Creative Reflections: Art and Social Responsibility

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Artists and creatives embody the essence of our human identities. We all create, whether we realize it or not. We create new words, unique families, and participate in customs and traditions that we've established. Every day, in some way, we are engaging in acts of creation. My aspiration is to guide us towards being creative for God, which entails using our creative energies to promote peace among all people, rather than to destroy, belittle, degrade, or engage in immoral practices. While not every creator may embrace this call, I hope that many will.

Personally, I'm striving to answer this call. For a long time, I saw myself as someone who paints for God. Not directly painting for God, per se, but creating art as a means of expressing my personal feelings—a form of catharsis, almost like confession or testifying. However, I realized that my work wasn't directly inviting viewers to consider God or peace, but rather focused on my feelings and stories. So, I turned to David, the primary writer of the Psalms, for guidance.

David's writing was authentic. At times, he expressed pain, while at others, he exuded joy. Throughout his poetry, he referenced the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob (or Israel—the bloodline, not the nation). This led me to contemplate how I could honestly express myself while ensuring that God received the glory from it.

Initially, I believed that by creating as I did, I was purging negative feelings from my mind and body, which, in turn, made me a more pleasant and loving person. This belief was reinforced after observing interviews with Marilyn Manson. Before you jump to conclusions, hear me out. I noticed that Manson's public persona in interviews was calm, warm, and loving, in stark contrast to his intense, jarring music. This led me to speculate that perhaps his art served as a means of catharsis, allowing him to present himself calmly in public. Take a look at this interview from 2001 where Manson calmly discusses his artistic expression with Bill O'Reilly:

*Parental discretion is advised--some language and imagery may be disturbing. 

Manson served as an inspiration for my exhibition "Artificial/Art Official," where I aimed to assert that, as a follower of Christ, I, too, had the freedom to express myself fully; I should not be ashamed to be honest with my feelings or experiences, akin to David in the Psalms. In fact, the promotional material for the show stated:

"In his solo exhibition, Artificial/Art Official, contemporary artist James Love presents himself as a visual DJ and rockstar. Speaking of the exhibition, Love says, 'I’m sharing works that embody the spirit of free expression. I’m metaphorically standing on a table with a guitar, beautifully screaming, ‘I was made free by God, but certain souls want my spirit in bondage. I won’t be in bondage! Yah!’” Like Basquiat or Picasso, Love creates with a childlike touch, but with the mind of a sage.

This collection spans the last five years and is packed with a dynamic, primal, and essential energy. Artificial/Art Official showcases Love’s unique paintings and sculptures as he wrestles with identity, personal history, and surviving in Asheville" (see original post here).

Looking back, I realize I was somewhat scattered, and that's the truth. I was upfront about this without shame, hoping to inspire others. However, apart from mentioning God, how was I leading my audience to contemplate Biblical or Christ-like truths? I didn't do the best job at that. It was more about free expression and catharsis, which is beneficial for psychological well-being, and I will never deny that. But another angle I'm considering now is how I can use my creativity to promote the truth of Christ, love, and unity? Yes, there are disturbing aspects in scripture, but they are within the context of God revealing a holy truth. I may have revealed a psychological truth, but not a truth that would directly draw someone closer to God—perhaps indirectly.

So, I've begun studying saints known for their creativity, and I'm inspired by how they used their gifts to honor God and serve humanity. I hope that my platform, my business, and my personal creations can be used in a way that honors both the divine and human experience, prompting us to reflect on our actions, motivations, and affect on others, especially the children. 

Note: I do not endorse everything Manson does or considers art (similar to how I do not support everything Ye does or considers art). I strongly oppose individuals who are abusive or engage in misconduct, particularly towards women. However, I recognize that we are all deeply flawed and sinful (not an excuse, but my perspective). Manson is entangled in numerous legal issues (see the timeline here--not suitable for children), and I will refrain from further commentary, instead, praying for the right judgment to prevail.