Ever thought about enriching the world with a masterpiece you can call your own? I think it's safe to say that most people, if not everyone (including you), has entertained the desire at least once in their life to create something that will live on after you've passed on. Of leaving a legacy - your legacy - to let future generations know that you once existed and that your work, in whatever shape, form or size it came, made a difference.
The wonderful thing about art is that it comes in many forms and in varying degrees and genres within those forms. From the visual arts of painting, sculpturing, photography and film to the literary arts of story telling and poetry to the performing arts of music and theater, the possibilities are endless for those who seek to pursue them.
But why should you or anyone seek to pursue the arts and become an artist? After all, it is a tedious and (mostly) thankless vocation, unappreciated in a "post-modern" world where trashy reality TV shows and kicking balls across fields have become the new "circuses" in our society to accompany the new "bread" of processed foods and convenient takeaways. Nevertheless, many true artists (accomplished and aspiring) still roam the earth and are patiently (or maybe not so patiently) waiting for their chance to make a breakthrough and overcome the obstacles that try to obscure their paths to success.
As humans, we search for meaning. We strive for purpose and validation; to make sense out of what our senses perceive; and to stimulate, sooth and satiate our cognitive faculties. We also seek entertainment, whether this comes in the form of laughing over comical situations, weeping over heartbreaking tragedies, pondering over the deep and intricate questions of philosophy, or to simply just "get away from it all" for an hour or two (or three...). Art has accompanied humanity since time immemorial and wherever man hath once roamed, art was sure to follow.
So, why am I, a traditional Catholic whose values and convictions are completely aligned (at the very least in theory for you cynics out there) to the teachings of Jesus Christ and the Church which He founded almost 2000 years ago, wasting my time to write a blog about art?
Well, as I had stated in the "About" section to this website, the Church is in dire straits and probably finds herself in the worst crisis she has had to face in centuries, if not since her foundation. There are many reasons for this, but for now let us focus solely on the Church's creative output over the past fifty to seventy years. How many living Catholic (open, devout and proudly Catholic) writers, musicians, film-makers, painters and architects can you count off on your two hands? On one hand? And how many awe-inspiring, reverent and God-centered churches have you been to... (Oh! Many, many! I can hear you shouting, but let me finish) ...that were designed and built over these past fifty, sixty years? (You can put your hands down now).
Now, I'm not saying that Catholic artists and beautiful modern churches aren't out there somewhere. God knows that there are, and who and where they are. But... why don't we? Why doesn't everyone? Don't answer that question, I think we all why, but that's not the point I'm trying to make. It is clear that both the supply and the demand is there, however, the supply is not reaching those making the demand. Now, we can play the easy game and blame Vatican II, the current pontificate, the corrupt media and compromised politicians for this, but let's just leave all that aside for now and focus on ourselves.
What can we do - what can you do - to make the Church appealing, inspiring and beautiful again? My firm belief is: with art! Good art. Define good art, you might say. Well... we'll get to that next time. For now, suffice it to say that art is a gift to humanity, our artistic abilities are a gift from God and the artist in turn should apply that gift for the love and greater glory of our Creator, who redeemed us and inspires us to do great things by His grace.
As our Lord said; "Seek ye first the Kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added unto you..." (Mt 6:33). To that, as a writer and aspiring artist I say: Amen and Amen!
