The challenges of the Urban Artist
As I reflected on some of my earlier musings, I came to discover an undisclosed aspect of my process of artistry, that of being an Urban Artist. This does not preclude or limit in any way, shape or form where the artist in question may or may not reside. Urban Artist is a State of Mind, a State of Being if you will. It is an open approach to creative expression, and what better describes this that the noun ‘Urban’ and all which this implies. Foremost a response to what immediately presents itself in the moment.
There is an odd echo of the Latin writers like Virgil or Seneca, Horace, Marcus Aurelius maybe, not Cicero, in this praise of the ‘Urban’ experience. In those times everything of culture expressed itself in the Urban of the day. Perhaps we are far from those times, but we are not far from those conditions which have challenged and possessed the mind and spirit of mankind since. Challenges which include survival and all its implications, the use of time, the use of resources, the use of imagination.
There have been makers from our human onset. Souls who thru inspiration or irritation cause something into our material awareness. Those inspired though matter, materiel, the mater or mother of all that comes from resources and our human resourcefulness. Truly this is a mystery. This word I take a bit seriously, so far being more likely to the majesty thereof than the explanation. Let’s use the intellect for adding 2+2 or the bank accounting, not for such expressions as creativity and certainly not for lovers.
Human activities such as walking or aimless wandering provide a relaxation and stimulation of the subtile sense of seeing, not looking but seeing.
The passive reflective of sight. Imprinting an impression in feeling and sensing and maybe to lesser degree thinking ~by the time it’s noticed, it’s too late. Although there is a place for all that as well…. I believe it’s called ‘touch up’.
The spontaneous act of found object or of a shadow crossing the street lanes as an automobile runs the light are of consequence in this visceral world wonderland. Impressions, many lost to the moment, the few surviving are all a part of that age old quandary: quo vadis!
In this age of mass production and consumerisms there poses a problem for the Urbanist. How to remain undaunted by these trends which are counter to the maker integrity and subject to all sorts of comodity/branding impulses within the cultural consumer majority. To thyself be true and therein remain.
This is perhaps the intersection of ‘Outsider Art and the Urban Artist’.
Although not a sort of Andy Warhol character, more like a street urchin that one might pass nonchalantly on any street corner. An unlikely character at any rate, he’s too busy in the moment of awe to be signing autographs but more likely to give a bouquet of roses to a stranger or ask another for directions while standing in front of the destination. The Native Americans call him ‘coyote’ or the ‘trickster’. An archetype necessary in any Urban setting… I’d call him friend or fellow artist, maybe even saint painter, ora pro nobis!
A dear and beloved friend of mine who is also an artist once said in passing that he ‘was more captivated by a piece of paper blowing in the wind than anything….’ I’ll never forget that quip, in the moment, just poetry in the experience as it is in this now.
As I recall we were in the chaos of Budapest together walking around seeing as if anew. ‘All in’ as they say.
It’s the best life a man could ever wish for….
Atelier / gp June 25, 2023