Holding Tight To Your Dreams: Artists Building Up Artists

People are not usually easy on other people's dreams...But, more times than not, it is other Artists who serve to discourage their fellow artistic peers.
The one thing that I hate the most in art of any kind, is the mindset of the majority in the art world, who get caught up in 'skill : 'above 'creativity', above 'message', and above 'other people's feelings'.
Yes, there is such thing as poor art, and excellent art. But, what is other Artists who seem to want to wreck other creative people's dreams? Perhaps  it is really not that they plan to speak words of discouragement, but deep down inside you know, they only care about what 'they're' doing, and where 'they're' going...and where's the encouragement in that? It makes you feel like what you have to offer is unimportant, and that your dreams are paper thin.

Sometimes I wonder where 'God is' in the business world, and in the art world. It's almost as if there is hardly any room for him in these places, because people are overly 'competitive' and 'self centered'. We rarely see this fact more clearly than on 'Black Friday' here in the US ;-)...

I believe that networking, especially Christian networking, should be about 'assisting our fellow artists for Christ'. Until people realize that in this life, whether in our work or in our play, there is always the need to be serving someone else. But, if we are too consumed with our own 'talents' and 'abilities' we will not want to serve others, we will only want to 'be served'. Which is ridiculously selfish...

In art, especially in the mediums that are collaborative, such as film-making, dance, theater, music...you will not get far if you think, or want to be 'super man'. No matter what you tell yourself,  you cannot do everything 'yourself'. And the hardest thing about 'collaborative' art mediums, is truly respecting and flourishing in that environment. I'd say mainly because, no one is perfect. And unless people give up a certain extent on 'pleasing themselves' and start 'truly serving', the projects collaborated on are jinxed.

What is a music artist, without a recording team? A singer without back up music? What is Filmmaker without out a videographer, a writer, a gopher, an actor? We are nothing without each other. Artists aren't much without other artists. We make eachother's dreams possible.

So how does this relate to you personally?
I think the Artist/ the Creative person, has to be willing to 'let go of his dreams a little bit', just enough to see that if he does not, he cannot be helped, and his dreams will not become a reality. And if we are too consumed with our own progress, we will not consider the man who sits beside us who needs assistance.

Perhaps, the true point of this blog post is just to remind the 'Art arena' that 'humility' is better than blind ambition. I believe that the best artists are those who put other people before themselves, whether that be the audience, or fellow artists. The truth is Artists...we need a wake up call. The walls need to be dropped, the complex needs to be dropped that says 'I am the best at what I do', 'If I don't like what you do, it must not be good'. So critical, so judgmental, so un-supportive is the majority of the art world, because most Artists believe that they can stick up their noses and bash every other person's artwork that doesn't align to their personal tastes!

But, honestly I think the root of this in some cases is 'insecurity'. This is more the case with fellow artistic 'peers', than with teachers and professionals...they dash your hopes, by withholding encouragement and acceptance, because deep inside they want to believe that 'they are better at what they do'...they don't give encouragement  because they don't have it in  'themselves'. The do not accept, because they themselves are looking for 'acceptance', 'backing', 'financing' lol.  So the thing is, most of the young artists are in competition with each other  fearing they will be left behind.

Also, a lot of young folk are pursing the wrong career, or even area of creativity. Just because other people have frightened their dreams, and peer-pressure even 'non verbal' has made them assume they must be like 'everybody else'. It's a lie. Don't try to be like 'everybody else'. Because, there are already too many Artists in the same boxes, that never found their own 'style'.

As Christians we must never cut off any part of our lives from living the Christ-centered life. Some people think that they can call themselves 'Christians' and yet they are only so in church, and not on the film set, nor in their hobbies. Just like some people are thankful on 'Thanksgiving', selfish on 'Black Friday', and then "generous" on 'Christmas'.
How should you act in your career  or in your artistic pursuits? Just as Jesus would. Surprised? Yes, you still should act like a follower of the Messiah when you're at work, or even at play.
Art on a large scale as described in the Bible, is the result of God individually calling different people to use their unique talents and gifts, to join to together and work for a common purpose or goal.

