Inexpressible Joy Of Art

I commit to being a dancing monk, cultivating creative joy and letting my body and “heart overflow with the inexpressible delights of love.”*

*quote is from the Prologue of the Rule of Benedict

The above “commitment” is from the Monk Manifesto on the Abbey of the Arts page Monk Manifesto | Abbey of the Arts.  The idea of cultivating creative joy got me thinking about people in my life who use their creativity to bring joy to themselves and others.

My favorite example is my long-time friend, Pat Seidel.

Pat went on vacation several years ago and took a class on making art from broken glass.  Pat took this idea to a whole new level and is now an accomplished and recognized artist in her own right with a company named of course, “Smashed Glass Art LLC.”  You can see her work at Pat Seidel | 14 South Artists as she’s very active in the local art scene in Wisconsin. 

Pat likes nothing more than to take a person’s broken memories and make them into a work of art.  For example, she will take your mother’s favorite but broken tea cup and makes it something magical.  She gets a lot of joy from making memories last.

Another friend of mine and another Pat has a similar story.  She took a couple of art painting classes and got the bug.  She paints at 3 a.m. and throughout the day.  Her work proudly displayed throughout her beautiful home and at family and friends homes.

Today, three of us women friends got together and worked on paintings together. I, the least skilled in painting, still found the experience worthwhile and well refreshing.

So why do I bring this up when Facing Life Challenges?  Because art uniquely fills a void when nothing else will. “Art is more than a leisure activity or cultural artifact—it is a vital force for mental health and emotional well-being. Through creative expression, individuals gain tools for managing stress, overcoming challenges, and connecting with themselves and others. Whether through formal art therapy or simple acts of creation, the journey into art is an invitation to heal, grow, and flourish.”+

So how can you add more art to your life?

                Attend a concert or play.  Better yet, try out for a part. My husband and I love to go to tribute concerts at our retirement community.  We’ve heard tributes from everyone including Whitney Houston and the Four Seasons.  It brings a smile to Jim’s face.

                Keep a journal to record your thoughts, drawings, poems, songs. No one else need see it but it will still be therapeutic for you.

                Go to a museum or exhibit.  We attended the Monet Exhibit that was traveling around the  country.  It was inspiring and heart-pounding beautiful to be immersed in the art surrounding the viewers on all four walls.

                Try your hand at photography.  Become the family photographer like my brother Donald did. He is passing on his skills to his grandchildren and has a very impressive portfolio.  He uses his photography to tell stories. I loved how he sent photo storybooks to my elderly mother in a nursing home. She loved to browse them and it always brought a smile to her face.

                Create your work just for yourself and see where it takes you, especially when facing life challenges.

+=inspired by AI