Balance is central to artistic expression. Artists—painters, sculptors, designers, composers, photographers, writers, directors, choreographers, film makers, dancers, performers, conductors—use balance to create a compositional impact on the overall feeling of a completed work of art.
As a woodwind performer, I learned the importance of the breath and proper breathing from an early age. It may sound funny because breathing is something that happens automatically, but it was an important part of my training and performance. It became natural for me to focus on a certain way of breathing.
People make New Year’s resolutions because it feels like it’s a chance to begin again. New Year’s resolutions are essentially a creative process.
As I walked to work last week, the stark beauty of the bare shapes of leafless trees and shrubs stood out clearly against the city landscape. My attention and appreciation were drawn to the branches, bark, and trunks.
The arts—sound, color, dancing, and drama—are everywhere in December. In fact, their presence gives life to the holidays.
It’s that time of year. Last week, I attended a performance of The Nutcracker in a beautiful setting—the Boston Opera House. In fact, holiday season inspired performances of The Nutcracker are taking place all across the country this entire month.
Great artists develop a remarkable ability to “lose” themselves when creating or performing their art.
As we began the walk through the well-manicured pathways, the first thing that came to mind was the skillfulness that was required to create such a masterpiece.
Artists create art to express something meaningful. Artistic expression helps them understand a deep knowing within. At the same time, they engage others with the significance of that knowledge.
Last week, I attended a Boston Symphony Orchestra performance of Benjamin Britten’s War Requiem. While I was immediately struck by the high quality and incredible beauty of the performance, I was also deeply drawn to the qualities inherent within the composition itself that makes it such a stunning tour de force.