Just as with Spiritual gifts, we are not to glory solely in, or keep our gifts to ourselves. It's all about community, group effort, and uplifting others. We are all parts of one body in Christ Jesus. Some of us are the hands, some of us are the feet, some of us our the mouth. We all have our purpose, and we were all created with 'a' purpose. Every man has a purpose, and believe it or not, he doesn't really have to 'find it' to make it a reality.
I encourage you, the reader, to read the following scripture passage from Corinthians 12 through the beginning of Corinthians 13. Just as the Spiritual gifts in many people all create 'one body', so should our talents in fellow Christians be used to create 'a body'.

1 Corinthians 12 ~

4 There are different kinds of gifts, but the same Spirit distributes them. 5 There are different kinds of serve, but the same Lord. 6 There are different kinds of working, but in all of them and in everyone it is the same God at work
7 Now to each one the manifestation of the Spirit is given for the common good. 8 To one there is given through the Spirit a message of wisdom, to another a message of knowledge by means of the same Spirit, 9 to another faith by the same Spirit, to another gifts of healing by that one Spirit, 10 to another miraculous powers, to another prophecy, to another distinguishing between spirits, to another speaking in different kinds of tongues  and to still another the interpretation of tongues. 11 All these are the work of one and the same Spirit, and he distribute them to each one, just as he determines.

12 Just as a body, though one, has many parts, but all its many parts form one body, so it is with Christ. 13 For we were all baptized by one Spirit so as to form one body - whether Jews or Gentiles, slave or free- and we were all given the one Spirit to drink. 14 Even so the body is not made up of one part but of many.
15 Now if the foot should say, "Because I am not a hand, I do not belong to the body," it would not for that reason stop being a part of the body. 16 And if the ear should say, "Because I am not an eye, I do not belong to the body", it would not for that reason stop being part of the body. 17 If the whole body were an eye where would the sense of hearing be? If the whole body were an ear, where would the sense of smell be? 18 But in fact God has placed the parts in the body, every one of them, just as he wanted them to be. 19 If they were all one part, where would the body be? 20 As it is, there are many parts, but on body.

21 The eye cannot say to the hand, "I don't need you!"And the head cannot say to the feet, "I don't need you!" 22 On the contrary, those parts of the body that seem to be weaker are indispensable, 23 and the parts that we think are less honorable we treat with special honor. And the parts that un-presentable are treated with special modesty, 24 which our presentable parts need no special treatment. But God has put the body together, giving greater honor to the parts that lacked it, 25 so that there should be no division in the body, but that its parts should have equal concern for each other. 26 If one part suffers, every part suffers with it; if one part is honored, every part rejoices with it.

27 Now you are the body of Christ, and each one of you is the part of it. 28 And God has placed in the church first of all apostles, second prophets, third teachers, then miracles, then gifts of healing, of helping, of guidance, and of different kinds of tongues. 29 Are all apostles? Are all prophets? Are all teachers? Do all work miracles? 30 Do all have gifts of healing? Do all speak in tongues? Do all interpret? 31 Now eagerly desire the greater gifts.

And yet I show you the most excellent way. -

1 Corinthians 13 ~

If I speak in the tongues of men or of angles, but do not have love, I am only a resounding gong or clanging cymbal. 2 If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have a faith that can move mountains, but do not have love, I am nothing. 3 If I give all I possess to the poor and give over my body to hardship that I may boast, but do not have love, I gain nothing.

4 Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. 5 It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. 6 Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. 7 It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.


Let us love our fellow Artists. We are to love above all else. If we have all the talent in the world, and the biggest dreams, but are self-centered what does it gain us? Where is the love in a lot of Artists? We are proud, we boast, we envy...we hold back kindness, we are self-seeking...
We need to follow the example of the scripture and find the true key to "success". We must put others before ourselves. Yes, it sounds hard...and 'no' it's not easy, to encourage other people's dreams when you are in doubt about the reality of your own. But, give your dreams to God. He will take care of them. He will lift up those who humble themselves in His own true time. God never leaves the good man behind. If you seek first His kingdom and His will, He shall give you the desires of Your heart, and make your paths straight.

So try not to be too offended by other Artists...don't let them discourage you...but pray for them, that they would see the 'greatness' in 'love' and 'generosity'. Pray for men and woman to stand up from the crowd who will be Artists who are driven not only by self gain, and who are not blind to the needs of others. There is a need for artists who are willing serve, willing to live for a purpose greater then themselves.

God, make us a body. God, give us purpose. God, do your will in and through us Artists.
We give you our dreams, we give you our fears, we give you our anxieties.

Let us be known as those Artists who 'build up' and don't 'tare down'.