Are any of us experiencing a little chaos and discord these days? Can we find any help in this somewhat grandiose statement from a master self-publicist, Isadora Duncan?
After safety, form and harmony are what we most need in this time. Notice that Duncan doesn’t say “the arts.” As a life-long member of the arts community, I mourn the fact that I will probably not be seeing any live performances for quite a while. I’m devastated by the idea that many dancers, musicians, artists, photographers, technical theater workers, costumers, composers, art handlers—the list goes on and on—will struggle even more than they usually do.
Neither is she using the word “art” in the life-style sense that we sometime see it on glossy magazine covers, as an alternative to the word “skill” —“The Art of Choosing a New Car,” or (ahem) “The Art of the Deal.”
I think Duncan is referring to Art with a capital A— apprehending beauty in the world, making conscious choices and decisions to give structure and meaning to sound, light, color, and space. Making stories and structures, both physical and musical, to help us ward off the darkness.
Right now, while we are kept distant from each other, and from the great communal engagement of ballet, opera, and theater, we can still find art in the material all around us. We can dance and sing together, or alone. We can learn from the Buddhist approach to home-making, and take time to appreciate a simple meal, prepared with concentration and love. We can try to breathe deeply and absorb the beauty of the natural world as it unfolds into springtime.
Many years ago, I was driving through the Montgomery township cornfields with my very young daughter and her teen-aged baby-sitter. In a breath-taking moment, a flock of crows took off in formation. I gasped and pointed it out to my passengers. Miranda just gurgled. My other passenger said, “I didn’t notice them. I guess that’s what mothers do.” I didn’t say anything, but wanted to say, “I think it’s what artists do.”
We are all artists—some people just haven’t had the time to realize that part of their soul. If you haven’t already, take that time now. Make it a priority.
Some people try to fight chaos by spinning dark theories. Instead, let’s try to find our “form and harmony” in the rhythm of nature, song, and movement—let’s make conscious choices to look up and look out, to sing and dance, alone but together.
Mary Pat Robertson, April 23, 2020