jonesberries » germany

The Insanity of Artists

Debbie — Thu, 29 Jul 2010 06:37:43 +0000

Hanging out in a castle last nite. A real live castle outside of Dresden. The castle is a collection of about 6 buildings and grounds in a complex in which the other half contains a Denny’s wannabee pub, a suburban like ice cream parlor and farmer’s market shop that makes the perfectly predictable and safe day outing for the family from the big city or suburbia that suburbanites around the globe would be perfectly at home in. Need help visualizing it? Think parking lot full of clean, new, shiny sedans, randomly placed farming equipment, new furniture that has been intentionally distressed to look old and peach, the colour peach that rears its ugly head out from the 80’s when you least expect it.

Hanging out at the “Denny’s Wannabe” we feared the worst on the other half of the grounds. We were pleasantly suprised. We found normal people and normal living. Well, normal for us. In the public area we found ornate ceilings, peach sheets and a bit of “Tammy Faye” with the black and gold toilets. Beyond the public areas we found families hammering together random bits of wood to create important objects like helicopters and boxes and boats. mismatched patio furniture in the back, randomly placed mattresses and plastic cars in the hallway. Real people with long hair and mismatched clothes. One look and we saw that they were “our tribe”. We should have known. Not let the Denny’s scare us. So many of our friends have been telling us we need to come here. Friends that are not impressed with fancy buildings but by real people, by people living out the free, yet sometimes insane, life of an artist.

We talked late into the night echoing each others thoughts and finding more and more people we both knew and loved. Thoughts about art being a language that transcends the boundaries of mere words. So many words have lost their meaning through misuse that art is becoming a more efficient way of communicating truth. This is because art, many times, has a mind of its own. It will communicate more deeply and with greater truth than even the artist intends.

The conversation started my mind spinning.

If art is a language then what makes an artist?

Earlier this year I spoke with the father of 4 musicians who I considered very talented. “It isn’t about talent”, he said, “They practice hours each day”. I spoke with a potter as well. “What makes a great potter?” he asked, “The sheer quantity of clay that goes through the fingertips”. How many artists have echoed the words, “talent is 10% inspiration and 90% perspiration” or “2% inspiration and 98% perspiration”. One of my favourite songwriters once said, “The songs are up there, the question is do I have the courage to pull them down”.

If perspiration and courage are factors then what makes an artist?

Many of the most “talented” artists are broken. A bad childhood, mispent youth, illness or abuse shadows many artists. I refuse to put brokeness in as a requirement to being an artist. Maybe brokeness is just one path to what is needed.

I have a theory. You know how I love my bizarre theories. Maybe what makes an aritst is freedom. If it is a language then we all have it in us somewhere. The difference is that through need or strength or perceived insanity some of us rebel against what is considered “acceptable” and declare ourselves imancipated. We refuse the boundaries and what is deemed normal and permisable. All too often we must be broken to rebel to this level. To daily throw off the cages of “the good life”. To not care is we create something that is “pretty” but to declare truth in ourselves and the world, as we perceive it. The better we do this the greater our reputation of “insanity” while living and “brilliance” long after we are dead. To create art is to expose our souls for all to see. Not caring, if only for a moment, about whether it is understood, accepted or rejected. It is an insane undertaking.

Am I taking this too far.

How about spirituality? The trappings, institutions and rules of religion remain long after spirituality has left the building. Is becoming more spiritual, intertwined with rebellion and freedom from acceptable norms of conduct and thought.

Are the two related?

At Freakstock now. Andrew seriously contemplating getting a mullet….. again. Drinking lots of tea with old and new friends.

Freakstock – catch-up

admin — Sat, 12 Sep 2009 09:53:41 +0000

More amazing people at Freakstock. Old and new friends.

Some New friends were “The Violet Burning“. Our paths crossed in 3 countries.

Russ, the DJ from London, teaching Abi bike maintenance.

Anika brought out some instruments at the back of the truck.

