What can an artist take from the story of what Christians call "The Day of Pentecost?" In Christian teaching, the day of Pentecost is the day on which the Holy Spirit of God first took up residence in the hearts of those who follow Jesus Christ. This same "Spirit of God" is the one who …
For The Love of God…What Do Artists Do?
On the one hand, they take materials in hand and make something. Craft, craft, craft. Depending on their discipline, they maneuver the materials they need (paint, voice, clay, what have you) to create objects, experiences, and ideas that alter something of the way we perceive and navigate our world. On the other hand, sometimes they …
On Finishing “The War of Art”
So 24 hours later, I'm through Steven Pressfield's The War of Art. Without looking back at my notes and highlights, here are the take-aways for me, the specifics the little voice inside me is urging me to pay attention to. Stop speculating about art's mysteries. Be a craftsman. Make the work. Every day. The mysteries …
Two Pennies Left: Why The “How” of a Thing Matters
FYI, up front, this post is not about flowers. It is about content and form in art-making, conversation, and relationship. It's about the connection of human essence and identity to the fundamental, structural realities aesthetic forms demand. It's about the challenge of creating art wherein form and content create a unity of power …
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On the Occasion of a Son Turning 21
He's always been a surprise. Not that the expectation for something special wasn't there, but who this young boy I played catch with would become just wasn't on my radar. The music piece, in a generic sense, didn't surprise me; we've got singers in the family--some good ones (My uncle, closer in age to a …
JEFF BERRYMAN 