A journalistic look into the trends of Lenten behaviours.

What do Facebook, bingo, Twitter and sex have in common?  They are all up for sacrifice in the traditions of Lent by the religious and non-religious people alike.

In the back of a large classroom, 120 students deep, Bryan Prystupa slouches in his chair.  He stares into his lap where he discreetly holds his Samsung cell phone.  Assumingly safe from the teacher’s eye, he presses a button on the touch screen of his phone and it lights up.  He looks around cautiously and then back down at his phone.  He presses the web browser icon and types ‘Twitter’ in the search bar.  The hourglass appears, flickering in the center of his screen.  He waits anxiously.  30 seconds later, the page loads.  The teacher’s voice is a monotonous drawl as Prystupa gets his social media fix.  His eyes scroll the page as he takes in the trending stories of the Twitter world.

This is a process Prystupa, 23, would go through, “at least a dozen times a day,” he says.  But not anymore – or at least not for the next 40 days.

Why has observing lent – a tradition encouraging people to give up things they enjoy – become such a trend in our materialistic world?  Is it a shortcut to salvation or a sort of spring-cleaning for the soul?

“For me, it’s [Lent] a reminder that I don’t need social media to feel human,” says Prystupa.
Lent is traditionally a 40-day period of fasting commencing on Ash Wednesday and leading up to the feast of Easter that is meant to resemble Jesus’ 40-day fast in the wilderness.  It is a ritual observed by many Christians – Catholic, Orthodox and Protestants – all over the world. “Lent is a time of lifting up ancient faith practices and encouraging believers to try them on for 40 days or so,” says Pastor David Risendal in his latest online sermon.

Tanning salon manager, Donelda Exner, 53, has given up many things for Lent in the past.  “It was Facebook games and gum last year,” says Exner.  “Some years I don’t give up anything but promise to do something good each day, or donate money to something different each week of lent.”  This year, the Roman Catholic Exner has given up bingo.  “Going to Friday night bingo is something that I really look forward to doing, so I wanted to give up something that I would miss,” says Exner.  “Jesus gave up his life for us, so if I give up something it shouldn’t be easy.”

For non-Christians, Lent can take on many meanings outside the historical Lenten definition.  It is a time to go on diets, try something new everyday, donate to a charity, or in the case of many 20-somethings, a trendy excuse to give up their addictive vices – including social media.

University student, Beniam Abraha, 23, has also made the bold move to sacrifice a form of social media during the 2011 Lent season.  “This year I was unsure of what to give up for lent and one of my friends suggested we both give up Facebook.” Says Abraha.   Abraha is a Greek Orthodox Christian and says that although his church attendance is only on special occasions, he has still participated in the Lenten traditions approximately 15 times and not always for religious reasons.  “Everyday, Facebook was the first thing I went on when I woke up or even opened up my laptop,” says Abraha, “It got to a point where I’d spend hours a day on it.”

Lent can be a beneficial process for those who take part in observing it.  “You don’t always have to give up things for lent,” says Exner.  “You can promise to do things such as donate your time or money to the needy in the community.”  By giving something up or pursuing a charitable deed, be it for religious reasons or not, the person fasting learns to control the cravings involved which can eventually lead to an improved self-discipline after the period of Lent has ended.

Of Facebook, Abraha says that, “It hasn’t been necessarily hard to give up overall, but in the beginning I noticed I had an urge to go on it every time I was on my computer.”  However, with the urges lessening, Abraha has been remarking positive changes that the fast has inspired.  “I’ve noticed I have a lot more time on my hands and am able to study for hours without any distractions,” he says,  “Whereas before I’d take breaks and go on Facebook and spend most of my study time online.”

Prystupa, a non-practicing Roman Catholic, has noticed similar positive changes in giving up the Twitter world since Lent’s commencement on Ash Wednesday.  “It has improved my manners when I’m socializing with family or friends,” says Prystupa.  “Instead of being on my phone, looking at what’s trending or being tweeted, I’m more attentive to those who I’m with.”

