Spencer, the conundrum you’ve beautifully described is ever before us. The creative exercise, like academic study, is often an exercise of the self. But I think what I hear you describing is not the end of the world, but the beginning of it. Or perhaps the limits of individual creative work.
As I age, I am drawn to craft shows, where I get to engage not just with the creation, but the creator. That’s why I go. I am gratified when the creator will engage with me, and we can smile or think or talk together over the object of their creative obsession.
The same impulse has sent me back into high church over the last decade, and more deeply than ever, where the art of sermon, chorale, and architecture are shared, communal exercises. For me, those are craft show conversations. Why did you make this? What are your hopes for it? Why do you love it so? What would be my responsibility if I took it for my own?
I am still curious. I am convinced a new creation is remade in community. And I want to know what the Creator is up to. Isn’t for everyone and wasn’t for me in this way always. But I do gain sustenance from imagining a world in which the most creative exercise is one in which we all participate. If even a little.
Anyways, your self-awareness is a gift. Grace and peace to you on your journey.
I feel this way often and am always interested in looking at how much more isolation we all experience as a result of our increasing 'independence' and 'exceptionalism'. I want to see more vulnerability that leads us back to more communal living that used to be the norm, and is still in many cultures. We don't all need a 3 bedroom 2 bath house (or its rent-adjusted equivalent) - it's isolating us, stressing us out, and decimating our finances. I want to see new (old?) types of housing and community that allow for privacy when necessary but prioritize affordability and increased support systems for all involved. I also think that would go a long way towards combatting the epidemic of loneliness, addiction, and division that continues to worsen with every passing day.
Spencer, the conundrum you’ve beautifully described is ever before us. The creative exercise, like academic study, is often an exercise of the self. But I think what I hear you describing is not the end of the world, but the beginning of it. Or perhaps the limits of individual creative work.
As I age, I am drawn to craft shows, where I get to engage not just with the creation, but the creator. That’s why I go. I am gratified when the creator will engage with me, and we can smile or think or talk together over the object of their creative obsession.
The same impulse has sent me back into high church over the last decade, and more deeply than ever, where the art of sermon, chorale, and architecture are shared, communal exercises. For me, those are craft show conversations. Why did you make this? What are your hopes for it? Why do you love it so? What would be my responsibility if I took it for my own?
I am still curious. I am convinced a new creation is remade in community. And I want to know what the Creator is up to. Isn’t for everyone and wasn’t for me in this way always. But I do gain sustenance from imagining a world in which the most creative exercise is one in which we all participate. If even a little.
Anyways, your self-awareness is a gift. Grace and peace to you on your journey.
I feel this way often and am always interested in looking at how much more isolation we all experience as a result of our increasing 'independence' and 'exceptionalism'. I want to see more vulnerability that leads us back to more communal living that used to be the norm, and is still in many cultures. We don't all need a 3 bedroom 2 bath house (or its rent-adjusted equivalent) - it's isolating us, stressing us out, and decimating our finances. I want to see new (old?) types of housing and community that allow for privacy when necessary but prioritize affordability and increased support systems for all involved. I also think that would go a long way towards combatting the epidemic of loneliness, addiction, and division that continues to worsen with every passing day.
Beautiful sentiments here, Spencer, thank you for exploring this!
I do feel to share the link of my home community in Vanuatu which may spark your interest 💫
https://edenhope.org