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“Art has to do with the sustaining and invigorating of the Personality. To be strong is to be happy. Art by expressing our feelings makes us strong and therefore happy.” --John Butler Yeats in letter to Edward Dowden, 31 Dec, 1869 Among the world’s creative thinkers and cultural workers, some achieve notable “success” that allows them to practice their specific creative discipline unhampered. Others attain more modest accomplishments, yet, nonetheless, often make a meaningful difference in the lives of those who encounter their work. This tends to be true whether the creative artist in question is a writer (novelists, playwrights, poets, journalists and bloggers included); or a fine artist (painters, sculptors, illustrators, fractalists and photographers included); or someone such as a teacher, social visionary, scientist, philosopher, soccer mom, or spiritual seeker. Although people on certain parts of the planet sometimes find themselves challenged to assign tangible values to the labors of creative artists, we see that value applied to individual and collective lives on a regular basis. We see it when young people laugh out loud in the company of parents or friends as they sit in a theater together or watch a video at home. We recognize it when a media mogul acknowledges the role books played in her development and survival; and honors that role by giving the publishing industry a powerful boost with a world-wide book club bearing her name. And we see it when presidents, prime ministers, queens, and kings in need of added wisdom and insights turn to the diaries and memoirs of those who led before them. Part of the governing principle behind The Twenty-First Creative Arts Symposium derives from the above quote by the Nobel Laureate William Butler Yeats’ father: John Butler Yeats. We probably should note here that Yeats’ concept of “Personality” was something very close to “illuminated consciousness,” or even “soul,” as opposed to simply a talented, unique, or eccentric manner of behavior. He was a strong champion of poets and therefore raising one to win the Nobel Prize was something of a cinch for him. And he likely would not have disagreed with W.E.B. Du Bois’ statement that: "The thinkers, dreamers, poets of the world must be its workers. Work is God." No such grandiose expectations here at The Twenty-first Century Creative Arts Symposium but neither will anyone be discouraged from reaching for the same. Simply put, we are here to discuss, inspire, debate, share, and inform creative endeavors with the hope that by doing so, we help to make each other and those who value our artistic endeavors a little stronger and a little better. Aberjhani

Category

Topics » Arts & Culture

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Club Privacy Settings

This is an open club - anyone can join.

Established

March 30, 2009

1) Enjoy a healthy, stimulating dialogue with others while feeling free to post creative expressions of your own. 2) Please refrain from personal attacks. 3) Respect the opinions of others. 4) Avoid gross/profane language for its own sake; including hate diatribes and sexually explicit or pornographic posts.