Perhaps the trendiness factor of lent was inspired by the 2002, Hollywood hit, 40 Days and 40 Nights, the story about a young man named Matt, played by popular heartthrob, Josh Hartnett, who, after a brutal breakup, vows to stay celibate during the 40 days of Lent.  His patience and will power are tested when he meets his dream girl and must resist the temptation and stay true to his vows.  “Yesterday, I was fine.  I mean, physically speaking, I was fine.  But Today?  I’m not fine,” says Matt in regards to giving up sex for lent and the cravings he is feeling.

Many Christians and non-Christians alike find they are attracted to the practice of lent for their own personal fulfillments.  Whether it is for self-improvements, religion, or a God, proactive steps are being taken in exercising willpower and overcoming desires.

So what do Facebook, Bingo, Twitter and Sex have in common?  The answer is still the same.  But perhaps the new question is: Is trendy Lenten behaviour better than none at all?

Universities Kill Creativity

Universities Kill Creativity

An opinion essay.

In the timeline of his life, Albert Einstein was once quoted saying, “Imagination is more important than knowledge.”  I often wonder whether Einstein would be passing University classes in the timeline of our lives.   Einstein, still revered as a genius, rejected the traditional education he was offered and pursued his own methods of learning by asking child-like questions based on his own experiences.  He abandoned textbook answers and sought to find the answers to the questions he wanted to understand.  I hardly believe we would find success in our university classes by these methods, as criteria, and precincts are so strongly enforced.  There is little room for creative expression in a college classroom, so we trade in the right side of our brain for a university degree.

Dr. Marjorie Reeves, former Vice Principle of St. Anne’s College, Oxford wrote: “Universities are under 3 kinds of pressures and these pressures affect the way they offer higher education.”  She goes on to explain that this pressure comes from the government, the general public, and the university students.  The Government is looking for the most economical ways to offer higher education.  The public is in favor and support of the expanded opportunities for higher education for their own children, but is not interested in funding it through their tax dollars.  And the third, and most critical pressure is from the students because they want a higher education but are frustrated that the way it is offered is not giving them the educational experience they expected, or hoped for.

All throughout my years of schooling I can recall the emphasis on the maths, socials, and sciences over any of the fine art subjects.  The creative subjects such as music, visual arts, creative writing, and dance are less valued in schools, and treated with less vigor than the other subjects.  The value systems are diminished due to the pursuit of money.  I mean let’s face it, I’m sure my parents would much rather me grow up to be a doctor, then a painter – not because they don’t want me to be happy in what I am doing, but because of the financial security.  The problem is, in many education systems we are unaware of the success we might find in the fine arts, due to the social stigma against it.

The universities focus is too much on the marking schemes, grading rubrics, and criterion.  Students who are unable to express themselves on paper are handed F’s, despite their knowledge of the materials.  If students were given choice, and options in their projects or assignments, the student may be able to engage in the subjects more thoroughly, as well as express their knowledge through alternative methods; then perhaps teachers would notice an increase of enthusiasm and effort.

In a world that is working towards equality, honoring individuality and freedom of speech, it is a bit strange that once on the campus, we are taught to conform.  We get essays, and assignments from our teachers, but we are limited in what we can create.  In our essays, we can’t always state our real opinions, or give our point of view, because it’s not what the teacher wants.  If we don’t hand in an assignment that conforms to the teachers premise, then we sacrifice our marks.  We are forced to choose criteria over creativity.

