As frequent visitors know, I typically discuss something specific about an art piece when I post new work. I’m changing it up to discuss a work I’m doing now: Elemental Rage. I can add that it’s a 30 x 20 work on canvas in acrylic paint. See next month’s posting of new work sometime in mid-December to witness the finished statement.
I also recently learned from a well-respected art coach and successful artist blogger that a blog can simply express one’s opinion. The following is more personal than usual. I mention Wise Heart (http://www.wiseheartpdx.org/) here to be offering more than a single view about rage:
*Wise Heart identifies rage as one of five alarm feelings. Recognizing it lets “you know that your thoughts contain judgements and ‘shoulds’ and you are disconnected from needs.”
The other four alarm feelings are anger, fury, irritation, or resentment. Feeling depressed, bitter, ashamed or guilty also qualify as alarm feelings, so Wise Heart suggests you PAY ATTENTION to what needs are being missed.
However, in my artwork--Elemental Rage—I’m discussing or referencing a more primitive impulse. It starts with the feelings of an exhausted crying/screaming newborn, bruised and bloody from exiting the birth canal or being ripped from a cozy womb. Could this be one’s first rage?
A newborn’s cry illustrates the capacity to breathe, an elemental talent. Making noise also can get attention from others possibly more able to feed them and keep them warm and safe—in other words, meet their needs. Elemental. Yet newborns are inherently innocent. It requires aging to learn more about one’s acquired, closeted or nurtured rage.
One thing I’m finding helpful is to acknowledge my own acquired sources of rage. As a toddler it might’ve been set off by a broken toy or promise; later, irritation with a difficult friend, sibling or parental action. In adolescence, pimples or hives developing before an important date—when I was supposed to look pretty—might induce a feeling of rage. And throughout life there can be such fury about not having enough while others (of course less deserving) experience riches, golden friendships, opportunities and/or success. For sure I’ve held resentment about the actions of a few relatives, acquaintances, sexist job interviews, and being born female.
Growing up typically establishes some sort of value system, either personal or family or environmentally induced. My values include a concern for truth and justice. However, I’ve seen that truth is often a slippery thing, here one day and modified the next. Yet it is still distinct from fiction and relates to actions. Justice seems to be found in whoever currently has the power. As a supporter of BIPOC, non-gender discrimination, open gender identification and equality, facts as truth, there has been much to evoke rage especially in the last four years.
Elemental Rage displays its feelings in slashing red on an emotional blue. What can soften, re-direct or modify such limiting and non-creative energy? The composition includes symbols for perspective, a sense of humor, and acts of kindness either given or received.
*Google: Wise Heart teaches Mindful Compassionate Dialogue (MCD) - a synergistic blend ... of resources online, as well as in person workshops in Portland, Oregon, USA.” It was founded by LaShelle Lowe-Chardé. We, Mr. Mickey and I [my spouse is also nicknamed Mickey], interviewed LaShelle some years ago for an online Longevity article. I still find her work helpful and impressive.
BTW re: Newborns Crying, Google also points out that “Newborn kittens and puppies most certainly do cry when they are born. The offspring of prey species are generally silent and this is probably an evolutionary adaptation to prevent the noises of newborns attracting predators.” Humans are labeled unique super-predators.
I also recently learned from a well-respected art coach and successful artist blogger that a blog can simply express one’s opinion. The following is more personal than usual. I mention Wise Heart (http://www.wiseheartpdx.org/) here to be offering more than a single view about rage:
*Wise Heart identifies rage as one of five alarm feelings. Recognizing it lets “you know that your thoughts contain judgements and ‘shoulds’ and you are disconnected from needs.”
The other four alarm feelings are anger, fury, irritation, or resentment. Feeling depressed, bitter, ashamed or guilty also qualify as alarm feelings, so Wise Heart suggests you PAY ATTENTION to what needs are being missed.
However, in my artwork--Elemental Rage—I’m discussing or referencing a more primitive impulse. It starts with the feelings of an exhausted crying/screaming newborn, bruised and bloody from exiting the birth canal or being ripped from a cozy womb. Could this be one’s first rage?
A newborn’s cry illustrates the capacity to breathe, an elemental talent. Making noise also can get attention from others possibly more able to feed them and keep them warm and safe—in other words, meet their needs. Elemental. Yet newborns are inherently innocent. It requires aging to learn more about one’s acquired, closeted or nurtured rage.
One thing I’m finding helpful is to acknowledge my own acquired sources of rage. As a toddler it might’ve been set off by a broken toy or promise; later, irritation with a difficult friend, sibling or parental action. In adolescence, pimples or hives developing before an important date—when I was supposed to look pretty—might induce a feeling of rage. And throughout life there can be such fury about not having enough while others (of course less deserving) experience riches, golden friendships, opportunities and/or success. For sure I’ve held resentment about the actions of a few relatives, acquaintances, sexist job interviews, and being born female.
Growing up typically establishes some sort of value system, either personal or family or environmentally induced. My values include a concern for truth and justice. However, I’ve seen that truth is often a slippery thing, here one day and modified the next. Yet it is still distinct from fiction and relates to actions. Justice seems to be found in whoever currently has the power. As a supporter of BIPOC, non-gender discrimination, open gender identification and equality, facts as truth, there has been much to evoke rage especially in the last four years.
Elemental Rage displays its feelings in slashing red on an emotional blue. What can soften, re-direct or modify such limiting and non-creative energy? The composition includes symbols for perspective, a sense of humor, and acts of kindness either given or received.
*Google: Wise Heart teaches Mindful Compassionate Dialogue (MCD) - a synergistic blend ... of resources online, as well as in person workshops in Portland, Oregon, USA.” It was founded by LaShelle Lowe-Chardé. We, Mr. Mickey and I [my spouse is also nicknamed Mickey], interviewed LaShelle some years ago for an online Longevity article. I still find her work helpful and impressive.
BTW re: Newborns Crying, Google also points out that “Newborn kittens and puppies most certainly do cry when they are born. The offspring of prey species are generally silent and this is probably an evolutionary adaptation to prevent the noises of newborns attracting predators.” Humans are labeled unique super-predators.