WHAT DOES ONE DO WITH THE ART THAT WE CREATE?

I was recently asked what does one do with all of the art that we create? 

Good question. Here in Canada, and I’m sure that it’s much the same in other countries, if your art speaks to the history of the people and is judged unique it may be archived in the national art gallery, namely museums devoted to the history of the humanities. However, most art becomes decorative wall art and in time finds its way to landfill. So called wildlife art, might, and stress the might, find its way into the collections of natural history museums. 

I realized from the outset that my art was lacking, neither unique, nor technically spectacular, and would not be archived by either, so as in the case of sketches and paintings of Killarney Provincial Park, I donated all of it, some 150 pieces, or more to the Friends of Killarney Park. The Friends, I understand, have sold it piecemeal to raise funds for ongoing Art in the Park projects, etc. I suppose that at the moment much of it is being enjoyed in the homes of persons who frequent and appreciate the park. As for many of my intaglio plates and some of the prints taken from the plates, they have found a home in the local museum as examples of the craft. My Algonquin work, that which hasn't sold, will probably go to friends and relatives…. and eventually landfill.

Knowing that most of my art will, in time, disappear, I  have put together books as a means of simply preserving some of my images and experiences, bringing together moments of inspiration, memories of my time spent making art….something to share and to keep me company in my old age.

It is interesting to note that most of our lives we struggled to get ahead, to standout, to be successful. And then, one day, when we’re old and grey, we come to realize that, although the struggle was worth the effort, our success was something less than what we strived to attain. The effort to keep up, the race to get ahead, if you will, was for not. At least that’s what you think. That we made a difference we shall, in all probability, never know. Perhaps, we did touch someone with our presence, our thoughts, our attempts to preserve and protect. However, as individuals our importance was questionable. Like it or not we were insignificant members of a collective without seeming purpose, a purpose that will be fulfilled without our knowing.

So, there it is. If you chose to become an artist you must accept that if it lacks historic significance in one form or another you will probably be left with a pile of memories that will be turned to dust, or at best mulch for someone's garden. Be satisfied with the experience of working at becoming, and possibly succeeding as an artist.

Over the years I produced a ton of art. As mentioned above, non was spectacular or really unique, but in looking back I regret nothing, and am certain that much of my work had the effect of making someone's life a bit more enjoyable, as well as, in some small way, helping to preserve and protect our natural heritage. Here are but a few of my images from my book titled Whispering Wings.... 

WHERE DO MEMORIES GO

“I write because 

it's important for me to know,

who I am,

 and from where I came, 

 to acknowledge 

both the pain, 

and the joy, 

of my time spent .”

HAVE YOU EVER WONDERED?

Some of you reading this post may be visual artists, or writers, simply looking for material for an ongoing project, or for inspiration to continue your struggle to become artists.  All well and fine, take what you need, I'm quite willing to share. However, I wonder whether you've given any thought to what will happen to your work, your memories when you fade away, as we all will one day......

Memories

Have you ever wondered

where our memories go,

when we are old,

and go away.

Do memories simply fade away?

As we fade

slowly,

do our memories leave,

and find a place

secure in time,

or do they follow

our ascent

to a better time.

It’s sad to think

that memories made

with such a struggle,

laced with pain, 

and sorrow,

would simply be forgotten.

Memories made

should be cherished,

shared,

and preserved,

so that we,

and those before,

will never be forgotten.

EAS

There was a day, not so many years ago, that the gentry kept diaries, unknowingly archiving memories of not only daily life, but social and political events of the time in which they lived. Then, along came newspapers, and with reading and writing becoming universal, letter writing became commonplace. Letters received were often saved, and in this day and time, with the advent of technology have become relics of days past, valuable documents to be saved and cherished. The reason, of course is that letter writing, snail-mail as it is referred to, has become obsolete. Electronic mail, or email, itself has become outdated replaced by Facebook chatter and tweeting. A new language is being invented. Words are being sounded,  abbreviations, spelling ignored, of words that once filled dictionaries. The snapshot, selfies, have replaced words to describe experience. Reading and writing is no longer taught. You Tube and video have replaced books of instruction. The once importance of blogged experiences, is now fading. Graveyards, and headstones to remind us of our past, have been replaced by cremation. Death and funeral notices once posted in newspapers are at an end as newspapers, judged as obsolete, are being overtaken by online news. Communities, as such, are being broken by populations disjointed. We're abandoning our past for a future without purpose.

So, as you can see, there a problem afoot. Is Google our only hope? Will future generations stumble upon our moments, our visions, our thoughts. And what of Google, will it survive? I suppose that it's human to hope that we will be remembered......if only for a few moments, or at least until the relevancy of our being subsides.