Einstein grew up and was educated in a time when there were not so many precedents for knowledge.  It can be argued that, now that we are so advanced and most every necessity has been created, Universities must stick to a format that brings everyone up to speed so that they can build up from there. This is why curriculums are set and must be adhered to for the next phase of learning. If students aren’t taught the disciplines of higher education and they don’t develop the basic knowledge, then how can we expect them to go on? Schools must adhere to strict curriculums to weed out the students who don’t want to apply themselves and learn the basics.  If teachers let every student go off on their own agenda then the quality of the education of a specific subject matter is lost. Steering away from the format that is set by learned people is distracting and would take too long to get through the lesson plans for a course of study.  But there must be a happy-medium right?  If we can agree that every student is an individual who learns at different paces, and learns in different ways, then why are they all being treated the same?

Creative persons engage in their life experiences and explore the boundaries of tradition.  They are not necessarily the most talented, but they are the risk takers who find a way to express their personal experiences and understanding.  Einstein also said, “A person who never made a mistake, never tried anything new.”  In his TED video, Sir Ken Robinson reiterates this point by saying, “If you are not prepared to be wrong, you will never come up with anything original.”  Yet in our education systems, wrong is the worst thing you can be, and we are penalized for it.  We are conditioned to play it safe, to not take risks, and to betray our imaginations.  We are being educated out of our creative capacities.

Students Offer New Hope For Pet Owners

A news story about two university students founding a new local charity in Victoria, BC.

You can see the passion in Kaitlyn McMillan’s eyes when she speaks about her pets.  “I have two cats, Layla and Mr. Nacka,” she says, her face lighting up, “I just love all beings.”  It is this passion that is the driving force behind her and co-founder, Erin Hubenig’s, new charity, ‘The Heartbeat at my Feet.’

‘The Heartbeat at my Feet,’ is a local foundation that helps provide financial assistance for veterinary care to sick and injured pets, whose owners cannot afford the services. “We aren’t only helping the animals, we’re aiming to help low income households whose finances may not allow them to fund an expensive vet bill and ultimately they have to lose a member of their family.” says Hubenig.

Veterinary student, McMillan, 24, says that this sort of foundation is something she has been thinking about for a few years now, but without the help of Hubenig, 21, it would still just be an idea.  “I tend to sort of be just a dreamer,” she says playfully, “she [Hubenig] helped develop it into an actual business.”  The organization is still in its infancy, but the duo has big plans for its future and are both dedicated to the cause.  “Help us Help the Pets!” is their mission statement.

“I think that part of the problem is that people maybe don’t think of retention as an option.” Says McMillan.  Dog owner, Kel Warren, 56, wishes he had had access to such service when his Labrador suffered from a cruciate ligament injury.  Instead, Warren opted to drive to the states for a less pricey procedure, but also less successful.  “The charity’s a great idea, I wish I had known about it sooner,” says Warren,  “I probably would have been able to get my dog back to 100% instead of 70%.”

The foundation’s first fundraiser was held on January nineteenth of this year, at Karma Nightclub.  Tickets were sold in advance, and they raised over seven hundred dollars of pure profit. “It was a success,” says Hubenig,  “way more money was raised than expected.” They hope to hold their second fundraiser near the end of February at a local restaurant to appeal to the different age groups of people interested in the charity.

Presently, they are affiliated with the Central Victoria Veterinary Hospital who can appoint pet owners in crises to ‘The Heartbeat at my Feet’ foundation.  McMillan and Hubenig will assess the pet’s needs and appoint their donations where they see fit.  Eventually, they would like to gain sponsorships and be able to branch out to multiple shelters. “It goes to a lot of levels – helping a few families keeps open room at the SPCA (Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals) and other animal shelters for other dogs, cats, rats, whatever their pet of choice may be.” Says Hubenig with a giggle.

A charity is a huge undertaking for any person – it requires endless hours of work, with no pay cheque to cash at the end of the week.  Add this, on top of the typical demands of a university schedule, and it becomes quite clear that what these two students are doing is pretty spectacular.  “We get so caught up in making money, finishing school, and our friends, that we lose sight of other people and what the world really needs from us.” Says McMillan.  “If everyone just does something external they’ll find that they are internally more happy.”  Which seems to be the case with glowing McMillan, as she speaks about her cause.

