NUMBER 40: The Distruction of Art

Today, for no apparent reason, I've been thinking about the destruction of art.

I think, if my memory is right, when our troops invaded Bagdad during the Iraqi war the troops hooked a cable or chain around a large statue of Saddam Hussein and commenced to pull and break it down. One image in the news showed the head lying in the street severed from the body of the statue. To me it was a gut wrenching feeling watching them destroy a work of art.

I understand the rage against such a tyrant, a despot, and the urge to eradicate every image or memory of his presence in the world, but I also understand, or at least believe that that was not merely a statue of Hussein, it was a part of the history of Iraq, it was the hard work of a man, a sculptor. The sculptor himself may have been an enemy of Hussein and in spite of his connection to Hussein I feel confident that the sculptor also felt a somewhat gut wrenching feeling as he watched them topple the statue off its pedestal and drag it through the streets.

Most people have seen many fragmented pieces of statues from ancient times in museums, and thought them awesome, but what if you could see the statue in its original state, when the sculptors finished them? I think it would speak volumes to the artistry of man.

Some of these statues were destroyed by wars, some by earthquakes and then by just plain old vandalism. Some people to this day have this propensity to vandalize art. I don't understand this kind of mentality except that they must, within their hearts, be the worst kind of censor. I'm sure that part of it is brought about by pure envy.

Censorship is the root to despotism. Censors wish to destroy your right to free press, free speech and freedom of expression in any form if they don't like or approve of your expressions. These are the most dangerous citizens in any society that is trying to secure freedom.

Isn't it sad that right here in the United States we have to fight for our freedoms daily within our families, our workplaces, our townships, our counties and our states and at the federal levels also?

Just think for a moment, the artists are the ones most often bombarded by the censors. Censorship stands up against speakers, painters, sculptors, writers, movie producers, musicians and dancers,and even the poets.

We might be surprised in the future, for they might figure out a way to censor other ways of life such as cooking, bowling, playing baseball or football and all sorts of non-controversial activities. That may sound like a stretch but be careful who you offer that beer or glass of wine to, for the spirit of prohibition is still alive today. Fanatics will try to rid society of anything they do not approve of. Censorship most often evolves out of what some people consider a "SIN" thing.

We don't like to think of it but most families occasionally have a few of these censors over for diner. Some may be your favorite aunt or uncle, or a favorite cousin or maybe your own children or mother and dad. Lets not forget our brothers or sisters or it could be your spouse, but not mine, ha!

Now I'm not talking about my family @*$(#!. Let me make myself clear, I'm talking about your families. Always be careful what you do or say around people. It could turn around and bite you in the rear end.

Remember that censorship can be a verbal attack from your loved ones.

One last thing about the destruction of art is that I wish troops would not destroy the art of the people we go to war with. I'm not judging them but I wish they would not destroy the art of our adversaries.


Finton

Number 39 :The pygmalion Syndrone

I do not think that I am afflicted with Pygmalionism but I do love to sculpt the beautiful, fascinating female form and I have, after sculpting them, breathed into their mouths just in case God might pass His power on to me. Most people that believe in a God might believe that He can do anything He wishes, so what is wrong with me wishing He might give me that power?!!
No, I do not believe He will ever bestow that kind of awesome power to me or any other sculptor, but it would really be fantastic, and you know it.

I just wonder how many other sculptors out there, and throughout history have breathed into the mouths or over their sculptures with that hope in mind. I do love the fantastic story of Pygmalion sculpting his ideal woman and praying to Aphrodite to give her life, and I believe that most artists have read the story and can truly relate to it. Perhaps we just need to sculpt that one master piece in ivory.

I think it sad, yet probably best, that our creative powers are limited only to physical form. I am, however, so very happy that I am one of the few that has been given the talent to sculpt a good likeness of my subject.

I do not believe that man was created by God by forming Adam from the dust of the earth and then breathing into his nostrils the breath of life. I cannot fathom in any way, shape, form nor fashion how our creator created life but I do not believe the biblical account.

Life, to me, is the great mystery and I think it has always been, and, because man has the ability to sculpt the human form I think he also, at times, tried to breath life into his sculptures, thus evolved the story of the creation of Adam.

The ability to sculpt the likeness of someone or something, or to create unique shapes and forms is a unique ability of man but it is not much of a mystery to me. To me there is more mystery in that the vast majority of people cannot sculpt the likeness of others in clay. All it is is to add and subtract.

There are many unfortunate people that have certain disabilities that prevent them from sculpting at this level, but there are those with such disabilities that possess an extraordinary capacity to do so. So, you tell me, wherein does it lie, in the genes, in the spirit or just plain old desire to form that which captivates your mind?

I do love to sculpt the human form, especially the beautiful female form, and, I have breathed into their mouths. I don't believe that they will ever come to life but does my baptizing them in my breath bestow upon them a greater closeness to their maker? If you believe in the Eucharist then don't rush to judgment. You might even ask yourselves, 'Is there any validity to any Consecration'?

I do consecrate my figurative pieces by breathing into their mouths or baptizing them with my breath. They are, after all, my creations.

I do not think myself to be afflicted with Pygmalionism, but I do definitely relate to his story.


Finton