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

This week we are going to learning about the topic “creative spirituality”, according to the book “The Mission of Art”, written by Alex Grey, I’ve heard his name and this book before, This book talked about art’s power to bring about personal catharsis and spiritual awakening. The author’s reflections combine his extensive knowledge of art history and his own life experiences in creating art on the boundaries of consciousness. Included are practical techniques and exercises that can be used to explore the spiritual dimension of art.

From what we read for this week, the chapter 3, which called “Deeply Seeing”. The word “look” and “see” has very close meaning, I like the author’s explanation of the differences between them, “Seeing occurs when our attention is arrested by a person, object, or scene. Our mind stops chattering and pays attention. We see both the shape of the thing and its meaning to us. We are drawn out of our isolated, self- absorbed state.”(p72.) and then he gave us his own experience as an example to show us what is deeply seeing and its impact, which is the object of our contemplation into our heart and mind very directly and the relationship of the egoic boundaries between ourselves and otherness. Why the author wrote a lot about this part called “deeply seeing”? And the reason I chose this part to write as well is because we finally talk about is art. However, like Grey said in his article “Seeing determines every aesthetic decision.”(p71). I have to agree about this opinion, because seeing the subject is the basic and necessary condition for every artist before they create their own art, without seeing the object, how could they develop or put their own thoughts and new ideas on them? On the other hand, for the audiences, is the same. Vision is the most basic but direct way to determine our aesthetic decision.

Reflection:

Spirituality is a very abstract word to explain, in my opinion, Spirituality is an awareness of self, nature and the universe beyond physical realism. It is a consciousness, a state of mind. In real life, it can be reflected in many ways, such as a person’s ability to comprehend things and the ability to feel, to observe things around us, a person who has spirituality can find out insight into the nature of things or focus and can quickly respond appropriately or make the right choice, no spiritual person is kind like doing things busy all day panic but has no efficiency and mediocrity.

I personally think spirituality differ from religion, spirituality has some common ideas from religion but it is different from religion, I think religion is a part and a developed of spirituality. Spirituality is more general and abstract, it can be specific to one person, but religion is wide and well organized has a very complete system. There’re many kinds of religions (Judaism, Christianity, and Islam). And religion is a spiritual bond, is an organization or hierarchy, a member of the community or country in unity of spirit and spiritual power base, with the value of life orientation function, control the social order, social cohesion forces function etc..

Creativity can be explains as to generate new ideas, the ability to discover and create new things. It must be something or thoughts originally, According to some purpose, by using people’s existing knowledge and ability to produce some kind of new, unique, social or include personal value of the product. This is the successful completion of certain psychological qualities necessary for creative activity. The “product” we called, can be many things, such as a new concept, a new vision, a new theory, a new technology, a new artwork.

In my opinion, creativity is not something just pops out of your brain without any reason or foundation. I believe no matter people create, it must come from people’s daily life’ experiences or something during their observation to give people inspiration in their mind and then push people to create new things or new thoughts.

Future:

I will think more about the relationship between creativity and spirtituality. I do believe that the creativity must has important connection from spirituality we talked. Because without the spirituality, a person has no such ability to comprehend things and observing things well in their lives, thus, they cannot create things without foundation.

Bibliography:

Grey, A. (2001). Art as Spiritual Practice. The Mission of Art (1st ed., pp. 205-233). Boston & London: Shambhala.