As of now, the duo are taking advantages of social media and using it to spread the word of ‘The Heartbeat at my Feet’ foundation.  They have no sponsors yet, but it is something they are working on.  Their focus at the moment is just getting people excited and interested in the charity.  A website is in the works, and eventually people will be able to make donations online, simply by visiting www.heartbeatatmyfeet.ca.  Stay posted for details on their next fundraiser by checking out their Facebook page, or website.

“It’s not only saving a pet,” says Hubenig, “we are keeping a family together and that’s what we think is awesome.”

http://www.facebook.com/pages/The-Heartbeat-at-my-Feet-Foundation/138621992863859

The beautiful Miss Hepburn’s tips for both inner and outer beauty.

1. For attractive lips, speak words of kindness.

2 For lovely eyes, seek out the good in people.

3. For a slim figure, share your food with the hungry.

4. For beautiful hair, let a child run his or her fingers through it once a day.

5. For poise, walk with the knowledge you’ll never walk alone.

6. People, even more than things, have to be restored, renewed, revived, reclaimed, and redeemed; never throw out anybody. Remember, if you ever need a helping hand, you’ll find one at the end of your arm. As you grow older, you will discover that you have two hands–one for helping yourself, the other for helping others (by the way, Kirk Douglas in a recent article said that helping others keeps the elderly from becoming depressed).

7. The beauty of a woman is not in the clothes she wears, the figure that she carries, or the way she combs her hair. The beauty of a woman is seen in her eyes, because that is the doorway to her heart, the place where love resides. True beauty in a woman is reflected in her soul. It is the caring that she lovingly gives, the passion that she shows. And the beauty of a woman only grows with passing years.

Ovechkin

On this page, you will find a collection of some of the work I have done, including Pop Art, Portraits, and more!

I would like to put it out there that I do commission work – If anyone likes what they see, please leave a comment and I can accommodate your artistic wishes!

Allan Edgar Artist

A brief profile on Victoria artist, Allan Edgar

Allan Edgar, 50, is many things: an entrepreneur, a lover of women, nature and fine wines, a builder, a creator, a fashion expert. “But of all the things Edgar is,” he says, “Edgar would most like to be known as an artist.”  He sips on a miniature bottle of Van Gogh coffee flavored vodka and regards that “all great artists were sipping or sniffing something.”

Edgar often refers to himself in the third-person using his last name only. He is a petite man, with a big worldview, and I do not question his narration – It suits him in his urban cowboy outfit: A shiny crinkled cowboy hat with a fluffy brown feather perched atop his head.

Edgar’s current office is the far East end of Cadboro bay beach, where he is working on The Edgar Love Sand Art Card Project. It is a mouthful of words, but his idea is fresh.

The project consists of stamping letters into the sand on the beach to form words or phrases of sentiment. “From the heart, to the heart,” he says, “could easily be the modus operandi of this project.”

After the letters have been stamped, he spices up the phrases with bits of nature – seaweed, twigs, rocks, whatever else has floated up to shore that day – and photographs them, full frame. The images are then produced without any editing processes. “Edgar wants to zero in to the messages and sentiments that are common to the life experience, for expressing love or acknowledging it to those people who are closest to you in your life.”  He says.

Edgar’s favourite of the collection so far consists of the phrase, “Insatiably Yours.”  Seaweed circles the letters, the sand surrounding the phrase is sprinkled with sparkles and red, blue, yellow, and green dyes. However, you can only see it in photograph, for the Pacific tide washes away his work each day. “These pieces were made with love, I love that beach, the beach loves Edgar back.”  He says.

Despite how much Edgar loves the beach, it seems the residents of Cadboro bay, particularly those with beach property, do not love Edgar. He has experienced much resistance from the residents in the area, and has even had the police called on him a handful of times for working on ‘their’ beach. “Perhaps if they were to allow a little more love into their life, they might overcome their myopic reaction to this project.”  Says Edgar, taking another swig of Van Gogh.

