Creation,
whether done for
oneself or another,
should be shared;
however,
what we make is part of a
conversation across
time and space.
The closest we may come to actual time travel;
I write this, on a gray, January morning, but
who knows when you are reading it? Or where?
I sit on a rusty folding chair that has been
on this earth
longer than me;
a blanket placed between it and myself to
provide some semblance of comfort.
The type of blanket will vary by reader;
does it have a pattern? Is it
geometric? Is the name of my alma mater sewn
into the corner?
Is it an afghan? A quilt?
Is it threadbare, fluffy, or or thin?
It all depends on how much I choose to tell, and
what is left for you to fill.
Once we hand it off, whether by
posting online, or
publishing on paper, or
speaking into the universe,
only one part of this
transcendental transaction between
creator and consumer is complete.
The creation itself exists between
our intention and
what you bring;
read into it what you will, but
know that the mirror of Art reflects
more than the artist.
by Erik Shinker
This is lovely. 🙂
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Thank you 🙂
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Incredible. Really loved this one.
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Thank you so much!
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Yes, the whole co-creation of the text with the reader has always been a bit confounding to me, but I’m learning to just let it go.
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It’s definitely a mercurial relationship; I figured I’d try to give a tangible example in the vein of what Stephen King does in his book On Writing. I think it is more present in the writer’s mind than the reader’s.
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Your tangible example was very effective. I think you’re right about this notion being more in the writer’s mind than the reader’s–unless you’re in a graduate literature seminar–and then, God help you to even know which end is up.
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I’m always fascinated by the way that art can be interpreted so differently by different people. It’s what makes creating so fin and rewarding. Great piece!
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