In, Out, And Back In the Group

There is no doubt that young people today are devoted to popular culture and to devices that proclaim and spread it.  Their character is modeled by not being out of character with culture.  The driving force of this culture is the creative urge, to be creatively unique in your assimilations.  This is a very difficult thing, uniqueness in the act of integrating absorption.  But it is a powerful force for creative expression, expressing one's uniqueness while desperately seeking to fit in requires a sophisticated level of creativity.  As an art teacher, it is important to realize the truths of all this because the ability to make art is dependent upon the courage to be you, to live, think and be only and completely you.  Being you always places you outside the model of the group, and eventually outside the group, you the individual doesn’t fit the template.  But only you the individual is capable of conceiving and making art that only you can make, and that art is work that no other human can make or even conceive of.  Practiced long enough this allows, with maturity, true art to be made.  I have found one great truth in all of this; the call of Christ into the arts is the sincerest path through the group to the studio—and then back into the group as His ambassador. 

Altar and land art building in Colorado years ago.