was buried in the chancel of Ewerby Church, Lincolnshire.”
Side two – “All my life coldly and sadly the days have gone by. I who dreamed wildly and madly am happy to die. Long since my Heart has been breaking its pain is past. A time has been set to its aching peace comes at last.”
http://collections.vam.ac.uk/item/O66332/monument-to-emily-georgiana-lady-monument-macdonald-lawrence/
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