Thursday, September 9, 2010

Edith's thoughts on Art and Creativity

Here are a couple of excerpts from the Hidden Art of Homemaking- by Edith Schaeffer. Please don't be thrown off by the title. This lady has incredible insight on creativity in everyday life- something that I am continually seeking, and learning about. Hopefully you can relate, and can appreciate the nature of this post. 
As I have mentioned numerous times before- if we are made in God's image and he is obviously creative, do we not also possess that creative ability, each in a unique and personal way?
Enjoy these thoughts on Art and Creativity, and let me know what you think!

What is Art? Authorities do not agree. Definitions differ.
Who draws the line that separates Art from Design?
Sculpture from Ornaments?
Poetry from Jingles?
Great Music from Pooh's Hums?
Great Literature from Daily News?

Is Art beauty, or depth, or expression?
Is Art communication calling for response?
Is Art the talent for involving other human beings in what otherwise would remain locked in the mind?
Is Art something that draws many into the beauty, joy, and vividness of another person's understanding? 
Is Art something that includes others in the torn struggling of another person's suffering?

What is creativity? 
What is it we do when we create something?
We start with an idea, or a number of ideas. Something comes into our minds. 
We have a flow of ideas, sometimes a tremendous flow of ideas, at times in one direction, or at other times in another direction; or perhaps even ten directions at once. And now we have to make a choice. We cannot do everything that comes into our minds, nor can we create everything that comes into our imaginations, whether it be in a very great or complicated area of science or art, or in a very mundane area, such as whether we should make a chocolate, vanilla, or spice cake for the evening meal. There is choice involved in the very simplest form of creativity, because as any set of possibilities comes into our minds, we have to choose.








3 comments:

  1. Oh...how to choose. I run in to that ALL the time and sad to say I often just don't choose anything because of the overwhelmation I feel at the thought of making that choice. We never get anywhere if we don't make a choice though.

    Good book. ;)

    ReplyDelete
  2. I am right now adding this book to my lengthening "must read" list.

    ReplyDelete
  3. very pretty.
    i'm gonna go check this out.

    ReplyDelete