Wednesday, August 31, 2005

unsettling balance



Today in design we explored balance in two dimensional design. We looked at artbooks from the met and moma, and talked about what kind of balance and symetry and unbalance each painting had. with modern art, this is difficult to discern...and one painting by Mark Rothko was especially intriguing for us. We concluded that it was balanced, but still was unsettling in the way that it made you think, ponder, wonder. perhaps it had deep balance. What was striking to learn, for me, is that balance doesn't necessarily mean that something is calm, meditative, boring, perfect, easy to grasp, or dull. Balance can be strong, complex, have depth and wonder, challenge and possibility. This is an important lesson for me...that balance in my creative, spiritual well doesn't have to be nice, peaceful, expected. There can be energy, surprise, and strength that is grounded and challenged by the unexpected. It is something I want to wrestle with more....

2 comments:

Anonymous said...

When we say that a wine is balanced, we mean that it is strong, complex, has depth, and has possibilities for growing even more fine with age. And yet there still can be a surprise or two along the way. Yeah, I think you're right. There is a component of being "off balance" even while things are "in balance".

Nice kitty!

Anonymous said...

Hey Christy~I love that image about the wine...and the connections you made. Thank you. I want to continue thinking about what balance is....
The kitty is Lucy. Sometimes I call her Lucy-fer, because she likes to tear up the house, and is scared of nothing. She was rescued from a dumpster...