Wednesday, January 13, 2010

teaching torso

Q: Hey, what do you call a guy with no arms or legs, who just hangs on the wall?

A: "Art."

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What do you see here? I see a man who considers himself big because he has an "open mind," but in reality, he just has a big hole in his head. As a result, he is not capable of doing anything (no hands) or going anywhere (no feet). It should serve as a warning to the passers-by in this plaza, but my guess is that the majority view the subject without discernment, and simply consider it "art." What we have here may not be a clarion call, but rather a subliminal challenge to think. "The mind is a terrible thing to waste."

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Artistic expressions are not exclusively aesthetic, though sometimes a person does a thing "just because." The artist has a worldview, and a careful observation allows us to get inside that person's head and see beyond the surface of their work.

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So, what do you say? Am I making any sense here, or do you think that it is really me who has a hole in the head?

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[2,000 lb bronze sculpture Torso di Ikaro by Artist Igor Mitoraj at the historic Old Post Office Plaza in downtown St. Louis.]

17 comments:

Craver Vii said...

Lest anyone think that I always wear the same clothes, this photo (Ikaro) was taken half-an-hour after the one below (Gateway Arch).

donsands said...

Don't you think Chriatians need to get on board withe Art scene?

I wish I was an Artist.

I can hang a 58 foot gutter all by myself.

I like your observations Craver.

imac said...

Thats one person thats not opening the doors to the corridors of his mind.

Pastor Dave said...

So that's where the scarecrow got his brain!

This Is My Blog - fishing guy said...

Craver: I'd have to say without arms you would always have a bad hair day. This way you don't see it.
BTW: The test went well and there are no problems.

Craver Vii said...

Yes Sandman. In fact I wonder why Christians are not LEADING the art scene, and medicine, and academics, and other areas as well. Or perhaps God is pouring his grace upon ordinary people, specifically to illustrate unearned favor.

Without borders, yet very limited. Wouldn't you agree, Imac?

The Scarecrow ought to put things back where he finds them, eh Mr. Dave?

When a person's children do something mischievous Fishing Guy, I like to say they're having a bad heir day. (Yuk yuk yuk!) Hey, I am so glad to hear the good news... Praise God!!

SAPhotographs (Joan) said...

Oh dear!! Poor fellow seems to have lost his head. Do you think there was a woman involved? :)

Wendy said...

How cool! I'm not sure really what it would mean.. I'm not really good with that kind of thing. To me, this is just a 'because' piece of art :)

Craver Vii said...

Interesting speculation, Joan. Many a man has "fallen," on account of his affections for a lady. By the grace of God, may I stand ever true.

Quite alright, Leeloo. There's nothing wrong with creating a piece of art "just because," either. Spontaneity may sometimes reveal worldview, but I think it can be really random, too. I hope you enjoyed the Torso di Ikaro.

Maalie said...

> In fact I wonder why Christians are not LEADING the art scene, and medicine, and academics

Masybe because they are fossilised in the doctrines of a 2000 year old book and have been left behind :-)

Craver Vii said...

Ladies and Gentlemen, let me present the King of the Maalies. He may come across as harsh and raw, but he is sincere. If you're faith is wonky, he'll be happy to rattle it for you. Treat him kindly, because I call him my friend.

Maalie, you speak from your aggressive atheist perspective as though it were objective fact, but the only one über-qualified for such objectivity is the Lord whom you reject. May he soften your heart and draw you in among the redeemed.

donsands said...

There have been great artist who were Christians: Rembrandt, Michelangelo, Bach, CS Lewis, J.R.R. Tolkein, and many others.

I wonder why this generation dropped the ball, so to speak.

Perhaps you are right Craver about God's common grace upon all people.

EG CameraGirl said...

I'm not sure what the artist is trying to say here. I find it quite disturbing as it seems violent to me. However, good art is often disturbing in some way. I think it may haunt me all day and then its meaning will become clearer.

lime said...

i see a man beaten by society and cast aside. interesting thing about art, different viewers can see different things.

Shammickite said...

he is truly "armless".....

Craver Vii said...

The biggest challenge Sandman, is to nurture a person's gifts without compromising theology. Since much of the turf of academia has been taken over by thugs, a young person going into college faces a lot of pressure to conform to the will of the professor gods, rather than to the one, true God.

Your comment would most likely be received as a compliment, EG! Better to have it evoke some emotion than to have it go unnoticed or ignored.

Very interesting observation, Lime. Kudos to you for thinking for yourself! I find it amusing that it is even possible to assign broad possibilities, subjective interpretations to an artist's renderings. (Too bad people do the same thing with God's Word.)

Subliminally commemorating Armistice Day, Shammy?

mommanator said...

I see a very physically fit guy with not a leg to stand on! booooo