Lyric @ rmullins
On Higher Art: From Conversations with Rich Mullins
It touches hearts.
It changes perspectives.
It reflects our humanity.
It creates bonds with the audience.
It creates bonds with fellow artists.
It propels other artists to create new works through obligations of mercy and gratitude.
It reciprocates the role of the prophet; instead of reflecting God's communication to mankind, it reflects mankind's response to God.
It is fueled and sustained by Spirit, not money.
The is the task of the compassionate artist to reflect the Kingdom of Heaven on Earth, through his works and through the bonds he creates with his audience and his fellow artists.
Because compassionate art is both spiritual and material, it requires both Spirit and money to create it. But the balance is delicate, and must be considered at all times. The artist's motivation is critical--that which is born of Spirit is spirit, and that which is born of an intention to produce cash flow is flesh.
The material means of creating a work of art are outgo and income. The spiritual means of creating compassionate art are mercy and gratitude. The ethics of producing compassionate art are the ethics of gift-giving, not the economic laws of the marketplace.
When the production of art is motivated by the laws of the material economy, it is at risk of becoming sterile at best and lifeless at worst--a piece of entertainment, meant to tickle the ears and incapable of motivating any new works. The bonds formed by a work of compassionate art within the creative community are to be valued above money.
Image from the libretto, In Worship of the Coming King
Lyric from Pictures for a Friend in Summer @rmullins 1977, calligraphy @Pamela Richards 1977
It touches hearts.
It changes perspectives.
It reflects our humanity.
It creates bonds with the audience.
It creates bonds with fellow artists.
It propels other artists to create new works through obligations of mercy and gratitude.
It reciprocates the role of the prophet; instead of reflecting God's communication to mankind, it reflects mankind's response to God.
It is fueled and sustained by Spirit, not money.
The is the task of the compassionate artist to reflect the Kingdom of Heaven on Earth, through his works and through the bonds he creates with his audience and his fellow artists.
Because compassionate art is both spiritual and material, it requires both Spirit and money to create it. But the balance is delicate, and must be considered at all times. The artist's motivation is critical--that which is born of Spirit is spirit, and that which is born of an intention to produce cash flow is flesh.
The material means of creating a work of art are outgo and income. The spiritual means of creating compassionate art are mercy and gratitude. The ethics of producing compassionate art are the ethics of gift-giving, not the economic laws of the marketplace.
When the production of art is motivated by the laws of the material economy, it is at risk of becoming sterile at best and lifeless at worst--a piece of entertainment, meant to tickle the ears and incapable of motivating any new works. The bonds formed by a work of compassionate art within the creative community are to be valued above money.
Image from the libretto, In Worship of the Coming King
Lyric from Pictures for a Friend in Summer @rmullins 1977, calligraphy @Pamela Richards 1977
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