Objectives:
- Become familiar with ways in which spirituality influences artists.
- Discuss the differences between spirituality and religion.
- Examine spirituality as a generative force and a well spring for creativity.
Original Assignment:
How do you define “spirituality”? I believe that spirituality is a sense of what a specific individual believes in and how they live their life according to those beliefs. I feel as if everyone has a sense of spirituality whether it is associated with religion or not. People connect with their sense of self in so many different ways and I believe that there are several different levels of spirituality that one can connect to with how they live their lives.
Does spirituality differ from religion? I definitely think that they differ. Just because someone deeply believes in something does not mean that they are religious. I’m religious but I have a few friends that consider themselves to be an atheist but they consider themselves to be spiritual in other ways. However, spirituality and religion differ from person to person and both can influence how one chooses to carry out and live their life in a certain way.
How do you define “creativity”? I define creativity as a way that a person chooses to express themself. It lets individuals express certain emotions and feelings that one may be feeling. Artists use their creativity to create unique works of art that show how they are feeling or something that currently has a lot of meaning for them. Creativity allows people to use their life experiences or their imagination to create beautiful works of art and show who they are as a individual.
What is the source of creativity? I think that the source of one’s creativity comes directly from their brain. Whatever someone pictures in their mind or forms from their imagination is a direct result of what their brain is thinking and how it is working. People’s creativity can increase overtime and certain things can influence one’s creativity to increase in certain types of situations For example, people will become more creative in situations where they are extremely passionate about the subject.
Reflection: I definitely believe that there are so many different ways that spirituality can influence an artist. However, I also feel as if people that are influenced through what they believe in, can really produce a work of art that exudes what they think their spirituality consists of. Spirituality is different for everyone, but I think that no matter how people perceive their own beliefs, it is a beautiful thing. I absolutely believe that one’s spirituality can spark creativity in an artist because it can inspire them to draw something that truly comes from within themselves.
In the reading “Art as a Spirituality Practice,” Grey illustrates how seeing something deeply is completely different than just simply seeing something. “Seeing occurs when our attention is arrested by a person, object, or scene” (Grey 72). He explains how that in order to be able to see an object deeply, the viewer must differentiate it from the field of many material objects, then the viewer is able to sense it’s rhythms and harmonies. I believe that this shows how one can see something completely differently by the way that their spirituality influences them.
Future Goals:
After this assignment, I want to be able to connect to myself and my beliefs on a more spiritual level. It would also be incredibly remarkable if I was able to start “deeply seeing” the world, like Grey says, as opposed to just seeing the viewing the world in an ordinary light.
Image Source: http://www.spiritlifectr.org/index.cfm?load=page&page=4
http://www.findapsychologist.org/category/healthcare-topics-issues/spirituality/