Romare Bearden – Vampin’ ( Piney Brown Blues)
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The artist confronts chaos. The whole thing of art is, how do you organize chaos?
–Romare Bearden
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I think the beginning of this quote from the late artist Romare Bearden (1911-1988) is an important statement and observation.
The artist confronts chaos.
That really speaks to me. It better defines a bit the purpose and necessity of art, both in a general and personal sense.
Maybe the purpose of art is to bring clarity and order to the world that confronts us, to illuminate the hidden or overlooked elements of our existence.
I don’t know for sure but these few words and my own experience make me believe it to be so.
For me, art is a way of distilling the torrent of information and sensations that flow through each of us every day down to a single manageable expression. An expression that helps me better understand and tolerate the chaos before me.
For me, it usually boils down to familiar forms and expressive colors. Found order and harmony above the chaotic rhythm of the texture below.
Like hearing a language you don’t really know but seem to somehow understand and trying to translate it to others.
It is different for every artist, no doubt. The idea of organizing chaos might seem totally foreign to some. I can’t say for sure what drives every artist or what purpose they derive from their art.
I can only speak for myself. That, in itself, might be a valid definition for art.
To that, I answer with my mantra: I don’t know.
And that is undoubtedly the driving force behind art.
Here’s Big Joe Turner and his Piney Brown Blues, the song that Romare Bearden references in the monotype at the top of he page. Have a good day.
Redtree Times 