Artist date #1
Beauty isn’t something we can put off, defund, or ignore. It’s a necessity. It sustains our spirit. It keeps us alive when everything around us is crumbling.
I first read Julia Cameron’s “The Artist’s Way” several years ago. Honestly, her work is confrontational. Both tough love and eternal cheerleader, Julia encourages blocked creatives to do at minimum two things. 1) Write three pages of free-flowing, unedited journal entries every morning, and 2) Go on one artist date per week.
I soon got the hang of the morning pages but have always struggled with artist dates (even though I have a whole list of ideas in my “Notes” app). With the holidays in full-swing and me playing hostess to seven adults, one baby, and three dogs in my home for a week (why not throw in a partridge in a pear tree?) I decided I desperately needed an artist date. Already feeling low energy, I’m slowly learning to refill my cup before it’s empty.
Hubby agreed to watch little one for a few hours and I made a hasty plan before I could change my mind or start cleaning the house, instead.
Here’s how my date went.
First, I stopped by Artist & Craftsman Supply to pick up a gift certificate for a friend. It wasn’t technically part of my date but I allowed it since it was for another artist’s benefit. Plus, I saw this cool mural next door.
Next, I went a little bit out of my way to check out Blackhole Bakery, on my list to try for a while. I picked out an apricot and pistachio pastry, grabbed an extra one for hubs, and a coffee to go. Next door, I made note of Willa’s Books- KC’s largest collection of African-American books and vintage vinyl, and Reggae Kitchen, adding them to my list for future dates.
From there, I headed toward the Nelson Atkins museum, which I hadn’t visited since before the pandemic. (It’s always free but until January, they still require online reservations to allow for social distancing). I only had about an hour left, so I focused on the European art collection, revisiting some of my favorite artists.
“In filling the well, think magic. Think delight. Think fun. Do not think duty. Do what intrigues you, explore what interests you; think mystery, not mastery.”
-Julia Cmeron
I was intuitively drawn to the bold colors of these portraits, a welcome change from the gray of December.
My favorite description was this one, next to a painting of flowers by Suzanne Valadon. Reading these words inspired me to keep creating and doing my best to add beauty to the world, especially as a mother.
I also enjoyed the French artists who painted scenes from the countryside- Normandy beaches, olive groves, or quiet, village streets. It made me miss France and transported me there, for a moment.
The artwork that caught my attention most was one I almost overlooked. It is massive in scale, hanging high on the wall, well above eyesight. I stopped and read the plaque out of pure curiosity and I’m so glad I did. The artist is Ghanaian and the sculpture is comprised of flattened liquor bottle tops, stitched together with metal.
It’s designed to resemble kente cloth, traditional woven cloth made by the Ewe and Asante people. When I lived in Ghana, we visited some of the weavers and so this piece held a special significance for me. It brought tears to my eyes in a beautifully, unexpected way.
One theme I noticed throughout the museum was the artist’s ability to create through massive social upheaval. Many artists were painting during WWII, even though some were forbidden to do so. A lot of the movements that are famous in art history now, came from places of tumult, huge rifts in society, and unimaginable distress.
It reminded me of Les Milles, an internment camp used during WWII I visited when traveling in France. A lot of the prisoners kept there were artists and left evidence of their presence in little sketches here and there throughout the old mill. They even organized an amateur theater and held regular performances.
Proof that art is not frivolous but a lifeline.
Beauty isn’t something we can put off, defund, or ignore. It’s a necessity. It sustains our spirit. It keeps us alive when everything around us is crumbling.
Today was the reminder I needed to make beauty and art a more regular part of my life. Not just when my cup is almost dry but so that I can overflow.
What about you?
Have you been on an artist date lately? Where do you encounter beauty? Is there time you can create this week to fill your cup? I’d love to hear what inspires you! Leave a comment below.
P.S. Do you enjoy adventuring with me on these types of forays? Let me know! I’d love an excuse to go on more dates and share them with you!