These are dark and dangerous days. And in times like these, as Alex Ross writes: “Art becomes a model for the concerted action that can only happen outside its sphere.”
I’ve staked my life’s work on this belief.
Of course, the converse is true, as well: Art that is centered outside its sphere cannot become a useful model for anything. Before art can be of any use to anyone, it must first of all be itself.
Distressed and fearful over the current state of our world, it’s understandable that some artists are having difficulty working, these days. But my response is the opposite.
The daily practice of my art is the only thing that keeps me from falling into despair. Each in our own way, we are all doing our best to change things. And I believe that my art is my most valuable contribution to a troubled world. So I am resisting the darkness in the best way I can: I am listening to the music of the earth. I am composing.
My work begins in solitude, but it’s completed in community.
For the past several months, I’ve been off the grid and immersed in work on two large new projects. Soon I will leave my solitude for a while, and immerse myself in community.
-JLA
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