Paint and canvas are raw materials. Lines drawn across a sheet of paper can form a sketch or a written word. Cameras capture moments and the internet houses it all. Our interaction with art is expanding at the speed of media and we are drinking from the fire hose. We love it, we hate it, we consume it, we make it, we give it away, we brand it, we seek it, we skim it, we "like" it, we comment on it, all in the pursuit of finding the new. This desire of discovery is innately human but the current pace is unprecedented. Creativity has quickly become our most valuable currency. Yet, algorithms move the numbers and brands design authenticity. We should be celebrating the talented and rewarding the clever but beauty should never be left to the eye of the shareholder. Creativity is transactional with exchanges so rapid they are virtually invisible, leaving us dizzy with mental fatigue.
When our desire to be relevant outpaces our ability to connect, burnout abounds. We lose the opportunity to fail when social media missteps have such lasting consequences. Creativity should start with vulnerability and exploration, not strategy and release dates. The freedom to digitally express is intoxicating but blurring the lines of curation and reality can get ugly. The internet should only be the vehicle, not the destination. Our phones and computers should be tools, not companions. Our favorite things should bring us joy, not anxiety.
I am proposing a reboot of what we see as art all together. To start this reboot I must first define what art is to me. My definition of art is: The alteration of raw materials in search of the unexpected. It is intentionally vague to broaden my perception of what art can be. By my definition, cooking a meal would be "the alteration of raw materials" and the "unexpected" might be the impromptu conversation around the table. A smile can be an "alteration" of your mouth that can "unexpectedly" change the course of a person's day. I want to see art through that lens. I want to reevaluate my view of what makes art valuable and relevant. I want to create and experience art as an action of service to others and this book is my commitment to the process. Each piece in this collection was created as a single step in this journey.