ARTIST IN RESIDENCE by Franne Demetrician
So much has changed since I last
greater than myself. When I refer to
wrote for this wonderful publication.
art, I’m not just referring to fine art
Life is certainly different in the age
like painting or drawing or dance or
of pandemic. We’ve all had the
making music. Art is also cooking,
opportunity to learn some new skills;
and gardening, and skillful interaction
some practical like how to use Zoom;
with other people, and how we create
some fun like taking online cooking
our home. Art can also be plumbing
and yoga classes and doing puzzles;
or cabinet-making or ringing up
and some daunting like helping our
groceries.
children learn online and keeping them occupied so that they don’t
Webster’s Dictionary defines
drive us crazy during lockdown. We
art in part as “the expression or
have witnessed some of the worst
application of human creative skill
and the best of humanity, and we
and imagination…producing works
have lost and gained more than we
to be appreciated primarily for their
can ever recount. I closed my 24-year
beauty or emotional power.” And
massage practice and have been
Wikipedia says, “Art is a creative
using a good deal of my time making
activity that expresses imaginative or
art and taking and teaching classes.
technical skill. Art is a diverse range
I’m an artist. I’m also an interfaith
of human activities... The product of
minister.
art is called a work of art, for others to experience.”
I use art as a spiritual tool. I don’t know if other artists approach their work
As a painter and writer, both of these
this way, but I do and always have. Art
definitions resonate, but I think they
is a means to an end in many ways,
leave some things out. I see art as a
at least for me. It takes me to a place
powerful part of human expression
that connects to something much
that takes its form through each 38