Edgar shakes off the complaints, and resolves that, “if art were not without challenges, everyone would be doing it.”

The Edgar Love Sand Art Card Project is currently in the process of going to print as greeting cards. Edgar hopes to expand the project in the future and produce his images as florist mini cards as well as create an iPhone application upon which you can purchase and send the images digitally from your phone.

Nobody knows where Edgar’s next office will be; not even Edgar himself, however his plans for the future are big. “Edgar wants to be remembered as an artist, and if I have to cut off my own ear to do it, well, that just might be my next step.”  He says, as he finishes off his bottle of Van Gogh.

Flash.  Give me Style.

A style analysis of Chuck Palahniuk’s ‘Invisible Monsters’

Where you’re supposed to be is some big West Hills

wedding reception in a big manor house with flower

arrangements and stuffed mushrooms all over the house.

This is called scene setting: where everybody is, who’s

alive, who’s dead.    This is Evie Cottrell’s big wedding

reception moment.    Evie is standing halfway down the big

staircase in the manor house foyer, naked inside what’s

left of her wedding dress, still holding her rifle.

* * *

Flash.

Give me Chuck Palahniuk.

Flash.

Give me Invisible Monsters.

Flash.

Give me style.

Jump back eleven years.  1999.  Chuck Palahniuk published what is supposedly the first novel he ever wrote.  Invisible Monsters is a fictional rocket ride of catastrophes dealt to the reader in the form of non-chronological flashbacks.  The beginning is the end: The end is the beginning.  And in between the beginning’s end and the end’s beginning, you’re frantically jumping wherever the ex-supermodel, narrator-with-no-jaw tells you to.   “Don’t expect this to be the kind of story that goes: and then, and then, and then.”  She explains twenty pages in, as if we hadn’t already gotten the hint.  I’ll warn you now.  Don’t expect this to be the kind of analysis that goes: and then, and then, and then.

Jump back to the basics.  Palahniuk writes mostly in the first-person narrative; however, there are times when he slips into second-person and the narrator addresses, you, the reader.  These slips are sporadic and so subtle that you barely notice the adjustment, and before you can fully realize it, you’re back to the favored, first-person narration.   “Don’t look for me to ever tell my folks about the accident.”  Says the jawless supermodel; and you know she is talking to you – a simple little aside to tell you what not to expect through her retelling of the story, as if anything could ever be expected within the twisted plot lines, anyway.  The story has a stream-of-consciousness feel to it with a colloquial tone: as if written in a diary, unedited and explicit.

Flash.

Give me rhythm.

Flash.

Give me repetition.

Flash.

Give me epizeuxis, diacope, and parallel constructions.

In Invisible Monsters, Palahniuk’s writing relies heavily on his invented tropes.  His primary device for moving the story forward is a fashion photographer’s camera.   “Flash.  Give me attention.  Flash.  Give me adoration.  Flash.  Give me a break.”  This Flash mechanism resonates with our modern experiences.  Throughout the novel, themes of beauty, sexuality, and finding one’s self are explored.  The repetitions of the Flash statements are interspersed and provide a fun, edgy rhythm that sums up the narrators thoughts and emotions.

The Jump mechanism is another form of repetition that serves as a major vehicle for moving the story forward.  Or backward.  The Jump’s allow you to place yourself in a time and setting, and better follow the non-chronological narration.  As well, Palahniuk uses the Jumps to reveal major realizations the narrator is making.   “Jump to the truth.  I’m the stupid one.  Jump to the truth.  I shot myself.”

Jump to rhythm.  Palahniuk employs the use of rhythmic devices such as epizeuxis, diacope, and parallel constructions to propel the reader forward into his twisted soap-opera-esque world.

