Read Jan03 OurNuyoricanThing!
Read Feb03 OurNuyoricanThing!
Read April03 OurNuyoricanThing
Read Summer03 OurNuyoricanThing
Read Sept03 OurNuyoricanThing
Read Nov03 OurNuyoricanThing
Read Jan04 OurNuyoricanThing
by Joe Ubiles
This weekend, Wayne Providence, the Poet Laureate of the South Bronx, passed away at his mother's home. He was a wise and joyous presence at THE POINT and a man full of talents and surprises. An accomplished writer, photographer, actor, teacher, historian, and ball player, Wayne will be deeply missed by all of us at THE POINT, especially the young people who delighted in his stories and poems.
A tribute to Wayne is scheduled for August 21st at 3:00 PM at St. Augustine's Church (Prospect Avenue and 165th Street).
Paul
What Silence Says About Art
The short glib technical answer would be: Nothing! But silence is a necessary and integral part of communication. The Poet, writer, painter, musician and all their combinations plus whatever technology is at hand to make Art use all the elements of communication to express their perception and understanding of life. [As poet it is easier for me to simply use the title Poet to indicate all artists.] But sometimes Silence may be its own communication. Not just the silent pause between verses, or notes. But the more emphatic: Stop.
Not the Stop at the end of Poem, Musical composition or Finished Art Object but the silence that elicits response, the silence that questions, the silence that overwhelms the soul seeking to understand by means of Art the total sum of circumstances that surround us all.
The Poet is Silent.
So that communication may continue, as in dialogic (or multilogic, as the case may be).
So that Art may be more than just an imitation of Life,
So as to allow space for the next step (Poem, Poet, Artistic expression).
So as to understand when life is also Silent.
The Poet is Silent
So as to gather thought, understanding and inspiration.
So as to weigh the significance (or lack thereof), of what has been created.
So as to share, show, or give (or destroy, sometimes) what Art has done.
So as to allow time to heal the wounds of work done.
And while, for the most part, the response or the continuation of the artistic dialogue is avidly sought (to varying degrees). And the rest, which is necessary, much appreciated. It is also true that the Poet will continue, despite non-approval or even non-response until that final Silence. And even then, there are Poets that have produced so much Art, that they have something more to say even after their Silent Terminal Stop.
We will continue the comments on ownership of Art, at a later time, but consider the issue, not just from the perspective of the Poet (or creator), the perceiver (or observer), but also the arbiter (or who labels and/or defines it), or even the "owner" ("in possession").
Sam
In the Service of Poetry, Art and Community
[email responses and/or comments to: nuyoricanPC@netscape.net) or (nuyorican@mindspring.com; attn: Sam)