Imagine a world without art and artists.
They help us see the world through different eyes.
And artisans infuse our everyday lives with beauty.
Works of art come in many disciplines.
And on many scales…
…some more grand than others.
But I have great appreciation for people who would never consider themselves artists, and yet they make an art of work.
Some apply exceptional creativity to their work, like this fellow who rigged a bicycle to power a sugar cane juicer, to crank out a little work of art one cup at a time.
Some turn an ordinary business into something with a very personal touch.
In Ireland, I was moved by the gravestone of a man lovingly remembered for his gift of turning his work into an art.
Be it traditional…
…entrepreneurial…
…fleeting…
…or a treasured heirloom…
…art is all around us, and everyone is an artist in his or her own way, whether practicing with a paintbrush, chisel, camera, wooden spoon, plow, or scissors.
Art is in the eye of the beholder.
…the nose…
and the mind.
Whatever you do, wherever you go, party arty!
All images and words c2014Naomi Baltuck.
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NAOMI BALTUCK ~ is a Contributing Editor and Resident Storyteller here
at Bardo. She is a world-traveler and an award-winning writer, photographer, and story-teller whose works of fiction and nonfiction are available through Amazon HERE. Naomi presents her wonderful photo-stories – always interesting and rich with meaning and humor – at Writing Between the Lines, Life from the Writer’s POV. She also conducts workshops such as Peace Porridge (multicultural stories to promote cooperation, goodwill, and peaceful coexistence), Whispers in the Graveyard (a spellbinding array of haunting and mysterious stories), Tandem Tales, Traveling Light Around the World, and others. For more on her programs visit Naomi Baltuck.com.
The BeZine 
Yes, living life creatively, whatever form that creativity may take. It asks of us intention, and vision, and doing, and honing of skills for the sheer good of the thing, and just like Stephen Malone, using the discretion grown from experience, to plough that straight furrow. An inspiring post, Naomi.
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HI Tish,
Thanks so much for stopping by and sharing your thoughtful and articulate response to this post.
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Yes! Party arty. I think that’s what it’s all about. Thank you for this, Naomi. Now I’m off to explore your sister’s site.
Happy days and many blessings,
J.
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Great post Naomi! Wonderful fun! An aside: Perhaps not surprisingly, I am taken aback every time I see a photo of the desecration of our sacred mountain. Not sure that was artistry.
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Dear Michael,
Thank you for your visit, and for sharing an important perspective. I was unaware of the back story for Mt. Rushmore, so I looked it up and found this link that explains it all very well. http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/americanexperience/features/biography/rushmore-sioux/
Two days ago I finished reading a book called Mayflower, by Nathaniel Philbrick, in which he tells the story of the Pilgrims who settled Plymouth Colony, and also about the aftermath that led to Philip’s War–not the traditional story of Thanksgiving story that mainstream America is spoon fed every November. It too was quite an eye opener. I think everyone needs to know the truth about these stories, and I thank you for sharing it. I have replaced that photo with a much more appropriate one.
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Reading the comments, I pick out “desecration” and “discretion”. Art without wisdom, work without wisdom…what does it become?
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Wonderful post. Another way of seeing art. Super photos.
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Beautiful photos, as always, and such an important reminder that everyone is an artist in his or her own way. Even the restaurant Subway calls their employees “sandwich artists”. 🙂 By the way, I think your sister is quite talented. I loved her painting with the swans!
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Wow! Thank you for your very generous response. I love that painting. As always, there is a story that goes with it. She was in France, walking along a canal, pondering relationships, and she saw the swans, which mate for life. They followed her for a long time–maybe half a mile. I also think she captured something very special in that painting. Thanks so much for taking the time to look up her website, and share your thoughts. I love the idea of sandwich artists!
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I am in such rapt attention, that I wish to go back and study the photos all over again. (Forget the commenting, …. smiles!)
Art comes in all kinds of places, packages, talents and you have covered so many of them. Public, private, work, pleasure, personal and through so many different ways (and senses) and materials. I find your writing and your photography pure artistry. While your sister’s painting is also lovely. Wonderful summary, using examples and words to paint your story, Naomi! I could not live in a world without art!
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