From Nonviolent Cow

DiaryOfAWorm: What Is Art?


“a another time again”
by Peter Graf

A friend sent me a large postcard with this quote on it and four pictures of my deceased son’s artwork below it. Tonight I would like to share the quote, from “Telling Stories” by Joyce Carol Oates. This quote moves me to work on Peter’s art web page. So much of his art is a deep expression of himself, his pain, suffering as well as the meaning of life.

“What is ‘art’ but the effort of giving permanent form-in language, in painting, sculpture, music-to those elemental forces in our lives, those passions, hurts, triumphs, and mysteries that have no permanence otherwise. Our lives, especially at their happiest moments, fly past as quickly as a mountain stream rushing along its rocky course, throwing up frothy, sparkling spray. The effort of art is to slow the rapid motion, to bring it to a halt so that it can be seen, known. All artists know either consciously or instinctively that the secret intention of their life’s work is to rescue from the plunge of time something of beauty, permanence and significance in another’s eyes.“

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