the art opening invite
October 9th, 2003 byI stood alone, the others gone back, their tribute to friendship paid. I stayed back, still intrigued by the paintings, pleased to be there. My friend A.P., one of the painters, introduced me to the others one by one and I animatedly discussed their paintings with them. Each one would generously supply me with their interpretation of their pieces, themselves on canvas with a dark brown frame. I listened patiently, curiously, biding till I was casually asked what I saw in them.
As a writer, as a blogger, I take my work very seriously. Each piece I write, I write with a distinct passion, to be enjoyed, to be savored. Some pieces I wish I could put with instructions:
+ Please read this very very quickly, to be chugged down in one swift motion. Read this piece and feel the words quickly crawling up through your throat.
+ Pause, re-read, think. Try. To understand. Imagine. If permissible. Breathe. And be. Stop. Puzzle. Walk away and comment many hours later.
Many a time, I have almost put up such instructions, afraid that my work would be blathered away, would be giggled away, would be skimmed over too quickly. Do you not see what I wrote? Do you not read my words? I am not screaming for help, I am talking to you, I am simply trying to point out the beauty of this incredulous combination of letters, words, phrases, a prose breathtaking to its author…a fool with a pen. But every mother loves dearly her child precious.
I gave my input to the painters, what I saw, what I liked and how it came off to me. Even as they told me of their own works, the pieces transformed in front of my eyes, the ugliness becoming more obvious, the beauty shifting and re-aligning itself. To be beauty itself, you need your twin, ugliness. I just wonder what happened to them when I told them my opinion. I recall their hmm’s and oh’s as I talked, avoiding eye contact till they had heard it all. Then I would look into their eyes and curiously look, momentarily.
I look- briefly- and wonder how I’ve affected their next brush stroke on blank white canvasses.
October 9th, 2003 at 8:24 am
what’s the point of this post again?
I think I read over it too quickly…
October 9th, 2003 at 6:54 pm
Assalamu Alaykum
Excellent! I LOVE exhbitions
Artists are generally prepared for both criticisms and praise, I think you have to be when displaying your work to the public.
Your comments may not have affected their next brush strokes, from personal experience I know that certain comments don’t affect any art I may produce (my dad is my main critic
)
MashAllah@ taking your blog posts seriously and what a wonderful writer you are
I on the other hand type and press the post button without reading it through, it’s enough to make ya hurl eh
October 10th, 2003 at 6:50 am
Sometimes, we’re our own worse critics.
And sometimes that’s a good thing.
Myself, I like honest, truthful criticism from others as well. But because I am a stubborn, impatient child, it just takes me a while to acknowledge others’ criticism as the truth.
Ultimately, though, I find that it does always make a difference, somehow, some way, even if I have to be in denial about it for a while. And that, of course, is because I’ve never been able to lie to myself.
October 10th, 2003 at 9:35 pm
whaat’s your major in schooll? curious.
October 10th, 2003 at 10:09 pm
Whooo wheee, new comments layout thingamajiggy!!
October 11th, 2003 at 9:58 am
friday is in the past, nothing new but more white hair…
October 11th, 2003 at 1:34 pm
Ooo mashAllah Waleed you have incorporated your blog colour scheme into your comment box, or was the orange background always there?
October 11th, 2003 at 2:12 pm
Sal, I’m an Instructional Design student.
For more, feel free to dig up the aboot section.
and jaza kala khair Jaded. You caught a glimpse of the blog in transition. It’s final now, 30 mins later.