A couple of years ago I linked to a commencement speech by J.K. Rowling given at Harvard University on the importance of failure and imagination. I recently dug up an article that also references this speech and has some words of wisdom of its own. Even though it talks about failure from the view of a designer in the video game industry, it's applicable to all of life's goals. The article is here.
With this post I would like to include something Michelangelo once said, 'the greater danger for most of us lies not in setting our aim too high and falling short; but in setting our aim too low, and achieving our mark'. I think we are more capable than we realize in what we can achieve. Often when faced with the fear of failure there is a tendency to play it safe because of the pain that might be associated with it, but instead we shouldn't see failure as something to fear, but rather something that is essential and as a friend that shows the way to success.
Happy Autumn everyone! Here's a new piece I've been working on throughout the summer entitled 'New World'. The story behind the image is that there is this tree that has postcards instead of leaves. There are messages on each one that is intended for someone in the world concerning their destiny. These people have lost a sense of who they are and are directionless, but nature has decided to give guidance in a more direct way with this tree of postcards. I imagined that perhaps there was someone living nearby that tended to this tree and whose job was to deliver the postcards using the cart next to the fence. The idea for the postcard tree came from my good friend Mich.
The truth within yourself is unlocked not by simply taking or doing something from some self-serving agenda, but the truth of who you are is revealed when you give yourself to others. When that truth within yourself is known, truth within those you give to will also be realized.
I also wrote a poem for this one:
Truth
It can come in a whisper or a mighty ocean's roar It can come like a thief in the night, or in a package left at your door It has a way of sneaking up on you unexpected And will let you know immediately if anything has been neglected It's not always pleasant, it's not always kind It can be when it wants to, just depends on how much you're willing to try To peer inside the looking glass and get real about what you see It never comes with an easy answer, but there is a guarantee That if you reach deep down and take a chance this thing will set you free But there has to be a willingness to unearth This mystery, this enigma, to understand life's total worth This word-twister, this mind-bender, is often called Truth And many today search for it in some kind of fountain of youth Or call for it long-distance hoping to find it from some roadside phone booth But the more you try to pin it down the more it gets lost And no matter how far you seek it there's always another line to be crossed It lacks a single name Like a lion that can't be tamed It refuses to be defined And can't be bought with your and nickels and dimes Never confined to a single lone space And often comes in blinding moments of grace It's not something that can be owned But can be experienced, just depends what kind of seeds that are sown Look for it in reflections In the eyes of another And you'll come across glimpses of perfection And in yourself too, it will be uncovered But this must be dispensed so that it can stay alive You can't keep it to yourself, otherwise it spoils and rots, and gets twisted into a lie That something that gets uncovered is what the world really needs And sometimes it goes by what we call Truth with a capital T Often you will hear it speak through the actions of the meek The reality is the Truth within you is what people really seek
Hello to anyone and everyone that comes across this post,
A new image, "Rischio", with alternate variations is now up on my website. I'm currently working on another image that will follow the theme of this image and an essay for both will soon follow.
I will also be part of another art show in San Diego on July 14th at Bar Basic. It starts at 7pm and goes until midnight. Come down and check it out if you're in the area!
410 TENTH AVENUE, SAN DIEGO, CA 92101
As always, feedback and constructive critique on my artwork is always welcome. :)
This image symbolizes the choices we make as individuals and the effect it has on who we are. In particular, this has to do with the choices we make which affect our own identity. There are those in society who would shape and mold us in their own way and often this goes against our authentic nature. Often the institutions and structures of society are successful in molding us into something that is against our true individual nature and our identity is lost to us. We become sequestered from our authentic individuality.
