by Laurie Barrett
An Exploration of Creativity’s Multi-Modal Expressions
Art is art is art. Language is language is language. The means is not strictly determining. It doesn’t matter the mode, as long as it exists. Creativity is multi-lingual and multi-modal. It can be visual such as painting, sculpture, or photography. Language can be expressed orally, through signs, or pictures. As a communication professional, I see beyond the modality to the truth which is expressed.
Sometimes, I feel conflicted. Why am I so drawn to the arts? Why did I choose to study communication disorders? Where’s the connection? I sometimes forget the connection is the human element of expression. As humans we seem to be motivated to express ourselves. This need is also reinforced when our needs are met through communication. Our mere survival depends on it. My time with you now will explore the connection between visual art and written language as evidenced by a total of four works.
The first set of works, a picture and a poem, came about unexpectedly and nearly simultaneously. I accidentally clipped a cuticle too closely, resulting in a cut. I grabbed a tissue and blotted the skin. When I removed the tissue, I was taken back by the shape of the stain. I looked to see a bold, blood red heart. Instantly themes, words, and connections of meaning ran through my mind. What is the significance? I bleed love? If I bleed love, then don’t we all? After the whirlwind of speculations, I jotted a dramatized expression of Bleeding Hearts.
The phrase, Bleeding Heart, is a derogatory term used to refer to a member of the Democratic Party. A Bleeding Heart is a Liberal who feel so strongly for others that self-sacrifice is acceptable. Bleeding-Heart Liberals are blamed for the drain they put on the economy in forms of social welfare initiatives, healthcare, and other benefits for the poor. More recently the term, snowflake, has taken hold. As a Bleeding Heart myself, living in today’s current political, national, and global environment, I feel the needs and pressures of our society deeply. I also feel insufficient. I wrote Bleeding Heartsas a call to arms, a desperate plea for salvation, believing that we can be saved by the love and deeds of fellow Bleeding Hearts.
I often write and pair visual representations. Sometimes together like Bleeding Hearts. Sometimes, I see an image in nature that captures the tone in a previously written piece. Other times, I either write to match an image or pair two previous works that share a commonality. Honeycomb Sweetwas written as a song in the Spring of 2018. The winter weather shifted into springtime and I was struck by the sense of newness that comes with the season. A pop melody with the words, “When everything is new,” presented itself. I drew a parallel to my personal relationships and began to add to the song. Relationships are often beautiful and easy when they are new. It’s fun and exciting in the beginning, which is reflected in the rhyming and simple phrasing. At some point, life seeps in and starts to alter the experience. Over the past ten years, my relationships with friends have certainly changed. And by “changed,” I mean they’ve ended. I continue to carry grief for each of these lost friendships. I will always love those who have grown in such a way that took them in a new direction. I’ve learned how to love from afar. If I loved you once, I will always love you, no matter how near or far we may be from one another. Honeycomb Sweet references the beginning and end stage of these friendships. I will always remember the time spent with them as “honeycomb sweet.” It was delectable and soul-nourishing.
Exploring the connection between art and writing prompted me to create a visual representation of Honeycomb Sweet. I decided on colors to represent my feelings, not only of sadness and grief, but also joy and the sense of belonging. I decided to illustrate the spectrum with darkness moving to light and hinting at the repeating pattern that often occurs throughout most contexts in life. I aimed to display uniqueness of each separate nook to symbolize our personal uniqueness, and therefore how each relationship is distinct.
Considering that I’m not a skilled or trained artist, I chose to use pastels on a canvas bored. I first sketched out the honeycomb, and simply just started. Early on, I felt panic that I’ve made a drastic mistake, and probably more than one. I felt the terror of over committing and the impending, profound inability to complete this project. Instead of surrendering to my self-doubt and fear, I continued with a growth mindset. I figured that even if this goes terribly awry, I will learn from it, either by error and having to start over, or by completion. Fortunately, the latter was the result. This process can be the same as when I write. I outline and begin, only to find myself lost and losing the words that were just so clear and loud moments before. Then there are times when it seems that all the words on earth are yelling and I can’t sort through. I’m learning that sometimes the solution to producing is simply to either begin or continue. Trusting the journey, or the process just may be creativity’s secret.
Bleeding Hearts
Bleeding hearts
Sacrificial lambs
Pour out your love
Redden the cloth
Blood and tears
Stain and soil
To wash clean with your blood,
the sins and scars
Wash clean and heal
Oh bleeding hearts, we pray
Most desperate souls
Come wash us clean
With mercy overflowing
Oh bleeding hearts
Come wash us clean
Honeycomb Sweet
When everything’s new
It’s easy to see
When everything is new
It’s easy to be free
There’s no loss only gain
All is clean and bright
It’s all alright
Before the fear sets in
Take my hand
Before the regret
Hold me tight
Look ahead and promise to stay
Remember right now
Don’t ever forget
Don’t ever forget right now
Not yet dusty and worn
Not yet dulled and dirty
Fresh and full of energy
When it’s honeycomb sweet
The soul young and tender
All is alright
I’m craving those moments gone by
Those times spent together
Before the troubles and loss
I miss the connection between your heart and mine
It feels like a dream
Now only memories replay
