Yesterday marked my first day back in the classroom in front of 101 students talking about creativity. As I looked into the faces of my students I thought about their aspirations for success and thought of my own. How does one create in the face of adversity or obscurity?
I recently listened to two artist talk about the challenges of being an artist. They were discussing the impact AI technology is happening and the speed of change happening within society. They went through a sequence of describing how the world is changing so fast within a year, within a month, within a week, to where it seems with social media to be changing each day. The issue they were bringing up is the need for internal validation that is independent from external acceptance and praise. They were reminding us all to just do the work. Just finish it.
So many monumental works of art were subject to external condemnation before the genius was recognized. The impressionist painters were left out of the salon and yet are now valued as priceless.
Perhaps the greatest example of perseverence is the Eiffel tower. At the time of it’s construction it received public protests for being ugly. Even the Pope complained that it should not be permitted to rise higher than the cathedral of Notre Dame! Artists launched a full scale attack on the tower.
Real genius is not recognized during the process of making the art. Real genius may not even be recognized in this lifetime. Artist cannot pursue the making of art based upon public recognition. Making art must be rooted in a deeper foundation like the one one thaht supports the Eiffel Tower. During the construction they had to dig below the surface of the Seine river to reach solid ground. Artist have to dig deep against the currents of public doubt and criticism.
I think this icon of Paris is also a beacon of inspiration for all creatives.