Michael from “The Violet Burning” takes video of Eric singing one of his REALLY OLD SONGS. He says his band doesnt even know that song.

Such pretty girls.

TJ and Eddie hanging with a Ladybird (ladybug).

Berlin – catching up

admin — Sat, 12 Sep 2009 09:27:06 +0000

In Berlin we saw Kerstin. Check out her great bike.

It may not look like it at present but this is a game of Uno.

Still the game of Uno. Hmmmm.

We always love a trip to the Berlin Zoo.

Andrew, always taking photos.

Hannah feeding the animals. Well, the last photo. Could you resist taking a photo?

Me and My Piano

admin — Thu, 20 Aug 2009 09:27:42 +0000

Today I got a special piano. I was playing it all the time. I tried it out in the shop before we bought it to see if I liked it. Everyone stopped to look at me. Even the man trying out a harmonica. I played “I have a dream” from “Mama Mia”. I didn’t make any mistakes. I liked my piano so much that I stopped to play on the streets as many times as my mum would let me. TJ

Dream Sax

admin — Wed, 12 Aug 2009 16:53:49 +0000

Through the long journey and all the struggles I finally got myself my dream instrument…THE SAXOPHONE!!! As soon as I got it I started practicing. I went to a creek and sat down on the steps next to it. The small tunnel which was next to me caused the sound I was making on my saxophone to echo. Above me people would walk on the bridge, their footsteps (even if they were louder then my saxophone) I would never hear as all I cared about for the time being was my sax. Some people would lean over railing and look down on me. An old couple that did that also said something to me in German (which I could not understand). I did get one word which was “Wonderful”.

Now I look back on the time when I never would have dreamed I would get my amazing instrument. I try to think about all I went through, all the people who put in money and of course my love for it every time I pick it up to practice on it.

Lizzy

The pigtastic village

admin — Sun, 26 Jul 2009 16:33:48 +0000

While we were in the Berlin Zoo I saw a small village in the corner of the petting zoo. This village was piggy central. It even had a piggy church. It had little houses that lined up one by one. With little, little piggies walking around everywhere being cute. One decided to kneel down for confession in front of the church, as you can see in the picture. The other piggies didn’t think much of this. Abi

Panda love

admin — Fri, 24 Jul 2009 16:23:48 +0000

I saw a panda in the zoo and was suddenly overwhelmed by an urge to hug him. He was so cute!!!! images started to pop up in my head of me living with my panda buddy in a bamboo house and eat bamboo all day. then we’ll wake up the next day, pick more bamboo, and on it will go…

A weird thing to think about yes… but what better thing, animal or person could you hug. Who knows, I might even write a story about it someday.

Lizzy

The BIG Piano

admin — Fri, 03 Jul 2009 17:27:58 +0000

We went to Germany to see our friends, the Simsons. They had a piano, A BIG PIANO. Mum taught me how to play the piano at their house. Me and my sisters were playing all day. Hannah got a mohawk there, too. I learned to play “I have a dream” from “Mama Mia”. TJ

Cooking with Merci

admin — Wed, 01 Jul 2009 17:37:58 +0000

Merci taught me to make Dahl today. It was cool. I liked making it. Here is the recipe for Dahl by Merci.

Lentils

2 onions, chopped

2 tomatoes, chopped

2 green chilies, chopped

3 tablespoons fresh coriander

pinch of mustard seeds

pinch of white lentils

a few curry leaves

2 cloves of garlic

salt

lemon juice

Cook the lentils until they are soft. In another pan heat up the veg. oil. After the oil is hot add the mustard seeds and white lentils. Watch out they pop when you add them. Next add the curry leaves, sliced onions, chopped chillies and tomatoes. Add the garlic too. Cook them together for 2-3 minutes (you can also add quarter teaspoon of turmeric powder to the mixture). Add them all together to the cooked lentils. Add salt and lemon juice accordingly. At the very end, add fresh chopped corriander leaves. Bring them to a boil. Remove it from the stove. Bon Apetite!