Here are a few of my memories, pencil sketches of Algonquin Park..........Hopefully, Google will remember and speak to the relevance of my time spent helping to preserve and promote natural places of quiet solitude............

CLIMATE EMERGENCY II

In a previous posting on the subject of global warming, and the so called climate emergency, I wrote of  weather changes being brought about due primarily by world population growth and unchecked urban growth. Both, of course, result in the need for the burning of fossil fuels in order to allow each to thrive. We could make use of nuclear energy, a cleaner source of energy, but then there is the disposal of nuclear waste, although since faced with that problem, solutions have been suggested. Still, nuclear energy is not thought of as an alternative to fossil fuels, instead we're chasing windmills and solar energy although both sources are unreliable, and in themselves leave a carbon footprint. Both sources are time sensitive with the need for replacement of integral parts every twenty years, or so, at considerable expense both monetary, and from the standpoint of energy used to recycle and dispose of worn parts. The thought, of course, is that this would be a environmentally acceptable source of electricity and could provide power to replace gasoline fuelled vehicles, solving once and for all our global climate emergency. A pipe dream at best.

Here in Canada we have a problem in switching over to electric powered vehicles. It's quite simple actually, Canada is a large, country with a poor public transportation system. Few have the money to simply switch to an electric vehicle that is not dependable for driving long distances, particularly in winter. If you live and work in an urban centre then perhaps, but then you really don't need a vehicle as urban areas have dependable public transportation. Electric vehicles that can be driven only 400 km in cold weather can lose much of their electric charge, reducing their travelling distance considerably. Get caught in a snow storm, or in a traffic jam in winter, and watch your charge melt away possibly leaving you stranded. Much has to be done before those living in a northern clime can rely on electric vehicles.

As I see it apart from we, as individuals, the real enemy to climate change, adjusting our habits and becoming more sensitive to the environment through recycling and reuse, have to give industry time to solve their problems leading to their products becoming more sensitive to the environment.

It will take time, and global warming will continue just as it has for thousands of years, but we will make technological gains, and slow the inevitable. In the meantime, perhaps those of you who are young, and have stumbled upon this posting, should take heed and realize that lifeboat Earth has only so much resources, and cannot support an unlimited number of passengers. If planet Earth is to survive a line has to be drawn,  and religions/governments have to come together to replace archaic thought, and develop the means to manage humanity. Sending a few souls into space is not the solution.

As a footnote to my suggesting that industry and technology, if we give them a chance will work to solve the problem of global warming, I refer you to the article that appeared in the CBC news on August 14, 2009. I also refer you to an article further down the page that suggests that unless cooler heads prevail, then we have no fear of global warming, as many of us won't live to see solutions.

https://www.cbc.ca/news/technology/climate-change-aviation-emissions-1.5244130

Of course, given the state of the world and the leaders presently in control, a more ominous solution to global warming may be just around the corner. With China playing dangerous games, Russia and the United States returning to the arms race, North Korea testing missiles, Iran tempting fate, and the American President continuing to tweet silliness, someone is bound to push a button.  They say  that a nuclear war could cause a nuclear winter reducing temperatures all over the world, as well as have a negative effect on the world's population. So, as you can see, putting everyone in Canada in an electric vehicle is the least of our worries.

https://www.cbc.ca/news/world/russia-missile-radiation-1.5245081

Time to take a break from fretting about the future of the planet Time to head north to Algonquin Provincial Park to enjoy a bit of solitude, and perhaps make a sketch, or two. In the meantime here are a couple of paintings made up that way, and if you're into bad poetry, something that I scribbled this morning.....

Morning Algonquin   Watercolour Painting

Whitefish Lake Island Algonquin  Watercolour Sketch

Autumn Algonquin Provincial Park     Watercolour Painting

AUGUST

Spring dragged its feet, and was slow to appear. 

Summer came late and, now, 

.....August is here. 

The winds off the Bay 

are tinged with cold air.

The leaves of the Maple, 

once a soft yellow green,

have darkened,

become leathery, 

.....and are a dark shade of green.

The Monarchs are gathering, 

their long journey begun,

to find warmth in a tropical sun. 

Flowers in our garden, 

once a joy to behold

shrivel and die, 

.... their purpose now done.

The days grow shorter, 

and the nights have grown longer. 

Songbirds that once greeted the dawn, 

and woke us with their morning song,

grow silent, 

then quietly, 

disappear, 

......to avoid what’s to come.

As August retreats we look forward to September, 

with hope for mild weather,

for time to prepare,

for what we all fear,

the cold of the winter -

......a time of despair.