Pathima...

...For Three Muses, Theme Thursday, and Pointy Hats and Wings

 

Zetti

What makes a Zetti?  We all know various components of Zetti, but how is it defined by its creators, Tracy and Teesha Moore?  Am I correct that Teesha and Tracy invented all things Zetti?  If not, then please set me straight.  I'm really interested, not in a personal interpretation, but in the actual definition, and in how big a role personal interpretation plays in this, if at all.  Why?  I don't know why, must I have a reason?  I just am.  And not from a legalistic standpoint; more from curiosity.

At any rate, here's my Zetti, apparent in image, border and concept, but just what it is that makes these things "Zetti", I couldn't really say, at least not precisely.

Conceptual Art

I choose to illustrate concepts, not words or phrases.  If I'm asked to illustrate "chair", for instance, I don't rush around looking for images of chairs, or draw a chair before I've internalized the concept and made it relevant to a part of my life.  I don't find it necessary to explain the relevance, but I believe that you are more likely to find something in it that speaks to you, if something in it speaks to me.  The meanings can be different for both of us, and are more meaningful if they're personal and individual.  But for a piece of art to be relevant, the meaning must come from somewhere other than the observer's making it up on the fly, and while you probably won't see my story in it, hopefully you'll see something of yours.  Not everyone works this way, nor should they, necessarily.  It's just what I do.

Suffering 

You can't study art without noticing how often the word "suffering" pops up, and in so many contexts.  At some point or other, students always ask if suffering is a necessary component of creating art, and if so, why this is so.  It depends on how you define suffering of course, and if your definition is ghetto poverty, then the answer is, no, it isn't necessary, in fact, it can be a hindrance, although it doesn't have to be.  

But unless you're just mindlessly knocking off crafts, and hey, I'm not knocking this, it can be fun and relaxing, but in creating a piece of art, each piece has a growth cycle, and there's always some suffering involved in coming to grips with getting to know the piece and what it needs.  There's a period of struggle, a push and a pull, sometimes even a fight, before you can move into the phase of peaceful execution.  This type of suffering, like suffering in raising children, and working at relationships in general, carries with it an aspect of beauty and nobility.  

If you separate the act of suffering, the work of it, from physical pain and the fear of death and failure, then you extract the beauty.  This, simply stated, is the work of the heart.  It's the added components of fear and physical pain that give suffering a bad name and conjure up the definitions that western society has saddled it with.  Purely, it is in suffering that beauty is wrought, not the suffering of pain and fear, but the suffering of patience.  The patience of listening and waiting, as long as it takes, for a creation to develop, working surgery when necessary to remove unwanted aspects and providing the necessary elements at the right times for growth.  In Greek, "pathima".

Right now I'm:

Sitting in a public library at closing time

Getting ready to run the last few errands of the day, and

Wondering what to make for dinner.

Have a great day, Everyone!

Comments

[kelly]

I would call the art more Barbara then anything else ;) LOVE IT!

[Sandy]

OMG this is very impressive.
So fantastic work and design. Love them.

[Kelly B]

gorgeous!

[femmy]

fantastic!!!

[Willy]

Your Zetti is great, Barbara!

[Linda]

Brilliant zettiish piece, and when you find out what defines Zetti, if anything, let me know :) Loved reading your post and For me the suffering part happens prior to creating, cause I can't create when If I don't have a good feeling inside :) Writing is different. I've written quite a lot of poems not feeling on top of the world :) And who has the right to defines art really? My guess is everybody :) Some definitions we agree with and some we don't, it can be true to the believer all the same :) Thanks for sharing your thoughts on the prosess!!

Keep creating!!

Linda

[Lumilyon]

Barbara, I've been following your blog for sometime now and always find something to inspire ma and make me think. Thank you for stopping by my blog x

[Eila A.]

Barbara, your zetti piece is very interesting - and very challenging for the viewer: there are so many clues for interpreting it. I admire your intellectual approach to artmaking - which resulted to making a beautiful zetti piece!

[joan]

greyt piece of art
luv it
joan in italy

[Pam]

This is a really nifty piece! I have no idea what a Zetti is, but I think I like it!

[Lynn Fox]

What an absolutely creative piece...I agree with Lumilyon, your art makes one think! Very well done! LynnF

[Bev]

I love your thoughts on art, Barbara, and I love this piece. The diagonal lines are a perfect touch, and I love the hues of blue. As for zetti, so far as I know it started with Teesha and Tracy, and has mushroomed to include whimsical artistic expressions that include black and white somewhere (usually), and disparate parts and pieces....sort of. Ahhhh, defining zetti is like trying to nail Jello to the wall!! Thanks for playing along, and for sharing your thoughts.

[Martina]

This is incredible, Barbara! I love everything about it.

[Hermine]

Very unusual, love it!

[Janny]

Great!!

[Bev]

I like the blue hues, and the diagonal lines set off your zetti piece nicely. Good work! As for zetti - Teesha and Tracy had no idea what they were starting. It's grown like topsy and has come to mean many things to many people, all of whom have great fun with their own individual versions of zetti. I enjoyed your thoughts AND your art. I'm glad you joined our challenge, Barbara!

[~*~ Patty Szymkowicz]

so creative and multi layered Barbara!!!
very thought provoking post as well :)

[Marie]

Superb artwork, stunning Zetti style, creative, clever and scrumptious! Barbara, your picture is wonderful and so too are your thoughts which are so interesting and inspiring. Thankyou so much for taking the time to share them with your Blogfriends!

[gaby braun]

Barbara

You wrote exactly what I feel when I made a work of art. There is a time before the work itself, like an obsession. My family could not understand this, when I'm sit down and think. Because of that I can not produce a large scale of works like many people do, challenge after challenge, I must "suffer" before I do something. Do you understand what I mean. Love your text!

[Judy NZ]

Outstanding piece of art, Barbara!

[Nancy Maxwell James]

this is such a fabulous piece! wonderful composition and beautiful art! :)

[Gabrielle Fabian]

Absolutely stunning piece Barbara and spot-on post to go with. I'm with you on the conceptual art particularly...thanks for sharing about the process and motiviation, sometimes I feel lonely about some of these things!!
xo,
Gaye