Monday, April 15, 2013

Freedom in Destruction

Freedom in Destruction

As artists, we must keep moving. We must keep a constant flow of input and output of creativity and production. It's the way most of us work. Although, as a result of high output, not everything we produce is going to be worthy of existence. Oh yes, so out comes the tools of mass destruction!

Destruction is an extremely important part of growth for artists. If you cannot destroy something that is not 'speaking to you' or meeting your standards as a creator, you are in for some major problems. Moreover, you should have the willpower to destroy any of your work at will…even the 'good stuff'.…Why? I'll tell you.

It's a very dangerous game when your work becomes 'too precious'. This idea of 'preciousness' plays with the very impending assumption that you will never again create anything like 'this' again; and by thinking this way you can start convincing yourself that you, indeed, never will. That suddenly you've reached some kind of pinnacle in your work or something. That nothing else will measure up……which is, of course, ridiculous.

As a result, this particular line of thinking will lead you down the dark road to fear; and fear can spread like a plague through the mind. Fear is powerful and extremely dangerous for an artist or for anyone really. Fear is the devil. It will scare you shitless and paralyze you. Block your creativity and, if not banished back to hell, will eventually kill it…or put it into very deep hibernation that no one can afford.

Within destruction there is freedom. Within freedom there is strength. Within strength there is power and within power there is solace. Within this awareness is knowledge that you, and you alone, are the master and commander of your work, it does not control you....you control it. You give it life or death.

Now, why have the strength to destroy 'good' work, beyond what I have already stated; for the simple fact that 'shit happens'. Things blowup, crack, break and inadvertently get destroyed…life happens. However, if and when this untimely event occurs…you take a moment, mourn the death and then just go make another one; because you know have the strength to do so. This is the power behind destruction.

However, bear in mind, in this type of wreckage, nothing is ever wasted. For instances, in the last 3 months I have destroyed 3 pieces. Sculptures that I spent a good number of days on: from concept, to drawing, to sculpting. However, as much as I tried 'reworking things' and even taking time off to get perspective…it just wasn't happening. Sometimes I knew why and others I didn't. So, out came the tools of mass destruction. However, now here's the trick, right before I destroyed my sculpture, I made a mental note about what I did like and sometimes even kept a portion of what was 'working' as a reminder.

In every instance I did this, this 'positive' attribute inspired a new piece. Sometimes within days, sometimes within weeks; but still, ending things on a positive note was beneficial and nothing was wasted. Truthfully though, nothing is ever 'wasted' as long as you learn something from it.

Don't think of destruction as impending doom and gloom. Try to embrace it. It is a part of all life after all. Change is the only constant. Creativity is never destroyed only transformed and reborn....as the Phoenix rises from its own ashes.

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