The Importance of Others

Happy Thanksgiving!

As this holiday seems to be here so quickly this year, I am reminded of the importance of others and how we should be grateful for their existence and how they have affected our lives. As I mentioned in a recent post that there is an art to living life well, there is also and art in being able to appreciate others and the simple blessings that make our lives memorable. This includes family and friends of course but also the preparation of the meal that we sit down to eat in the company of those we love. It’s a traditional communion of sorts.

Here are a few links to posts that really struck me as artistically heartfelt and worthwhile.

1) The Boldness of Her Brush Strokes by Anne E. Carroll about the memories of her 90 year old grandmother.

2) An exhibit about memory based on family photographs — negatives on glass by Anthony Goicolea

This exhibit reminds me of the discussion I had with my 16 year old, who is home for the holiday, about one of my favorite books by Milan Kundera, The Book of Laughter and Forgetting, in relation to politics and how a government can “rewrite” history in just the little things we take for granted like changing street names, so that an entire generation grows up learning something different and forgets about the past. There are insidious ways this occurs and it happens sometimes without us even knowing. Something to be aware of with every new leadership. This was after we answered the call from our church to deliver 75 Thanksgiving meals to the needy. My teenage son didn’t want to go of course, but we said we had to run errands before going to brunch and afterwards, he was glad he helped. It was tearful to see joy on the little kids’ faces when we showed up with the meals for them and their families. There is something to be said for those who don’t take things for granted. Trying to impart this philosophy onto a teenager, even with the foundation you’ve worked hard to provide, is a tough task.

3) Making sense of painful tragedies as described in the Creative Imperative on the theinferior4+1 blog

Since my preteen goddaughter and her twin and their two younger siblings just lost their father, I am very concerned in how this will affect them as they grow older. Loss can manifest itself through art — hopefully in a positive way. Art therapy helps too as well as the support of the village network of friends and family.

4) I just came across this culture blog, 2 Blowhards, and I’ll be checking it out more, but I particularly like this post regarding Tom Thompson. I was unfamiliar with his work but it’s very apropos since my last post showed trees. I like his “Tiffany-like” stylistic stroke and this one of the water beyond the trees. Reminds me of the beauty of a lovely, crisp, colorful fall day, which this is.

5) Finally the link above led me to Tyler Green’s Modern Art Notes/an arts journal, contemporary art blog…something to stay tuned to.

All the best wishes for this day of thanks with the ones you love (and that’s despite any tension family members can bring). My recipe: have a cocktail and endure!