Karena Franceska

The Worth of Art.. Why Perform Arts?

// April 15th, 2009 // performing arts

As I sit here with Hou; (short for Houdini – 4′ python sleeping in my lap… kids’ school pet.. needed home for Easter.!. by the way, she’s lovely.!. and very low maintainance!)  I find myself contemplating the worth of Art.  Perhaps it is the fact that my cold blooded little buddy seems to have her life plan worked out, (she eats, she sleeps, she sheds….alas, no Mr Houdini) that got me contemplating the bigger picture……

Hou does what she does, she is focused, often single minded about it (unless you tickle her throat then she goes a bit like us girls do when the back of our neck is kissed..:)   but I digress).  Point is.. she is not easily distracted.  She chooses a direction and, independent of which way her carrier is faced , out goes the head and neck sniffing the air with her tongue as if nothing else exisited (which makes her rather comically resemble a cane with an apple on the end!).  She has been an inspiration.  One of Gods oldest creatures.. . thanks to good genes and some reciprical determinism in her ancestors, shes’ still around today because of that unwavering focus.

Hannah, 8yrs old said of her “Hou always gets what she wants coz she doesn’t want much” Aaahhh… from the mouths of babes indeed.  Big lessons come from small teachers.  As Hou came out for her daily ’stretch and limber’ I watched George 10yrs old, Cameron 9 yrs old and Matty 7 yrs old, take turns to cradle her as they chatted with one and other… amazing… as Hou was calm, slow and silent these beautiful boisterous boys began to chat quietly and contemplatively with one and other about friendships, material needs, existential needs and the concept of beauty… ok… they may have used terms more akin to ‘mint’, ‘class’ and ’super-cool’ but the thought process was the same.

So I go back to my original question (as I move Hou from the keyboard…again…!(if only she had a voice!!) and ask… ‘What good is Art if something so simple can exist in entirety without need beyond its physicality (she presumed!) ‘ lol!!

Well if Hou (to use the kids analogies) had to choose creme eggs or mini eggs she’d probably get both because she would slowly and methodically choose the most attainable goal first (probably my mini eggs!) and once attained, focus on the next largest goal whilst digesting the first!  That’s the whole point… (excuse me whilst I move her from the keyboard again… see what I mean!!!? ) Hou will always get what she needs to physically survive (ok…we’re pushing it with the chocolate… although millions would disagree!!) by focus, determined pursuit, attainment (or as close to) and then focus on a new goal.  Art is more subjective… that initial goal always shifts… that’s evolution, growth, natural development, but any approximation of it, when achieved, makes clearer the next goal.  I.e. What isn’t initially achieved by the first is highlighted as a target for the second and thus more easily achievable.  ( Hou agrees… she’s gone to sleep round my shoulders!).

Anyone can claim to be an Artist , no one can truly prove them wrong because art is “in the eye of the beholder” it is subjective.  Andy Warhol said “An Artist is someone who produces things that people don’t need to have”.  Andy was right… for most of us!. Our heart doesn’t stop beating without an artist or art, and for us, a somewhat subjective outlet… (although research shows that cathartic endeavors such as arts and performing arts allow us to alleviate physical stressors thereby increasing physical and psychological well-being).

Because it comes from within.. Art must first be completely honest to the artist.  Art can have more perspicacity than most would wish…John Singer Sargent said ” Every time I paint a portrait , I loose a friend. “  .  For the actor this is also true.. in order to play a role with empathy and authenticity we gain an understanding of a part of us, more closely related to another.. we may not feel comfortable with this but this awakening enables our art to be most honest, grounded and authentic.  We can only achieve this bit by bit, scene by scene, word by word.

Warhol was right.. we dont need to have this in our lives.. but in order to truly see ourselves…  as Rabbie Burns said ” Aye, ‘twould be a gift God Gee’us, t’see ‘oursel’ as others see us’ .  Isn’t it that we should look through the eyes of others?  Equally we better understand others by looking through their eyes. So My fellow performers.. we are on the right track, complete with self-doubt, insecurity, anxiety, paranoia, neurosis…  gaw benett!   Sometimes I just wanna eat a baby rat , coil up in a pot and fall asleep on someones’ lap!

Take care for now

KFxxx