Tag Archives: art

What is the artist’s duty?

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What is the artist’s duty?

Is it to invent beauty?

Is it to envision the possibility of world peace?

An artist may believe that one duty might be

the realistic representation of our crumbling society?

Should the artist’s duty be to paint the impossible dream, the deferred dream?

Should the artist mutilate figures to shock us into seeing our true selves?

Some artists will focus on “lo que le dice la patria.” (what country calls you to do)

Others will stress nature’s everlasting fortitude and beauty.

Paintings could be the inquiries we all have.

They can be a thousand garbled words no one understands.

A painting could be grotesque?

It could be an illusion?

What is the duty of the artist?

For me, it is simple. The duty of the artist is to paint a poem.

It could be an illusion? Painting by Melba Christie (c) 2019

Still Counting the days – But also writing poems and painting

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I do not want to loose momentum. I want all of us to keep our ears and eyes open. I want us to continue to ask the pertinent and relevant questions. The answers to those questions that matter to us individually and collectively for the good of all. I cannot stress enough the importance of keeping informed. Read critically and look for accurate and credible sources. This is just my sincere advice. I speak as an educator, mother, grandmother and simply an American who cares about what happens to our beloved country.

In the meantime, I want to write and paint because these activities help me cope and melt my worries away a little.

Painting and Poem Melba Christie

Passions flow

hearts beat with empathy

Perhaps a hopeful tomorrow

A Poem in Your Pocket Day

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Poets.org sponsors Poem in You Pocket Day (which was celebrated today) and which offers a wide variety of poems to use for the celebration of the day. Someone surprised me today with a beautiful poem she had written about the latest acts violence and terror  that caused chaos in the city of Boston. She did want me to post it but the truth is that the poem was written with her heart. To those of you who read a poem to someone today I applaud you. Here is a poem I wrote:

A muse lives in the silence of a busy mind

where dreams connect to each other

and daffodils dance

a centipede relaxes and kicks off its shoes

to listen to the hummingbird  who seemed amused

A muse lives in the silence of a busy mind

and eavesdrops in on a conversation with itself

where there is talk of rebellion

just because.

and it decides instead to go to bed.

Melba Christie

Related articles

What Confusion?

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What Confusion?

Who gets confused these days?

Everything is so true, so clear.

Why would you be confused my dear?

Is what I see real or not?

Why would I rather sleep on a cot?

Are words that hate really love?

Are facts alternative you think?

Today if it weren’t for poetry

Life would really stink?

 

The Death of a Poet

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Today we mourn the passing of Keith Roach. Rest in Peace!

“We bid farewell to Keith Roach – poet, slammaster, mentor and teacher – who presided over our poetry slams and open mics for years. Keith inspired a generation of poets, and played a significant role in the advancement of slam poetry, as an art form and a movement. He will be greatly missed.”

Nuyorican Poets Cafe

Who mourns the death

of a poet?

Another poet does.

Although the poems remain

and the rhymes

access time

and resonate in the brain

The void left is great

A teacher, a mentor to many

The great noesis (1)

Powerful verbs and thoughts

to inspire the young poet

the slamming of  ideas into

the heart and soul

Cannot

and will not be forgotten.

Who mourns the death

of a poet?

(1)  noesis, a rare noun that turns up in the field of philosophy and refers to the action of perceiving or thinking

 

The Landscapes of My Mind

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Sometimes I go to my favorite place;

silently and all alone.

no fancy name given

no signs to direct me there

no houses, no people

simply a natural space

in which to roam.

 

If ever you should need to go there

I will gladly show you the way

but there is one thing I must say

all you really need is to close your eyes

take three deep breaths

and wish yourself away.

 

* I often have dreams where I am just walking through beautiful and peaceful landscapes. The painting is one that depicts my latest dream.

 

 

 

My Poetry and Art

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Recently I decided to link my poetry to my artwork via several venues. I published my coloring book in September of 2016, The Secret Life of Mandalas, which is available via Amazon.com.

I have always loved graphic design and making my own greeting cards and other products. Zazzle.com and Threadless.com gave me the opportunity to create my products and use my art and poetry.

I want to thank those of you who have been so supportive this past year. I truly appreciate your comments and feedback.

Occasionally, I will post some of my products as they become available. However, my main focus and labor of love will continue to be writing poetry.

handbag-1

 

 

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