“I drop a valium.  A little baby-blue Valium, another powder blue Valium, Tiffany’s light blue, like a gift from Tiffany’s, the Valium falls end over end into Brandy’s interior.”  The repetition of multiple words in this fragment – Valium and Tiffany’s – is an example of diacope.  Also present, is the repetition of a particular shade of blue.  Baby-blue, powder blue, Tiffany’s light blue.  The three coordinate terms placed together form a parallel construction.

“As long as you’re drinking, drinking is okay.  Two’s company.  Drinking is fun.” The repetition of the word ‘drinking’ here is an example of epizeuxis.  Palahniuk’s short sentences and use of repetition emphasize the subject matter in a small space.  These examples of repetition are seen all throughout the novel.  The rhythm created through the repetitions rattles off the tongue like Pop-Rocks.

Flash.

Give me lists.

Flash.

Give me periodic sentences.

Flash.

Give me sentence length variation for emphasis.

A common trait of Palahniuk’s writing is his tendency for lists.  Invisible Monsters is packed full of lists that force your pace to quicken as you read the words on the page.

“Side effects I need to watch for include nausea, vomiting, jaundice, migraine, abdominal cramps, and dizziness.” For a brief moment, the narrator sounds more like an infomercial for prescription medicines than an ex-supermodel.  Then you make the connection.  The pile-up of ailments is a foreshadowing device to both her future and her past, only made possible through the twisted and un-chronological plot line.

“With her chest siliconed, her hips lipo-sucked, the 46-16-26 Katty Kathy hourglass thing she is, the fairy godmother makeover, my fair lady, Pygmalion thing she is, my brother back from the dead, Brandy Alexander is very invested in plastic surgery.”  This prolonged, and involved, syntactically suspended sentence is an example of a periodic sentence.  This is an emphatic device drawing attention to the climax at the end: the moment you realize she is speaking of her brother.  Now sister.

Jump to mixed sentence lengths.  Palahniuk utilizes a varied sentence structure to draw attention to specific ideas.  Some of his sentences drag on.  And on and on.  You find yourself speeding through commas and semi-colons only to reach a period, five lines down – a break, a breath.  Other sentences are short and terse.  You stop and start abruptly as you digest the bitter details.  “Like I want to hear this.  I can’t talk.  All I can eat is liquids.  Nobody will look at me.  I’m invisble.” The choppy sentences read like the serrated edge of a knife, yet you start to miss their sharp quality when you’re tongue-tangled in commas.

Flash.

Give me a summary.

Flash.

Give me a conclusion.

Flash.

Give me an ending to tie this up neatly.

Jump to the end.  Or back to the beginning again.  Palahniuk’s puzzling plot lines are only successfully pieced together through his unique writing style.  His diction and word choice are gutsy, if not vulgar with words such as ‘felching,’ and ‘butthole,’ frequenting the pages – yet they lend a hand to the veracity of the jawless supermodel’s story; and by this point you’ve already become an obedient reader who won’t squirm at irksome words.  Despite breaking all proper conventions of writing style, Palahniuk still leads you where you’re meant to go.  Jump to now.  The ending.

*Photo compliments of Jason Schultz, of Jason S Photography.  Click image for more details.

Walking With Zombies

An event report on Victoria’s Annual Zombie Walk

A game of brain-toss ensues as ghastly, nightmarish characters lurch along the streets of Victoria’s historic downtown. The sidewalks are transformed into a red carpet for the dead, and the day’s most popular question is not “who are you wearing?” but “who are you eating?” Victoria’s annual Zombie Walk took place on Saturday, October 23 and people of all walks of life – or dare I say, ‘death’ – merged to form a sordid mob of upwards of 400 screeching dead, clad in corn syrup, face paint, fake blood and ghoulish, appliquéd gashes.

