Wednesday, April 28, 2010

Expecting a Masterpiece

“All great and beautiful work has come of first gazing without shrinking into the darkness.” John Ruskin

By Jo Floyd Lucas


I’ve been thinking about this special little tapestry being woven here in Smiling Hearts…four different weavers, and the warp and weft of our stories combining to create art. I believe Rick called it the ‘tie that binds,’ and I'm beginning to see the common thread.

At first glance, we ‘charter contributors’ recognize ourselves as being graduates of Ruskin High School, class of ’71. As another alum and common friend, Danny Burns, has noted before, many of us in this class (and within a year or two on either side of it) seem to have pursued an interest in the arts since then. There is a preponderance of musicians, artists, writers, and performers among us. Others have pursued the healing arts, medicine, and related fields. There are several highly skilled quilters, and and I know of at least one of us who built a work of art into his own property, stone by stone, with his bare hands. I’m sure there are scores more that I have yet to hear from (pardon the preposition, Ms. Searcy!). We seem to be a creative lot, this group of Ruskinites.

Dubby hypothesized that it may have had something to do with the peace and love movement going on while Vietnam raged during our high school years, and I think he’s right. We all felt a tenuous connection to each other during this time, this time during ‘The Draft,’ which was so different than today. Our young men were scholars one day and soldiers the next, and this, I’m sure, led many to search for the sustaining beauty in life.

This musing compelled me to go to our Alma mater’s namesake, John Ruskin, to learn what type of man has, as his legacy, universities, architectural schools, libraries, and fine arts schools.

What an overachiever! I am more than slightly embarrassed that I was unaware of the scope of Ruskin’s accomplishments. Not only was he a leader in progressive social thinking (which is all I knew of him), but he also was a poet, an artist, an art critic, and a prolific writer, offering dozens of influential essays on art and architecture during the late 1800’s. His is responsible for no less than 250 works on a vast range of topics, including a fantasy novel (which most agree to be the first ever written for adult readers, “The King of the Golden River.” (Great Zol!) A compendium of his works was compiled in 1912, and the index to this ‘library edition,’ as it is called, is famous itself for its elaborate scope, and demonstrates the ‘complex interconnectedness of his thought.’


Whew...what a guy. But one thing stands out from all this...’the interconnectedness of his thought’. He saw the big picture, and spent his life attempting to show it to us. The arts relate to the sciences. The sciences relate to social change. Social change relates to writing. Writing relates to fantasy. Fantasy relates to architecture. Architecture relates to the arts. And so it continues.

I began this post with a quote from Ruskin, imploring us to gaze ‘without shrinking into the darkness.’ I think this generation of Ruskin graduates has lived without shrinking too far into the darkness. We’ve fought for civil rights. We’ve fought for peace. We’ve fought for equal rights for women and minorities. We press on. Our job is not done, in fact it’s just begun. But to offer another quote from John Ruskin, “When love and skill work together, expect a masterpiece.”

Friends, let’s weave a masterpiece.

7 comments:

  1. This comment has been removed by the author.

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  2. Very nice post, Jo. I hope we Ruskinites will be able to exchange many more stories about our accomplishments and our dreams in the near future. Whether it be here, in person in October or just via the many avenues of social media that are available to us all in this era of technology. I feel so privileged to be a part of our little community of friends. I hope it will continue for many years to come. Love and blessings to all.

    Danny Burns

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  3. Hello Jo. What a delightful and inspiring message! Isn't it interesting? Ruskin grads...our unintentional connection to principles and art of John Ruskin...the time we were in and the time we're in now...fascinating!

    Your writing has a rhythm and resonates with a sensuous harmony. As an audience, we're also informed by you. Our universe is widened slightly because of your generous perspective. We're so lucky to have the honor to claim you!

    I've told Rick before (and I'm not the only one to notice) that he too is blessed with a gift for "turning a phrase." His wizardry is poignant and cheerfully entertaining at the wave of his fingers across the keyboard. He can make you laugh and cry, often with a short sentence or sometimes with just a word or two.

    Linda's intelligence and bibliography are revealed without the least pretense or snobbery and I get the feeling that she will "spoil" us with more. Speaking for myself, this is an experience to look forward to.

    Right now we are four contributors and I hope others will ask to join. Officially we are only seven followers and another person (Wise Man?) who read/and or write, including comments.

    Wouldn't it be a blast if others come to graze here? Some for a little nibble, others for a full banquet while the blogger medium reaches its full potential!

    I'm thrilled to be associated with the this tapestry, as you call it, and with each of you. Given the company I keep, it is easy for me to go brag about this interesting collage of personality, craft and textures.

    Bravo!

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  4. OK. This is a fabulous post. Wow. See, Jo? I knew you would be a great blogger.

    So - cool - to know that I am a "child" of Ruskin, I am. I, too, have been flabbergasted at the intelligence and artfulness of all of you and others I've reconnected with on FB.

    I'll admit I definitely shrank into the darkness a few times during the past few decades, always emerging eventually - perhaps a bit bruised or worse for wear - but always having gathered a bit more wisdom.

    Oh, and during those times I definitely learned how to gaze into the dark without shrinking. Oh yeah.

    Love this blog!! Wow.

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  5. Danny, we'll be friends forever.

    Dubby, your kind and poetic words touch my heart, as always.

    Reya, you are so gracious. From one child of Ruskin to another, I love you, sister.

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  6. Hi Jo, This is a WONDERFUL "Tapestry". I've learned and been inspired by all of you. It's so interesting that so many of us from Ruskin '71 have so much creativity flowing through our veins. I too am proud to be a child of Ruskin and honored to call all of you my friends. Thank you Jo.

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  7. You're so welcome, Moe...it's great to see you here! Thank you for the encouragement. Please feel free to share YOUR thoughts here,too.

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Your visit makes my heart smile. Thank you.