August 31, 2004
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Can I just say my proffesors today were amazing!!!! I love my classes! I am still reeling in their profound lessons, trying to absorb it all. I will get the competition and the challenge I feared I wouldn’t get. I suppose I could give details later, but I have work to do. For example, I have to define art according to one who knows. So far I think that will go as follows (please do not copy my thoughts, live by the Honor Code)
What is Art according to one who knows?
The prophet Spencer W. Kimball said, “To be an artist means hard work and patience and long-suffering.” The scriptures speak of an artist named Bezaleel. Bezaleel was one of the artisans who worked on the tabernacle in the judaen wilderness. Exodus 31:1-3 reads, “AND the LORD spake unto Moses, saying, See, I have called by name Bezaleel . . . And I have filled him with the spirit of God, in wisdom, and in understanding, and in knowledge, and in all manner of workmanship.” This defines a true artist: one filled with the spirit in wisdom, understanding, knowledge, and workmanship. Workmanship. Continued reading in verses 4 through 5 expounds on workmanship as “cunning works” in various media to set, shape, and work the materials. Thus art is workmanship, wrought through patience and long-suffering.
In Moses 7 the Lord shows Enoch a glorious vision that includes generation after generation of men. The Lord says in verse 32, “Behold these thy brethren; they are the workmanship of mine own hands” If men, as creations of Jesus Christ, are the workmanship of His hands, then are they not His artwork, His masterpieces. And if Christ is the great author of all this, the artist who created so much, is He not the best artist in the Universe? Christ is one who knows, so what is art according to Him?
The scriptures teach that Jesus Christ created His “artwork” or workmanship by organizing existing materials. (See Abraham 4) Abraham 4:27 reads: “So the Gods went down to organize man in their own image” So what is art? It is the organization of materials according to a plan or image.
Remember that post about the sensual and the spiritual in art? I found an interesting article that touched on it. Spencer W. Kimball said in reference to Michelangelo, “Could not we find an embodied talent like this, but with a soul that was free from immorality and sensuality and intolerance?” He later states, “It has been said that many of the great artists were perverts or moral degenerates. In spite of their immorality they became great and celebrated artists. What could be the result if discovery were made of equal talent in men who were clean and free from the vices, and thus entitled to revelations?”
I though that was interesting.
Comments (2)
Wow, I loved this post. Personally, I don’t think that the great artists were perverts at all. The body was not this sexual tool back in those days. The world has been corrupted to where the body is now viewed only as a sexual device. Anyway, just thought I’d put my two pence in. Talk to you later.
-Meg
I think President Kimball was not reffering to nudes in art, I think he was reffering to artists who were involved in homosexuality, pedophilia, egotism, (what’s that thing where artists love themselves or beauty more than God?), etc. etc.
In most cases it is not the artwork that is corrupt, it is the artist. But as a side note, sex is sex, it was the same 3 thousand years ago as it is now, in my arrogant opinion.