Dare to Know— The Prize at Next Saturday’s Gallery Talk
Enlightenment is man’s release from his self-incurred tutelage. Tutelage is man’s inability to make use of his understanding without direction from another. Self-incurred is this tutelage when its cause lies not in lack of reason but in lack of resolution and courage to use it without direction from another. Sapere Aude!- ‘Have courage to use your own reason!’- that is the motto of enlightenment.
― Immanuel Kant, What Is Enlightenment?
I have written in the past about the difficulty and pain that comes in choosing the paintings that are sometimes given away at my Gallery Talks. I have often said that it must be a painting that creates pain for me in giving it away.
Well, I’ve made my choice for next Saturday’s Gallery Talk at the West End Gallery and, boy, does it hurt.
The painting is shown above and is titled Dare to Know. It is 11″ by 15″ on paper and is framed and matted at 16″ by 20″. It’s a piece that attached itself to me immediately, both visually and in its personal meaning which strongly adhered to the words of Kant above. To put it simply, it has always been a very special piece for me.
Here is an essay on this painting that has ran a couple of times here in the past:
Sapere Aude!
From the Latin, meaning Dare to Know.
I came across the passage above from the 18th century philosopher Immanuel Kant and felt immediately that it was a great match for this new painting. In fact, I am calling this piece, 11′ by 15″ on paper, Dare to Know (Sapere Aude!).
The Red Tree here is removed away from the influence and shading of the other trees and houses in the foreground, out of darkness and into the light. There is a light about the Red Tree and a sense of freedom in the openness of the space around it. It is free to examine the world, free to seek the knowledge it craves, and free to simply think for itself.
The concept of self-enlightenment is truly a great idea and one that we definitely could use today. Too many of us construct our own base of knowledge by relying on the thoughts and opinions of others, often without giving much consideration as to their truthfulness, motives, or origins. Or we shade our base of knowledge with our own desires for how reality should appear, holding onto false beliefs that suit us even when they obviously contradict reality.
In short, there is no enlightenment based on falsehoods, no way to spin darkness into light. There is no way to make a right based on wrongs.
Enlightenment comes in stepping away from the darkness of lies and deceptions to see the world as it is, with clarity. It means stripping away our own self defenses and admitting our own shortcomings, prejudices, and predispositions.
To have the courage to know and face truths.
It may not always be the desired outcome one hoped for, but it is an honest reality. And maybe that is enlightenment, the willingness to face all truths with honesty.
To dare to know.
Sapere Aude!
Dare to Know will be given away at my Gallery Talk this coming Saturday, November 1 at the West End Gallery, beginning at 11 AM. Seating is limited so I suggest getting there as close to 10:30 AM when the gallery doors will be opened. That will give you time to register for the drawing, claim your seat, and maybe chat for a few minutes beforehand.
The Gallery Talk and the drawing for the painting(s?) is free and open to everyone. Yeah, even you. So, what have you got to lose? Get yourself into the West End on Saturday and maybe take home a favorite painting of mine.
But be forewarned that this is an interactive event. Its success or failure– it can happen!— depends on your participation. So, you better have a good question or two in mind when you enter the gallery. If you leave me hanging up there all alone, there will be hell to pay!
Okay, that’s that. This week’s Sunday Morning Music is kind of last second choice. I had another song in mind but when I went to get its link this song was a suggestion. It was an immediate hit thematically and also favorite Beatles song. As if that could be a thing out of so many! This is Think For Yourself from their 1965 Rubber Soul album.
Redtree Times 