Sequestration in this sense signifies a withdrawal into a false reality that is simply given. There are many aspects in society that can distract a person from the things that are essential to that individual’s wholeness and overall well-being. This can be a voluntary withdraw or it can be an involuntary act. In the case of voluntary sequestration, this comes in the various forms of entertainment seen in society such as in television and shopping malls. Being distracted by these things and by excessively engaging in these forms of entertainment an individual can miss out on the opportunities and possibilities that life has to offer. In turn, by being distracted by these forms of sequestration their sense of self is also neglected and the wholeness of the individual is never achieved. Involuntary sequestration comes in the form of restrictions that exist because of structures in society or relationships that can suppress a person’s individuality and creativity. Institutions such as schools that teach people what to think instead of how to think. In certain institutions a person’s individuality is restricted, discouraged, or isn’t even allowed to flourish at all. There may even be relationships where one person restricts or inhibits the growth of another’s character and identity.
The setting for this image is reminiscent of the entrance to a circus or some other entertainment spectacle. We see a ticket booth in the middle, a desolate section to the left, and a bright, inviting area to the right. Looking closer at the area on the left we see posters and objects you might expect to find at a circus. A cage for animals, juggling pins, banner flags, etc. There are trees that have lost all or most of their leaves giving this area an even more run-down and desolate feeling. One might even find the colors in this area to be stark and lifeless. Given what is seen at the entrance one might get an idea that what lies further to the left outside the picture is filled with more lifelessness and cold imagery. Looking at the right side of the image we see that it is strikingly different than the left side. Its look and feel is the polar opposite of the left. The colors are rich, the trees and vegetation are full and lush. It is much more inviting indicating that this area itself represents a form of life while the right side represents a form of death. On the right side the eye is drawn up the stairs and to a red door. This red door can be seen as a symbol of where one might find the life that exists in this area of the image.
The environment of a circus can capture the idea of sequestration. In a circus, people dress up in costumes and wear masks, hiding their identity, and perform stunts and tricks for show. There are two perspectives at a circus. One is the standpoint of the viewer who is just a passive observer of entertainment and those who are the performers who put on a scripted show for the audience. Both of these standpoints can be sequestrative. Those who are passive observers of the spectacle contribute nothing to the show itself. They take in what is given to them directly and have no say or control of what they witness. On the other side, the performers have control and they have the final say of what is shown to the audience. This is liberating in that a performance can be an expression of one’s true nature through creativity, but at a circus the performers must wear costumes, make-up, and masks that, in a more symbolic way, still hide their authentic nature from the viewers. The part that is sequestrative from the performers standpoint is that they must hide behind what it means to be the characters in a circus and conform to their given roles of a clown, lion tamer, ringmaster, etc. Even though there are some degrees of freedom, the true individual nature of the performers is still sequestered by the roles they must hide behind. These roles that are given to the circus performers are similar in that we are given rigid roles by others in society or in some cases we give ourselves roles. By simply accepting roles and conforming to them the true nature our individuality is lost.
Often we gravitate towards forms of sequestration because they constantly surround us and their nature is concrete. There is also an element of instant gratification in forms of voluntary sequestration. In the image the sunlight shines on the desolate area to the left making it stand out more than the area on the right. This indicates the nature of voluntary sequestration which stands out and begs for our attention in our daily lives.
The development of one’s true nature is often tedious, laborious, and very difficult. It is subjective in nature, it is individual, it can even seem elusive, and isn’t easily identified. It’s an ongoing process that has no concrete endpoint. In the image, the area on the right is somewhat hidden, it doesn’t standout as much as the desolate area on the left. This is similar to how the mysterious nature of the authentic self may appear for many in society. This area is in shadow, but is it full of life. There is a fruit tree at the bottom of the stairs and there are more vibrant and living plants in this area. This is symbolic of the rich life that comes with the true wholeness of an individual.
