The Case for Naivete

I’ll never know what anyone else thinks I mean when I say that I make art any more than I understand it, myself. It’s not a thinking activity. It’s an energy that has to go somewhere. Regardless of whether or not it ever goes on display, it has to be moved from the subconscious to the… well, to here. If that doesn’t happen, I feel sick in my head and in my heart.

I’m intelligent but slow. I am passionate without raising my voice. I ain’t here to debate. I’m not an introvert, I’m just from the country.

The older I get, the less concerned I am with being “successful.” I don’t have a 401K. When I drank, I wanted to die. Now, I’m just lucky, ready and unafraid. Security, like Success, is a booming industry that keeps a handful of us on top and most of the rest of us on our toes. The less I plan, the more art I make and the more art I make, the more contented I feel. And that’s how it has to be, now. The sooner we can admit to ourselves that the dream is over, the sooner we can push through the pain.

According to artist, author and speaker, Amie McNee, “Another beautiful reason to create is because it reclaims your most valuable resource, which has been robbed of us, and that’s our attention. In a society that profits from you being stuck on your phone, giving your attention to art is a rebellious act.” (TEDx Talks, 7:57-8:19)

It doesn’t matter what I make, only that it’s honest. And it hurts to truly be here. I don’t blame anyone for checking out the way I’ve done, myself, for weeks on end. I’m not happy because I’m paying attention. I’m frustrated at my all-too-frequent inability to speak up for fear of sounding somehow naive but I am trying and learning to be embarrassed.

The word “naive” derives from Old French and Latin words meaning “natural” and “not artificial,” respectively. It is naive to feel and to care and it is naive to make art. It’s naive to both recognize that Trump and his ilk are liars who care nothing about us and to choose not to pretend that they do out of fear of losing a sense of security. On the other hand, to do so is to be sophisticated, cynical and racist.

The Muse says to The Cynic:

Be still

Listen, watch and listen

Now dance!

We don’t need perfection

Only motion

If you want to die, be my guest

But I’m not going anywhere

I’ve always been here, everywhere

And I’ll be here when you return

I’ll cradle your sickness

Microwave it and eat it up!

And stop trying to use their words

You were born with your own

We need folks who are equally

Willing to create

And prepared to die