Intention Gives Meaning to Art.

Art with a Purpose is the WHY of Doing It.

I’ve never been one to just smear paint on a surface, or sprinkle glitter on a crown, just for the #&%# of it. Why do it, I ask??? I don’t get it.

Years ago back in Chicago, 3 women created yet another approach to learning about ourselves. They called it ‘Living on Purpose’. They were writing a book, were teaching it at a University, and conducting workshops to try it out. It was a time when everyone needed a reason to live….a purpose, a goal, an end game. As though Life itself wasn’t enough. But it did enlighten me as to why I do things that I do.

As I recall, they had 3 designations: TWA- Truth People, Workability People, and Adaptability People.  Adaptability were idea people, fast thinkers and talkers who conceived grand plans, coaches who could see what others should do, leaders of groups. But, they couldn’t complete or accomplish their great thoughts for the life of them. Workability people would take the ideas of others and run with them. Give them a task, and and they are on it. They thrive on completion of projects, end goals, everything was about the Doing. They are the Worker Bees of Society.

Then there were the Truth people. Here I had found my tribe, in a way. Things had to have a reason, a Why, a deeper meaning or why do it? The issue here was that Truth people didn’t make fast decisions since they could see all sides of an issue! It was let’s think about this for awhile. Our whole table of Truth were introverts. We were doing inner processing of it all, so there was no talking it over, hashing it out, or giving brain storming ideas of how this fit into life! I thought I was seeking a new ‘purpose’ instead of teaching, but I really discovered that there are many ways to teach. So if one way is burning you out, and it was for me at the time, find another way. My innate talent was to teach, so I accepted that and became more creative at how to do just that while filling myself at the same time.

So my latest, most interesting WHY, is Wabi Sabi. It’s a way of life that you learn as you do an art project about a particular concept. It’s coming along well. I’m enjoying creating videos as I present each project, learning more and growing personally as I go. It has a life of its own. Best of all, I no longer seek a ‘purpose’ for doing anything. We are here for the experience of all the senses, for the trying out new things, and for the Truth in me, fulfills the Why of creating art.