Be Soothed by the Arts

by Jayne Behman

WOW, can our world get any more complicated?  In times of trouble, the arts are comforting. The arts speak volumes of truth through music, dance, theater, film, and with visual presentations.  Today's most popular vehicle of expression is video. We witness daily conflicts through amateur made video on YouTube, a rising form of art. 

Throughout the ages visual arts have captured the human dilemma. Photographs and paintings make their mark.  These become the looking glass to times past.  15th Century paintings gave us a pictorial legacy of costumes and customs.

The Death of Marat, a painting by Jacques-Louis David, became the leading image of the terror in that time of revolution.  This painting represents the artist's political convictions manifested in his work. 

The Death of Marat by Jacques-Louis David

Nineteen Eighty Four, the 1949 novel by George Orwell, reflected a world in perpetual war, a society under pervasive government surveillance and mind control.  What we hear and what we see certainly affects our perspective.

A compelling documentary film, As Seen Through These Eyes, captures and represents the Social, Political and Religious commentary by Artists who survived persecution in World War II. What they witnessed is represented through their art, diaries, and testimonials.

Paintings, photographs, and Essays not only leave an historical inheritance, many of these visuals were predictions of an unknown future. On the Beach, a film directed by Stanley Kramer (1959), is about the lives of Australians after a global nuclear war, how they cope with nuclear fall-out, and the fact that all life will be destroyed in a matter of months.

Lyrics in music portray the pain and joy in love. They expose cultural differences and conflict. Actually, it's simply the music that breathes life into our souls.  The beat is innate in our hearts.

How can we cope with the daily bombardment of negative news? How does a parent cope with war deployment of their sons and daughters? Can we really look at life one day at a time? Many a speculative question deserves no concrete answer.

The Arts give us a form of escape and release. They relive heightening stress levels.  For the artists, it is their way to examine and work out their relationship to the world about them, yesterday, today, and tomorrow.  The audience experiences what the artist gives away.  The viewer has the choice of closing his eyes. Often times the artist's interpretation is welcomed.

Making Art, in any of its many forms, is taking the time to be thoughtful.  Introspection leads to various outcomes. 

Mark Bryan, a Central Coast satirical artist, will be exhibiting his recent oil painting collection "Down the Rabbit Hole" at Steynberg Gallery, 1531 Monterey Street in San Luis Obispo, beginning April 1st. His paintings take on the villains of the day and the stupidities of human behavior.

The Mad Tea Party Part D'uh by Mark Bryan

Encouraging artists to self reflect, OPAG—the painting group in the San Luis Obispo Museum of Art—has sponsored a juried exhibition that offers an intimate look at artists and how they interpret themselves.  Entitled Inside Out, this show that begins on April 1st is based on the concept of the self-portrait, allows the viewer to witness the artist as he is.  SLOMA is located at 1010 Broad Street in San Luis Obispo.  

 
Our beautiful Central Coast vistas offer a place of solitude and beauty.  They are a constant reminder of what heaven can be on earth.

If you happen to be in the Los Olivos area during April, please come to my show with fellow artist Patti Robbins at Gallery 2920 Grand Avenue.  The reception is on April 9th from 2:00 -4:00 pm.

Have a wonderful April.