The Zombie Walk is an annual event in anticipation to Halloween and is common in many cities worldwide. It is an organized social gathering in which people of all ages are invited to dress up as zombies and slog their way through the city centre together. In the case of the city of Victoria, it is not a form of protest, but simply for fun. First-time participant, Liana Worsfold, 47, says that the event as a whole is, “just great.” Her favourite part about it is, “just the look on everybody’s face and like, there are zombies in front of you and zombies behind you.” Wolford’s attitude seemed to be common throughout the day, as many pseudo-zombies commented that it is the camaraderie as a whole that makes the event so successful each year. As for the question of the day, “who are you eating?” – Nine year old Quinn answers, “Barack Obama,” with a grimacing smile on his zombie face.

This year’s Zombie Walk commenced in the centre of Centennial Square at the haunting hour of two o’clock pm. The mob schlepped up to Douglas Street in as ordinary manner as inhumanly possible for zombies – all the while shrieking, gurgling and growling at each other and passers-by.

The zombies, however, are denied entry into the Bay Centre mall despite their best attempts of banging their bloodied doll-head props against the glass. Mall security guards refused to comment on the issue, but GUESS store manager, Bradley Sharpe, 35, conveyed his perspective on the event. Being that the GUESS store has a Douglas Street entrance, Sharpe says that, as a manager, he is proactive and locks the street entrance doors during the event. “I think it’s [the Zombie Walk] kind of fun,” says Sharpe, “but they always ruin it by making messes . . .Over the last few years, it’s kind of gotten a bad name.”

A few straggling zombies who make it past the tight mall security look out of place in the Bay Centre, separated from the pack. Nonetheless, the zombies succeed in leaving their mark. Once the mob has passed, mall janitorial staff is left none-too-pleased to be washing the fake blood, and other body paints from the glass doors and windows of the entrances. The ‘No-Zombie’ rule at the Bay Centre is sure to stick for next year’s annual walk.

At the end of their journey, the zombies congregate like eyesores, on the steps of the legislative building for a group photo. There was no full moon or freaky spell necessary to conjure up this gathering – It is all in the spirit of Halloween. Following the camera flashes, the zombies disperse from the steps; a zombie mother washes the face of her zombie-tot in the trickling fountain on the lawn and as the paint smears down his face and is washed away, Victoria’s Zombieland begins to disassemble once again until next October.

A meditation on my ever-changing definition of art.

Art has become a fundamental and important part of our society’s day-to-day life.  The process of both creating and enjoying art in all its forms is an integral part of expression within all sorts of different political, cultural, and social realms.  Art can be seen everywhere you look: in the architecture of buildings we pass on the street, on mannequins in shop windows, on the walls of our homes, on the stages of theatres, and encased in glass boxes at the museums.  It is a word that our society tosses around like a hot potato, yet has a seemingly difficult time defining.  However, I believe that if you open your mind you will be surprised to find that art is constantly surrounding you in all shapes and forms.

To define art has proven to be a somewhat difficult thing.  In my opinion, no solid, permanent, unchanging definition could possibly encapsulate the totality of what art is and what it does.  Because of this, I don’t feel as though it is important to put a strict definition on the term ‘art’, as it has the capabilities to be so many different things to so many different people. Art should be a flexible term in an inclusive category – there are no boundaries to be broken when making, considering, or enjoying artistic exhibits.

Today, there are so many distinctive factors that art critics and historians must consider in order to be able to define a piece of art.  One must look at both the social and political backgrounds of a work, as well as think about the cultural background and the values important to that culture that would have an affect on the works created.

My definition of art is ever changing. Living in Italy for six months greatly expanded my personal understanding of art, and helped me piece together my own criteria for works of art.  I learned that art is not only what you see framed on the walls of museums or homes.  Living in Florence, a city that is literally bursting with artists and art history, taught me to appreciate all the different artistic mediums that exist.  I learned that it took an artist to design the city’s world famous Duomo del Fiore, a gigantic architectural undertaking that encapsulates the heart of the Firenze.  I listened to the artists in the streets playing their instruments to a perfection.  I watched as numerous Italians sat and produced countless watercolor reproductions of Ponte Vecchio, the city’s oldest bridge.  I walked across cobblestones in piazzas, engineered by the city’s most skilled craftsman.  I learned to see art not only in museums, but also in everyday life.  It flourishes all around us.

