The Consequences of Art

So ... what are the consequences of an artist’s imagination?

Artists are often visionaries who see new possibilities. In some cases, they can bring deeper understanding to things in our current world because artists look at common objects and situations with new eyes.

However, individuals who want to keep everything the same may feel threatened by an artist’s creativity. Therefore, one of the negative consequences of thinking differently is that the visionary may become marginalized by those holding the power in the status quo. People who fear change will often resort to persecuting the agents of change in an attempt to stifle the process.

At the same time, artists can hold the keys to the future. We would never have most of our modern conveniences without creative people. There would be no automobiles, telephones or cell phones, computers, movies, or streamable online entertainment. All of these things are the result of someone thinking outside the box and saying “what if ...?” Creativity has the potential to enhance the lives of everyone. The arts feed the creativity within science and other disciplines.

But it can do even more.

Artists have the potential to help in healing the common wounds that life inflicts upon all of us. Movies, paintings, photographs, stories, and other forms of art can be used to depict our common shared experiences. Knowing that we’re not alone in these experiences can ease some of the pain. It can also point the way to dealing with loss in a way that is helpful, rather than destructive to the soul.  Art is also able to help us overcome our fears by showing us how to walk in the darkness with confidence instead of avoiding it. The possibilities are endless.

Regardless of how you look at it, art makes life better for everyone both materially by feeding the creativity that brings new and better products to market, as well as emotionally by enhancing and helping us to understand the human experience. Taking a few moments to appreciate art can also help us to remember that money, while we need it to survive, is not the best measure of anything.

The bottom line is that art is essential. Society and culture need art, but artists also need to create. If all the artists stopped engaging in the process of imagination, both the artists and society would fail to thrive. Life would go on, but the development of society and culture would stagnate.

So invest in something that will leave a lasting impression. Buy some art, whether it’s an original painting or a print, music, jewelry, pottery, or a book. All artists need to be supported. If we don’t support their work financially, their creativity will not be able to feed our culture and heal our souls.

Plans for My Bookish Trip to New York

I’m headed to New York this Spring for Book Expo America. Since my trip is a very bookish one, I’ve started putting together a list of bookish things to do while there. Here’s what I have so far. Please feel free to list any additional suggestions in the comments.


Central Park
I’ve been to New York a number of times on business and have never had the opportunity to see Central Park. On this trip I'll make time to go there. Aside from all the books that mention the park, such as the famous scene near the end of Catcher in the Rye that takes place at the carousel, there are also statues of writers such as Robert Burns, Sir Walter Scott, and William Shakespeare. Bronze writers - how fun is that???

The Algonquin Hotel
Dorothy Parker and the round table. Need I say more?
Note to self: pack extra snark and wit. And shoes that go with snark and wit.

The New York Public Library
I’d really like to meet Winnie the Pooh, and this is where he currently lives along with the original Piglet, Kanga, Eeyore, and Tigger. I'll ask him what it feels like to be 90 and kept in a glass cage.

McSorelys Old Ale House
Many literary types have passed through this pub  - including  John Lennon, who just happens to be one of my favorite lyricists. The pub calls itself the oldest operating saloon in New York and it’s the setting of e e cumming’s poem “i was sitting in mcsorley's” (the title makes it a bit obvious).  Oh yes, Abe Lincoln has been there, too.

Strand Books
I just want to go in there and small all those books! This is an independent family-owned bookstore that opened in 1927. If I can find a member of the Strand family, perhaps I can interview the person and find out what they know that Border’s didn’t.

White Horse Tavern
The famous place where Dylan Thomas drank himself to death (18 shots of whiskey). Other literary patrons who were more modest in their drinking behavior include Jack Kerouac, James Baldwin, and Norman Mailer. Note: by “modest” I simply mean that they stopped before the point of death.

Chumley's
This legendary bar is closed right now due to collapsed chimney a few years ago. But if it opens again I'll be going there to check it out and breathe in the ghosts of literary greatness. Former patrons include writers such as Hemingway, F Scott Fitzgerald, and T S Eliot. It is rumored that Scott and Zelda Fitzgerald’s wedding reception took place there, also.

Minetta Tavern
Another literary tavern rife with the spirits of writers such as Ernest Hemingway, Ezra Pound, Eugene O'Neill, E. E. Cummings, and Dylan Thomas.

Pete’s Tavern
This tavern calls itself “the oldest continuously operating restaurant and bar in New York." O. Henry was a regular customer at the establishment, as it says along the edge of the awning (extra points for subtlety!). I might actually check out the food here so that I have enough energy to make it to the next literary tavern.

This is my list for now. As you can see, I’ll be drinking a lot. It seems to be a tradition for writers in New York and, therefore, I’ll be doing my part to maintain the custom. I hope my traveling buddies are diligently building up a tolerance so they can keep up with me.

Recipe: Miss Havisham’s Broken Heart Valentines

I have teenage children who refer to Valentine’s Day as “Celebrate You’re Not Single Day.” I realize that the commercialized version of Valentine’s Day is not everyone’s favorite celebration and that it can even be a painful reminder to those of us who are uncoupled, whether a teenager or not. So in an effort to have some fun with this holiday and to twist things around, a few years ago I started shaping Rice Krispie treats into hearts. Then I broke the hearts and made them “bleed.” It occurred to me that this is exactly what Miss Havisham* would do and, being a lover of literature, I have therefore named these treats after her.  I'm including it today as part of the Southern Writers "Eat My Valentine" Blog tour (see the schedule in the right margin).  Below is the recipe.


Step One:

Mix up a batch of Rice Krispie treats following the directions on the box. I do a variation of this that is 1 stick of unsalted butter slowly melted with one bag of large marshmallows. Once the marshmallows are completely melted I add a teaspoon of vanilla extract (you can use peppermint extract or another flavor to mix things up a bit.). Finally, add the Rice Krispies and Stir to coat evenly.

Step Two:
Spread out a long sheet of wax paper. Spoon about 1.5 cups of the Rice Krispie mixture onto the wax paper. Use your hands to shape this mound into a heart. You can either grease your hands or place a sheet of wax paper over the mixture as you work. Repeat this step to make more hearts until you run out of mixture.
Note - You will need to work quickly.

Step Three:
Let the hearts cool and harden - like Stella’s heart in Great Expectations :)

Step Four:
Using a knife, cut a jagged line through each heart to “break” it.

Step Five:
Pour red icing or raspberry jam over the broken heart to make it bleed. You can also use cherry, strawberry, or another red colored jam.

Step Six:
Eat your broken heart out because being single never tasted so good.
Take THAT, Miss Havisham!


* Miss Havisham was the old spinster in the Charles Dickens novel Great Expectations. Because she had her own heart broken on her wedding day, she taught her adopted daughter, Stella, to break the hearts of young men.