The Artist Who Didn’t Listen

Father forgive me…it has been several months since my last blog confession…

Well, I must say that lately I am really falling in love with sound and music. Lately, I have come to the realization that, because I am a visual artist, I have neglected my ears, focusing primarily just on what I see with my eyes. All my life I have had a great appreciation for seeing the beauty of life, but not realizing that I haven’t been listening to life.

Sound is amazing! Now that I see this (or rather “hear”) my auditory senses have expanded about 501.6%. I am noticing the individual instrument sounds in a song now. I can hear a whole bunch of more variations in bird songs. Right now, I am even hearing the sound pencil lead makes on paper as Kelly is writing her report. Oh, and now I just heard the harmonic vibrations between a truck muffler that just passed by the house and the rustling of Kelly’s report pages. I cannot believe that I missed out on this almost all my life.

Anyway, I am really excited that I have expanded my senses! With that, I am working on learning the Mandolin and Djembe. Also, I have just partnered up with my good friend John Kyle and together we have www.kylemusic.com. There we sell world instruments and so it has given me a chance to learn more about the really cool music making devices from around the globe.  We of course sell instruments, but we are working on turning the site into a great community where people can learn more about the beauty of sound. Check out some of the cool YouTube music videos I embedded there.

Is Marriage a Contract?

today, I was confronted by someone who tried to get me to sign a petition, stating that the term “marriage” should only include the union between a man and woman. I refused to sign the petition because I disagree with the petition and then realized quickly how passioniately this man was against gay marriage. He went on about God this and God that. Then I told him he didn’t have to preach to me because I already know all about what God says because I am a Christian. Actually, I’m not a “Christian” but I believe in God and Christ but not many of the other things that go along with Christianity. Anyway, what I told this man was that the right for gays to marry has nothing to do with God. Marriage is simply a legal contract made between two people (currently only allowed to man and woman).  If Christians want to argue about God’s definition of what marriage is, then they should understand first that God has a different definition of what marriage is. God states in the Bible that man and woman essentiall become married as soon as they come together “as one” (intercourse). God didn’t say that Adam and Eve weren’t married because they didn’t say their vows in front of a priest. No. God’s definition of marriage is different than man’s. The marriage ceremony was something that man created to emphasize, and make binding, the covenant a man and woman make together to spend their lives together. With that, if marriage is a covenant (contract), then why are gay people not allowed to contract with each other? Why are they not allowed to enter into a legally binding agreement to spend their lives together? Is it not illegal for the government to discriminate against a group of people — prohibiting them from contracting with each other? If this is okay, then does the government now have the right to not allow two gay men from entering into a business partnership contract? What is the difference between a contract stating a commitment of love then a contract stating a commitment to do business? Beside the subject of the contract, and the fact that one is illegal, there is no difference — a contract is a contract. Would you not agree?

Where is Art in Public Education?

It is well known by now that Art does not play an important role in U.S. public education. But, do we really know how neglected it is? According to public education standards, Art is integrated just fine in education and there is no need to worry about it. I wonder if this is true? Currently, I am researching the reality of how much Art is taught in the schools of today. So far, it doesn’t look good.

I have asked a few teachers how much Art is required in their teachings and how they go about teaching it. Back in the technicolor days of my public education, Art lessons consisted of gluing a few fuzzy pom-poms together to form a rabbit (or a chicken if arranged differently). Sadly, I never learned the beauty or importance of Art until post-high-school. The teachers I spoke to said that they are required to integrate Art in their curriculum, but because there is not a specific designated time for Art, it needs to be fused some how with a math lesson, or some other way. One fifth-grade teacher said that Art usually gets overlooked because there is no time, teachers don’t know how to teach art, and it isn’t regulated. Am I the only parent concerned by this? Why do schools fully support sports? Oh, yah, because they make money from games. Why don’t schools better support Art? Oh, yah, they don’t make money from it.

I spoke with a man who is involved with an educational organization, and he said that schools get funding based on testing, and because Art cannot be tested it is not supported. Argh! Why? Why, can’t our society better appreciate the ambiguous things of life? If only people stop for a minute to realize how important Art is to life?

Just imagine life without Art… I think it would be pretty black & white, with a whole lot of sharp edged corners and linear lines. In my opinion Art is just as important as Science, History, Language, and Mathmatics. Sure, I agree that Art would not be a prime subject for standardized testing in schools, but does it have to be? Just because Art has never really been truely defined doesn’t mean that it is not important. Art is the miscellaneous of life and plays a huge part of our life whether we realize it or not. Art is the glue that binds the earth to the heavens. Art is a creative science. Art brings healing. Art is everything that everything else is not. Art is life…

Let’s all join in the quest to stop neglecting Art in our Education. Shouldn’t every child have to opportunity to learn to appreciate how beautiful life is as the sunlight shines down upon a simple daisy. An artist sees and appreciates the complexity behind the simple things we take for granted and usually walk by unnoticed.

Scraping Away the Remains of Jack Frost

The other morning I went out to start the car and noticed Jack Frost had left a nice layer of ice on my windshield. Not a big deal, but I remember one time when I panicked from the lack of possessing an ice scraper. What do you do in that situation? Well, I desparately rummaged through my car for a scrape-like object to use, and finally came across an old cd jewel case. Voila!…I discovered it worked great as an ice scraper. Now, whenever Jack Frost comes to town, I simple put to use those old cd jewel cases that I don’t really know what else to do with.

Self Worth vs. Arrogance

I’m currently going through a situation at work where I don’t know whether I am being too prideful, or simply making a stand to defend my sense of self worth. What is the difference between the two? I think it comes down to two factors, but I am still exploring this in my meditations. The first factor is our intention behind each of our actions. Secondly, are we playing an offensive role (arrogance) or a defensive role (defending self worth) with our actions?

Intention is a major definer of our character. Those who intend to harm are regarded as malicious. Those who primarily intend to gain for themselves rather than give to others are labeled “selfish.” These are only two examples of the many ways intention guide our lives. In my case at work, I asked for a raise in pay. From my perspective, my intention in doing this is not to harm the company financially, or to only gain for myself, but rather to better provide for my family and to be closer to what I think I should be compensated for each hour of life I spend giving it to the company. The company feels that I am paid fairly, so now what do I do?

Now that I asked for a raise, my employer is acting as if I made an offensive move against them, which would be a symptom of arrogant behavior. My thought though is that I am reacting defensively as a result of being underpaid for over a year, which is simply defending my self worth. To ask, or not to ask, that is the question. I think arrogance, or overbearing pride, is the wrong way to act, but defending one’s honor is valid. In my situation it seems that there are two opposing perspectives on which role I am playing by my action to ask for a raise. Whose opinion wins? I guess if I stay at the company with my currently wage and apologize for my behavior, then the company wins. On the other hand, if I leave the company, my dignity will be in tact, but now much poorer than being underpaid — my opinion would win though. I’m in a strange situation now and have to do some soul searching…Self Worth or Arrogance?

Welcome!

I can’t count how many times people have commented on how differently I think from others. My favorite quote was when someone told me, “Jon, I have to do drugs to be in your reality.” I don’t know if that is a blessing or a curse, that my mind is naturally in an altered state… Actually, I know it is a blessing, especially for my art and design.

Anyway, my hope with this blog is to share with everyone my perspective of the world with regards to art, life, and philosophy. This planet is a beautiful place, and I aim to, as often as my procrastination will permit, contribute to this blog with the interesting things I come across as I meandor through the journey of my life. Please come back as often as you like.

Until next time,

Jon (www.jonnutting.com)