Bringing Meaning to Life: Art

"That, perhaps, is the true gift of genius — to bring something meaningful to life despite how meaningless one’s own life may seem; to give some warmth to the world despite what the world may have coldly taken away."
~ Charles Schulz

Quote for the day, week, year, life. I'm no genius but always long to bring something meaningful to life, to give some warmth to the world. Having grown up with "Peanuts" and Charlie Brown, I appreciate Charles Schulz's gifts to us in the world. It was OK to be the weird kid, to walk a different path, to hear a different drummer. Artists do that, you know--walk a different path. We give to the world our music, dance, films, paintings, sculpture, literature, poetry and so much more. Every day, the evening news gets harder and harder to bear: yet art makes this life bearable. It's uplifting. One of the first things to go in school cut-backs, the arts need to be on the top of the list to stay. Just as important as any sport, the arts reaffirm, make us grow, inspire. I bet Charlie Brown's an artist at heart.

Painting from the Haloed Bird series, (detail) Bonnie Joy Bardos, sold

Art From A Different Point of View

"The true beloveds of this world are in their lover's eyes lilacs opening, ship lights, school bells, a landscape, remembered conversations, friends, a child's Sunday, lost voices, one's favorite suit, autumn and all seasons, memory, yes, it being the earth and water of existence, memory." ~ Truman Capote .................... September strolls in, a peaceful visitor. Summer is slowly winding down along the shaded green lanes of the mountains. Indeed, it's a time for memory: goldenrod spikes and apple trees with lush red fruit, the apple trees of childhood bloom on. This month, my friends James Blanton and Gary Corn of historic Mill Farm Inn hosted a benefit for me to raise funds for eye surgery, again; with bottles of wine labeled with one of my paintings (these are still available at Joni's Wine Shop 176 E. Main Street Saluda, NC). A long story, but the saga continues, and as ever, friends and supporters keep me going in this world. I realize we're not alone, that many good people are here. Over the past year, I've called all the art I've created, both painting and sculpture, 'art from a different point of view', both metaphorically and literally. Symbolism is big in my life: and nothing happens without reason. I remain grateful. With no health insurance yet, it's a tough road for artists like me. However, there is light at the end of the tunnel. Life goes on, and we just need to take a different point of view sometimes.