Commit Acts of Art

 "Not every act of art creates something special, but it creates something. It is the act of art that is important." Michael L. Goodman

I found this statement in a post by Sarah Leavitt of the text of the talk she gave to the graduates of the School of Creative Writing at UCB last year. It was recommended by Austin Kleon in his newsletter last Friday. I believe it speaks well to the topic of committing acts of art every day.

Joyful Persistence: “For those of you who’ve taken my classes, you know that I am always encouraging you to waste paper. You will not be the reason that our forests disappear. Take up the whole page with your drawing. Write everything, don't worry about who will like it, stop editing in advance! Write every day! Draw every day! Worry less about each individual word or picture. Identify the things you want to get better at and do them over and over.

The finished pieces that we share – they’re dependent on these messy piles of imperfection. Remember, we are workers, we make things.”

Big Art-Little Spaces: Travel Photos

 "Not every act of art creates something special, but it creates something. It is the act of art that is important, not the result." Michael Goodman

I have been traveling a lot in the last two months. A week in Ohio, a week and a half in Egypt, and side trips here and there around the home front. I took hundreds of photos in Ohio and Egypt, many of them of the same scene or object from multiple angles. Some photos might be seen as acts of art in themselves, and often some are springboards for other acts of art.

The outer court of the Kirtland Temple, Kirtland, Ohio.

At Le Sacré-Coeur, Montmartre, Paris.

The Giza Plateau, Egypt.

Feluccas on the Nile near Aswan, Egypt.

Two carvings of a Coptic Cross

on the wall of the Temple of Isis at Philae, Egypt.

My interpretation of the Coptic Cross at Philae.

My new mantra is "Commit Acts of Art every day!" Some days, taking a picture is my act of art when I have no time to doodle, draw, or paint. Arranging the plants and the watering system in my vegetable garden, adding a found object as a garden ornament, or making a small column of free-standing river stones at the end of a grow box is sometimes my act of art in a busy day which no one sees but me.

Books Arts Mania: Filling the Book, Part Three

"Not every act of art creates something special, but it creates something. It is the act of art that is important, not the result."  Michael L. Goodman

My wife and I with our three daughters visited Ohio for a week at the beginning of April. We went to see the eclipse, visit some of the Hopewell Indian Mounds, and see LDS historic sites in Kirtland. It was difficult to do much doodling while we were driving from mound to mound and city to village. I only saved four of the small circles I did while resting in the evenings at the Airbnbs. These are in the book now.

While we were exploring Sandusky, Ohio, where we viewed the eclipse, I saw these acts of art on a walk by Lake Erie. Some signposts similar to these would be fun to have in different areas of my garden.

Here is an interesting yard decoration: