“You gain nothing by discouraging an artist. You can gain everything by encouraging one.” Kevin Smith
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“TEMPLE OF ART is a documentary that looks at what it even means to be an artist, how to fail beautifully, and proceed with courage.”
Art makes the world turn. It changes lives, it saves lives and it enhances lives. Without art, we have a gray world devoid of feeling. Art is emotion: Pain and love, happiness and despair.
We live in a time when student performance is measured through endless forms of standardized testing, when budgets are crunched and art programs become the victim of fiscal crises and apathy from administrators and parents. Studies consistently show that exposure to the arts enhances education rather than devalues it.
I saw this video this morning (Sunday) while sitting at my desk, strewn with papers, and cruising Facebook. My purpose was to write and edit for a while and then to work on putting my book together. I use social media to stall. The truth is I’m afraid to move forward, to lay another brick. The papers on my desk are nearly ready to be grouped and joined, needing only segways and finishing touches and yet they’ve gone untouched for weeks. Deep down I feel as though I have nothing to offer, nothing left to say and nothing of value. I’m just not that good. This video touched me deeply, and I hope that it does the same for you.
In a society focused on value, return on investment and keeping food on the table, we often forget how many men and boys dream of creating. They need to know they require no permission. It’s time to let them lay their first brick.
For more, visit their website and consider supporting this project.
Image is a screen shot from the video
This is really cool, I love the sound of this project!