An artist friend of mine posted on Facebook today this question...
"What is visionary art? I see some artists claim that description, but it has my head scratching. Any ideas?" The first reply posted came in the form of a wry question... "They have visions of being an artist"?
Realizing that at times, I have described myself as a "visionary artist", I decided to post the following response:
"I
have used the term "visionary artist" to honor that the work is come
from a greater vision beyond my own limited self…a way of celebrating
the connection to a larger consciousness. This is what I understand
"visionary" to mean, but it is certainly a word that could contain a
rich variety of interpretations. I would love to hear how others see
it".
Well, just offer that out to the universe, and one might expect a response from the "larger consciousness"....complete with all the sense of humor that it can provide!
A few hours later, I was working in my art studio. My giant converted dining room table is what I actually paint on. It stands next to my easel which I keep, tightened by levers, in a flat position. In a sort of reversal of purposes, I use this real easal as tabletop... makes sense??
I needed to reach for a painting tool on another stand, and, as I did so, leaned ever-so-lightly on my easel. The entire easel collapsed forward into my frantic arms. It had been loaded with paintings in progress, supplies, notes, slides….it was all there! Even as I was desperately trying to catch the falling objects and stave off the rest of the cascade, I started seeing pieces that might help me in my current work project. So I laughed as some answers to my creative searching, were literally tossed into my arms. Some reckless visionary artist I am….yes, I accept all help….even when it comes in forms that I would not choose.
So by my definition, being "visionary" appears to be all about staying open.... as life hands me my "material", I may well find myself creating something entirely different than what I'd originally had in mind. I may find myself laughing in holy horror at the directions that things have gone. I may find myself throwing my hands up in the air, waiting for instructions on what I should do with the mess. Or, most likely of all, I will find myself just proceeding onward, trusting that the direction will be given as I go along.
Ultimately, I believe that claiming the name of "visionary artist" is about affirming and following through on a commitment to staying open, holding an awareness that all that happens in life is potential material----an offering to transform and bring to wholeness whatever is given to us for that purpose.
So by my definition, being "visionary" appears to be all about staying open.... as life hands me my "material", I may well find myself creating something entirely different than what I'd originally had in mind. I may find myself laughing in holy horror at the directions that things have gone. I may find myself throwing my hands up in the air, waiting for instructions on what I should do with the mess. Or, most likely of all, I will find myself just proceeding onward, trusting that the direction will be given as I go along.
Ultimately, I believe that claiming the name of "visionary artist" is about affirming and following through on a commitment to staying open, holding an awareness that all that happens in life is potential material----an offering to transform and bring to wholeness whatever is given to us for that purpose.