Choosing a lifestyle that is made up of primarily sequestrative elements is an easier path to take because of its concrete nature. However, this not only applies to the external elements, found in the media for example, but also in the roles that inhibit us. The roles that we take on are also concrete in nature. Within roles, there are specific things that are required and expected of us. In modern society there may be more deviation from those specific expectations, but the core element of the roles we are given still dominate our being. As stated earlier, at times we are given roles externally or we give ourselves strict roles to conform to. When we choose to conform to our roles it’s usually because it’s all we know or have known. It is something that is already defined and in a way this can be a comforting element. In contrast, the elusive and unknown nature of the authentic self is territory only the individual can define for himself or herself. Most would choose to remain in their day to day roles because it is something familiar and one might not see value in journeying beyond that. To journey towards one’s true being requires risk, the ability to question, and to honestly look upon one’s own self and see what needs to torn away and what needs to be taken on. This is a task that would be daunting for most because it’s a change in lifestyle that moves people away from what is familiar, it is a journey into something unknown.
The evolution of one’s true individual nature ties in with the goals and aspirations an individual sets up for himself or herself. In many cases, these goals and aspirations do not match those advertised and handed to the individual in a passive manner from outside sources such as in the media, but come from within. They are created and imagined and are often quite different than any ideal that might be advertised to the individual. The authentic nature of an individual lies in the ability to express one’s unique ideas to the fullest. These ideas are not as concrete because it is dependant on the individual to define and create one’s own goals for an ideal life. Expression of these ideas might be something as small as an idea to help promote a better and more efficient workflow on a project or as big as a goal that has a significant impact on one’s life.
The reason for choosing a lifestyle of authenticity over one that is sequestrative lies in how clearly one sees the depth and richness each lifestyle holds. A lifestyle that deals mainly in forms of sequestration can be satisfying and quite enjoyable, but the opportunities and possibilities are much shallower than what can be found in a lifestyle where one truly knows oneself and has the audacity to boldly pursue the goals one would set for oneself. In a sequestrative lifestyle one is essentially limited to what is already present, but an authentic lifestyle is rich with infinite possibilities and opportunities that spring from the creative source of the individual.
The actualization of ideas that come from the authentic nature of the individual is the highest form of expression one can achieve. Expressing an ideal that exclusively comes from outside one’s authentic nature, outside of one’s imagination and creativity, like taking part in an extravagant get-away that is advertised to the individual is less of an expression of one’s own nature, but rather an expression of those who have handed that idea to an individual. A pure expression of one’s authentic nature is a result of deliberate effort and concrete reason behind one’s action.
Those who have ideas and spend days coming up with ideas that can better their own lives and the lives of others are often called idealists or even dreamers. Those with a pessimistic view might dismiss these people and label them as idle dreamers who do nothing but speak of how great things might be. These people might say that it is better to be a practical achiever, one who is grounded in the reality of the way things are and strives to accomplish only what can truly be accomplished. Their viewpoint of idealists is true only to a degree. An idealist is only an idle dreamer when one doesn’t have foresight or put forth the energy to make those ideas a reality.
There is a downside in being too much on one side of this spectrum. A practical achiever who ignores idealists and dismisses them overlooks the opportunities and possibilities of a better life for themselves and for the world simply because of the pessimistic view that their ideas can never be achieved to the fullest. The idealist who spends all day coming up with ideas, but never takes the time or put forth the effort to translate them into reality never achieves anything great for themselves or for the world. The key is balancing the two personalities into one. Creating ideals and finding ways to achieve them, expressing one’s authentic nature, is not only the highest form of expression one can hope to achieve, but is also the liberating path an individual takes in achieving wholeness.
-Jason Godbey
eligo – from the Latin [to pick out, select, choose].
“The solution is to gradually become free of societal rewards and learn how to substitute for the rewards that are under one's own powers. This is not to say that we should abandon every goal endorsed by society; rather, it means that, in addition to or instead of the goals others use to bribe us with, we develop a set of our own.“
-Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi, Flow: The Psychology of Optimal Experience, 1990
I am a artist who grew up in Birmingham, Alabama and graduated from the University of Alabama at Birmingham with a degree in social psychology and a minor in philosophy. I currently live in California making video games.
There are some people who live in a dream world, and there are some who face reality; and then there are those who turn one into the other. -Douglas Everett
Healthy discontent is the prelude to progress. -Mohandas Gandhi
The greatest use of life is to spend it for something that will outlast it. - William James
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