... until I know how to do it, then I stop
2008-05-17
Great quotes from Robert Rauschenberg obituary in the New York Times:
“Fear in life is the fear of change. Nothing can avoid changing. It’s the only thing you can count on. Because life doesn’t have any other possibility, everyone can be measured by their adaptability to change.”... and ...
“I usually work in a direction until I know how to do it, then I stop.”
Hi Derek,
I noticed this part about all the rubble in the road. It's a note that all garbage is a whole bunch of good stuff all mixed together with a lot of other good stuff it doesn't go with any of the other good stuff.
Holy means it whole one thing. This is true in music in various degrees.
Prospective is an important part of looking at art. I am not talking about the art above. I like that. I am talking about the picture of the rubble.
Dear Derek!
Fear of change - the enemy of creativity. Now that the music world has changed completey - in fact it doesn't stop changing - there are many looking for answers, manuals, a way to feel safe again.
And then there are some who say they got the answers, who feed or even sell answers to those who need them desperately.
One of the most creative periods in pop music were the years from 1965 to 1971. Music was exciting and didn't need promotion. It was self - promoting.
Listening to the works of that time closely, it becomes obvious, that the artists and engineers did a lot of strange things - in playing and recording.
There was no proven way to do things, so one just had to do something as good as he could. (That's what you said about the indians, too)
Many classic recordings were done in a way that would be completely unacceptable according to our modern standards.
Today we have music schools, recording schools - so much knowlege.
And the danger is to look for a way to do things right.
My creative peaks happen when I forget what I know and become fascinated by the beauty of the moment. The same old notes become magic again - the reason that I got hooked on music at all.
I won't stop once I know how to do something, but I try to rediscover my innocence.
The best book I ever read around this topic (fear of change) is 'The Art of Possibility' by Rosamund Zander and Benjamin Zander (the conductor of the Boston Philharmonic)
The book focuses on turning lifes obstacles into possibilities. It talks about how we all get in the way of our own success and gives great examples why we do and how to get around it. It all gets back to the fear of change.
I recommend it to everyone.
"You Can't Change Change"
http://cdbaby.com/cd/colie6