The State of the World and the Phoenix

Why create art? The state of the world is encroaching on me and my happiness. I know how selfish this is to think, let alone say out loud. 

 It’s too much to comprehend. Earth is dying. People in Afghanistan and Syria are living through atrocities every day. Wildfires are raging in California and Greece. The forests, animals and trees, whole species gone.

Think of the children growing up in this uncertain world. I am thinking of this, and I am part of this, and as a human, part of the cause. 

With all this going on why should I paint? Why write about it? Why teach about it? Because, it soothes me to create, and I think it helps. I think it helps others too.

With so much pain and destruction, creating is all we can do. We need to keep creating new ideas, new worlds. 

The Phoenix is a legendary bird in Greek and other mythologies, associated with the sun. It is beautiful with red and orange feathers. When it dies it bursts into flame. It is a symbol of transformation and rebirth.

Out of the ashes the Phoenix was reborn.