It's interesting that Western Art isn't usually looked at as "spiritual", despite the fact that there is a very rich tradition of eccleiastic art that has lasted for centuries. This article from the NY Times last Sat discusses this. Maybe it's because the artwork in question is religious and one of it's functions was to instruct those who could not read. Or maybe it's because we don't know how to read the symbolism anymore. There was a time when everyone knew what light through a window pane meant.. Not now, unless you study Renaissance Art. It's almost easier to look at the art of another culture and have a spiritual experience because it's so different and therefore harder to take for granted.
This is on my mind lately for a couple of reasons. One of my areas of interests is aesthetics as a cultural definition of creativity. So WHY something is painted is almost more important than how.. I realize I'm oversimplifying. I'm thinking out loud and these are half formed thoughts.
But it's art painted as a vehicle for healing that I'm thinking of at the moment. Every culture does something along these lines in one way or another. I've started painting again for that very reason... I've been going through something rather large... And it's time to paint it out.
More on this later... Here's hoping I can post regularly again soon.
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