The Local Artist’s Work of Becoming a Window to Beauty
Melanie D. Steffl Thompson
“Never lose an opportunity of seeing
anything beautiful. Beauty is God’s
handwriting….”
Written by Reverend C. Kingsley in
1848, the simplicity of the message was very powerful. Unfortunately, popular Western culture excludes
contemplation. Contemporary lifestyle
brushes aside higher ideals and chooses unsatisfactory temporary vices. Achieving values necessary for contentment,
such as stillness and beauty, become impossible. Most chances to appreciate beauty now are
lost even before considered.
But great beauty exists everywhere,
and has always been with the world. Traditionally, Artists responsibly took up
the work to convey Her presence. The widespread
fogginess of self- satisfaction now blankets nobler aspirations. Artists lost sight of their own perceptual
abilities to translate communications between their selves and the natural
world. The lack of this potential is particularly evident in the Ohio Valley.
The Ohio Valley has not been well known as a place of inspiration. The local antipathy towards Art and Beauty is
frequent and dis-functioning for mature Artistic work. Whether in the form of creative minds, youth,
or natural resources, the Ohio Valley has an unfortunate history of “sending
away.” If the land here were nourished, instead of being abused, perhaps this
would positively reflect in a brighter future. It is a place of Beauty here, always ready to
inspire, but a new core strength needs to be formed before Artists can properly
place Art in everyday life.
Specifically, this paper reflects on
why and how the Beauty and Art of the Ohio Valley is affected by local choice. As an Artist from here, I reflect on the
underlying negativity that leads to the debilitation of mature creative
work. Interviews and the artwork of
local and transplanted Artists supplement the importance of forming a new
cultural ideology. Many do not see the
inherent beauty and inspiration of the Ohio Valley, but it is my wish that the
inclusion of somewhere small can make a contribution to the World.
“Never
lose an opportunity of seeing anything beautiful. Beauty is God’s
hand-writing—a way-side sacrament; welcome it in every fair face, every fair
sky, every fair flower, and thank for it Him, the fountain of all loveliness, and drink it
in, simply and earnestly, with all your eyes; it is a charmed draught, a cup of
blessing.” -Rev. C. Kingsley
