Cosmic Joke

Wait a minute . . . my site statistics show that people actually are reading this blog! Given that, maybe I should post about something pithy. How about purpose and meaning?

All of you working artists out there, do you ever wonder about the sanity of what you're doing? People all over the world are dying everyday from starvation, millions are homeless, species are becoming extinct, rainforests are disappearing, countries (my own country, nonetheless) are bombing other countries . . . and I feel compelled to make art? What kind of a meaningful career choice is that? It reminds me of the band playing while the Titantic went down. It's almost like a joke that God is playing on me -- giving me a calling that has no practical purpose.

I have heard it said that artists are visionaries -- that we lead the way in envisioning a new and better world. I hope that's true. I want to think that I'm contributing to making the world a better place and not just using up resources in the form of pigments, canvas and wood.

It's hard to see the forest for the trees. It's easier to look back and see what artists have contributed in the past than to get a handle on what our societal contribution might be right now.

Is it enough to create beautiful artwork, or would I be better off contributing more directly by doing something practical like feeding the homeless?

Current music: Andy White's "Out There" CD -- especially "Speechless." Can you tell?