Artifact #6 Creative Spirituality
Creative Spirituality
The objectives for this artifact are:
- Become familiar with how spirituality influences artists
- Discuss the differences between spirituality and religion
- Examine spirituality as a generative force and a well spring for creativity
Reflection:
This week’s assignments really gave me a chance to see how spirituality influences artists. This was something that was very interesting to me because having never been much of an artist myself, learning how spirituality can have a big influence on things that artists create was something very new to me. Completing the discussion post gave me a chance learn the creative process that Grey went through while creating pieces of artwork. Grey discusses the mystic eye and mentions that, “Deeply seeing the meaning of our art and our lives requires that we open the mystic eye” (pg. 106 Grey). This idea of the mystic eye helped me see the difference between spirituality and religion. I was able to understand that having a mystic eye can make you spiritual but not religious. No matter what your religious or spiritual beliefs are, they are an important part of what makes you who you are.
During this week I was also able to better understand how spirituality as a generative force as well as a spring for creativity. Spirituality does not just help aid people in their beliefs and every day life, but also helps them with their creativity. Being able to connect with a spiritual side will allow your mind to open up to unique ideas that are out side of the ordinary. Being able to use spirituality as a spring for creativity also allows artwork to have a deeper meaning than what first meets the eye. I’ve also been able to understand how spirituality acts as a generative force in people’s lives. It not only helps people have a creative side, but also gives them a set of beliefs that helps them connect to the world around them. These inner connections with one’s spiritual side are very important for many reasons. I’m not a religious person and thinking about my spiritual beliefs on a daily basis is not something I do often. Completing these assignments really made me think about my own spiritual beliefs.
Future Goals:
I’ve never seen myself as a very creative person. After completing this week of assignments I began to see a new way to connect to my creative side throw my spirituality. In the future I want to try to stay better connected with my spiritual side. By being in touch with my spiritual beliefs I want to use them to connect to a more creative side of myself.
Bibliography:
Grey, A. (2001). Art as Spiritual Practice. The Mission of Art (1st ed., pp. 205-233). Boston & London: Shambhala.
Artifact #4 Personal Adornment
Artifact #5 Aesthetics Of Horror
Artifact #6 Creative Spirituality