Art and Creativity: Art as Gifts - Temporary Experiences and Lasting Value by reddragonfly

art · @reddragonfly · Oct 29 '17

$26.85

Art and Creativity: Art as Gifts - Temporary Experiences and Lasting Value

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<p>When I was a kid, my dad was always talking about creating things with <em>lasting value</em>.&nbsp;</p>
<p>Although he was not an artist, per se, he was a great woodworker and cabinetmaker, as well as a professional restorer of antique paintings.</p>
<p>Whenever he was in the woodshop, his focus was on making furniture and cabinetry that would <em>"last for generations."</em></p>
<p>
<div class="pull-right">
<p><img src="https://i.imgur.com/ztdch9X.jpg" alt="JulieZarate" /><br />
<em>"Madre Tierra" original painting by Julie Zarate</em></p>
</div>
</p>
<p>More often, however, I would watch him restore old paintings. One of his favorite things was to cruise estate sales and antique markets (particularly in London and Amsterdam) in search of really old, dirty and damaged paintings which he would then carefully restore to something close to their original beauty.&nbsp;</p>
<p>Several times, I watched him remove centuries of grime, smoke residue and grease from an almost-black painting from the 1600s or 1700s to reveal an early "Master" work... and the attendant lesson was always that work with "lasting value" would never be out of style.</p>
<p>These memories came to mind this morning as I was looking through old photographs of my father at the restoration easel... and then thinking about the changing face of art in our times.</p>
<p>Things seem a lot more temporary, these days, as artistic expression seems to become more and more of a fleeting expression and experience, rather than a permanent object.</p>
<p>Not that that's a <em>bad</em> thing, mind you.</p>
<p>
<div class="pull-left">
<p><img src="https://i.imgur.com/YdMSc0Q.jpg" alt="Butterfly" /><br />
<em>This butterfly may live only days or weeks...</em></p>
</div>
</p>
<p>For example, I have great admiration for the Tibetan monks who spend days and weeks creating intricate mandala paintings with colored sand... only to brush them away with the stroke of a hand, as a reminder of the impermanence of life.</p>
<p>That, in and of itself, is an artform.</p>
<p>In somewhat stark contrast, I think about the people who visit our gallery with the intent of buying a piece of art as a gift for a friend or family member.&nbsp;</p>
<p>Personally, I think art makes a beautiful gift-- it can be very personal, and it conveys that element of "lasting value" my father always talked about. But many people are not comfortable with the idea... "<em>I just am not sure my friends would appreciate it as I do,</em>" they say. Of course, quite often we also know the "friends," this being a fairly small town... and know their friends would be <em>thrilled</em> with the art.</p>
<p>Sadly, people leave without the art, and instead end up at a department store where they spend a similar amount of money on some "popular novelty" that will get a good laugh for ten minutes and then end up in the recipient's next garage sale.&nbsp; Which is pretty sad.</p>
<p>Which leaves me pondering the greater sociological (and human) question of why we so often reach for the lower common denominator in decision making, rather than the higher one. What do YOU think?</p>
<p>Meanwhile... don't be afraid to give the gift of art!</p>
<p>Thank you for reading! Red Dragonfly is a proud member of the <a href="https://steemit.com/@sndbox"><strong><a href="/@sndbox">@sndbox</a> </strong></a>creative initiative.</p>
<p><center><a href="https://steemit.com/@reddragonfly">
<img src="https://steemitimages.com/DQmdyRbDAjTPPM6aQpmNRKDoxCcgYGC1wHAjRNJANED1VZ9/follow_reddragonfly.gif" />
</a> </center></p>
<p><em>The Red Dragonfly is an independent alternative art gallery located in Port Townsend, WA; showcasing edgy and unique contemporary art &amp; handmade crafts by local and worldwide artists. All images are our own, unless otherwise credited. Where applicable, artist images used with permission.</em> </p>
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👍 sndbox, steemed-proxy, natureofbeing, voronoi, denmarkguy, hansikhouse, rachelsvparry, mindfreak, opaulo, olyup, stylo, alcy, alktoni, paulcolumbus, artem-sokoloff, somethingburger, oluwoleolaide, enchantedspirit, coloringiship, indiantraveller, zugart, lgm-1, aismor, sandbox, pedrhenrique, wamsverrucko, bluemanart

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@gailbelga · Oct 29 '17

I feel you. I like making art works as gifts. Aside from it lasts long, it comes from the heart.

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@natureofbeing · Nov 2 '17

$0.04

It's so puzzling to me that people struggle with giving themselves permission to have what s/he wants rather than what others will like! I face this often with commissions too.....because at some point in 20 years people may want to sell their houses they resist getting what they want in favor of something that is pleasing in a regular sort of way. I always think about how much the small everyday things of life give us so much pleasure and how if you really love something it's worth taking the risk of buying it for yourself!

👍 reddragonfly

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@reddragonfly · Nov 2 '17

Your story of people and houses reminds me of a really long time ago... my former mother-in-law was always critical of my ex's and my taste in houses because (a) we didn't *"buy for resale value"* and (b) when we put colors on the walls and picked certain kinds of value it *"wouldn't maximize resale value."* It seemed absurd at the time, and it *still* seems absurd.

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@natureofbeing · Nov 3 '17

Lol, yes exactly!

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