Every day I am experiencing new things, and gaining new insights.  Everything new that I learn, see, or do, compiles to create a paradigm as to the way I encounter things visually and audibly – art inclusive. To me, art is simply a non-exclusive idea that exhibits one’s personal creativity, provokes our thoughts, or provides the viewer with the simple satisfaction of admiring another’s creative accomplishments.  It has the potential to be any material or visual component that is created by a person for a purpose, whether it be a social statement, a spiritual devotion, political out-cry, or just a beautiful aesthetically pleasing piece of work.

Personally, art holds a special importance in my life, as it is something I have invested countless hours in creating.  For me, it serves as an outlet for expressing ideas, emotions and feelings that I cannot find a way to put into words.  My sketchbook is my visual diary. I gain joy through creating different pieces of art that I know will some day sit on someone else’s mantle, or hang on someone else’s wall and bring them joy. From start to finish, the creation of a piece of art is a process that requires an individual’s full creative attention.  Thought goes into every detail, and every stroke of a paintbrush, and it is through this special attention to detail and dedication to ones creative ideas, that pieces of work are ever completed.  There is no feeling more satisfying.

The importance of art is almost too immense to put into plain words.   Not only is it an integral and important outlet for creativity, but it’s also a window to our worlds past.  By examining different forms of art from different eras, areas, and cultures we can learn about lives before ours.  We can make inferences about the past in regards to spiritual traditions, rituals, living arrangements, food sources, and lifestyles in general.  Through examining artifacts, dated structures, figurines, or paintings, we can piece together clues to gain a better understanding of the cultural similarities and differences of those who lived before us.  We can learn from what they’ve left behind.  History cannot be told simply through words and text.  To gain a more rounded insight to the cultures previous, we can turn to art as a way of telling essential truths.

Cynics and Saints

A brief profile of my professional non-fiction professor, Les Wiseman.

When asked about his religious or spiritual outlooks on life, Les Wiseman explains that he is pretty open-minded and believes that all moments exist forever.  If this is true, then somewhere stuck in time, Wiseman’s scared shitless, downing lager’s with the Hell’s Angels at their annual convention – this, he claims, was the most dangerous situation of his long and successful journalistic career.

Wiseman has a slightly unkempt look about him, but perhaps that is just the rock-and-roll influence.  His tallish, slender and awkward-sort-of-lanky characteristics make him recognizable in the pictures he shows to our non-fiction class on the first day.  His hair is more or less the same as it was back then – long with a slight wave, peppered with bits of grey.  The pictures on the projector show him posing with Joey Ramone, seated with a precarious looking Johnny Thunders and a carton of Oxydol, and making faces with Dee Snider of Twisted Sister:  Wiseman’s notoriety as a punk-rock journalist is evident.  It does not take much of an imagination to picture him outside of the classroom still clad in Harley Tees and other shirts commemorating his favourite punk-rock bands.

Wiseman is blunt and there is a certain mocking tone in his voice as he warns us all that by the end of the semester, if not before, we will most likely consider him to be “egotistical” and “pompous.”  I do not disagree.  His arrogance in his field is palpable, but he is honest.  He states the hard facts.  Perhaps the most depressing truth Wiseman’s revealed of the journalism industry is that, “once you start getting hate mail, you know you’re doing something right.”  It is a cynical perspective that seems to be synonymous with the rest of Wiseman’s philosophies.

But Les Wiseman has interviewed God.  Excuse me, his God.  Frank Zappa.  And though our Gods are differing, I would like the chance to interview mine.  So, I come to class with pen and paper.  And I sip my coffee.  And I listen close to Wiseman’s words, digesting each cynicism, gobbling up his tricks-of-the-trade, crossing my fingers that I never end up at a Hell’s Angels convention.