Late, I know.

Hey,

I know that I went silent there for awhile, but my personal life got quite busy! There were vacations, funerals, a wedding, and a proposal. In other news, I'm engaged now! But that's not what I want to talk about. I never forgot about my blog, and I've been wanting to find time to post here for a long time. Finally I have some free time, so I will hopefully post with some regularity again.


You'll hear from me soon!

~Carrie

For the Love of Music

Throughout life there are lots of inconsistencies. Thankfully, music is not one of them. And music is what I'd like to talk about today, and most everyday, if I'm being perfectly honest.

Not only are there endless possibilities in music, a seemingly endless history within it, and millions of artists to explore, music is always there for you. When you're happy, you listen to music. When you're sad, you cry to music. When you're lost, or alone, you can find yourself in music. There is a song and a melody for every occasion and emotion. And unlike most things in life, these songs don't change or warp with time. Sure, trends change, and artists come and go, but those songs that you love, that you know by heart, will always be there. And that's an incredibly beautiful thing. Whenever you need music, it's there. Even if you have no way of playing it, you can hum or sing it yourself. It's the rhythm of our lives, and it can be found everywhere on this earth. Personally, it's a very important part of my life. Sometimes these songs, and the meaning they have to me, have been all I had to hold onto. I will always love music, and be thankful to it, and the artists behind it, for all that they've done for me.

I love music's ability to bring back memories. You hear a song from your childhood, or even just an old favorite from a few years ago, and you're brought right back. All the memories and associations it has to that time in your life flood your mind. You're standing again in your old best friend's house, you're back in high school, you're sitting in your car once more commuting to work. Whatever time of your life this song is from, you can feel it all again for a moment. It's an amazing experience. Music connects us to our pasts. It helps life become one continual flowing story, instead of many little chunks and phases. It helps us tap into all sides of ourselves. It can even help us to grow, or discover new aspects of who we are. Through it we can grow, heal, play, think, cry, search. I could keep going, but I'll stop myself from waxing on too much.

As much as I love putting on an old favorite, I also love finding a new one. That magical feeling when you hear a song for the first time and know instantly that it's going to be a new favorite. It pulls you outside of life for a moment and speaks to your soul. Whether it's a somber, dramatic, moving, song, or it's a song that makes you want to sing along and dance, it's a wonderful experience. It's one of my favorite parts of life, actually. And in music's consistency, it doesn't get stale. Music still grows, changes, and expands. There are always new songs, new sounds, new beats, and new artists, just waiting to be found. Why music is so great is because unlike so many other things, it doesn't tear down the old to make room for the new. It just expands. You just get more. And if you don't want more, that's fine. Just keep what you have and what you like, and live your life listening to all your favorite standbys. But for the rest of us, it's an unending source of excitement and curiosity. Discovering a new band that you love is so exciting! That connection that you feel to the songs, and artist. How understood you can feel. New sounds that you love, lyrics that move you, or make you happy. You can study up on the artist, get a feel for who they are. You can follow their career, wait in anticipation for their next album, hope they come on tour near enough to see live, so many things! And I love hearing the new trends and experiments that artists are coming up with. I love being surprised and intrigued by a new sound or method. Sometimes I hate it, but other times it's great. And that's why it's beautiful. I truly could talk about this for what feels like forever.


Music unites people.

I don't know how many wonderful conversations I've had with complete strangers because of music. And how many people are united by going to a concert? Having an entire room, concert hall, arena, of people who all gathered out of love and appreciation for the same music. Everyone cheering together, singing along, dancing. Celebrating music together. It's inspiring, and I love it. I think now, in these times, people need more things like music. More things to make us unite. More things to love, be excited about, and to be thankful for. More things to make us feel a connection to each other, and realize that we're all in this together. Think of those songs that you relate to so much they seem to be written about you. Now think of all the other people who heard that same song and felt the same way. The pain and confusion that you feel, has been felt by others. We all cry to the same songs. We all dance to the same songs. We're the same. And we're in this together. The world is quite the frightening place right now. The uncertainty and concern that you feel isn't yours alone. It's being felt by millions.

We aren't each other's enemies. We're all each other have.

~Carrie

Autumn is Upon Us

The time has come, once again, when the air gains a brisk chill, the days grow shorter, school comes back for those who are attending, and most notably, the trees change their color, and the leaves begin to fall.

Personally, I love Autumn. Some people don't care for it. They don't like to see summer go, or they don't want the cooler weather, or they don't want the stress of the upcoming holiday season, or they don't want school to start again. I see their point, and I understand. But I disagree. Autumn is a wonderful time of the year, and I cherish it whenever it comes back to me. I will admit, I say that about most seasons as they come, but Fall is my favorite. I enjoy Spring, mostly because it promises the arrival of Summer, and I love Summer for the warmer weather, the long days, the time spent with family and friends, and (hopefully) the vacations. Winter, as you guessed it, is my least favorite. The only thing that makes winter tolerable is the holidays, and once they're over there is nothing good about it. It's cold. It's wet. It's dark. It's unrelenting, and I despise it. So now that that's out of the way, let's move back onto Fall, shall we?

I love all parts of it. I love the colors. I love walking down the leaf lined streets, with the gently blowing, rustling leaves overhead. I love the sound of stepping on a crunchy dried up leaf. Of looking up to see all the trees and bushes doing their best to dazzle you with their beauty. Seeing the pale blue sky, and the warm but gentle Autumn sun. I love the beautifully haunting feel that accompanies it. I love hearing the first sounds of rain, the delighting in the smell that comes after it. I even love raking up the leaves in the back yard.


I love how the air changes, and gets that chill that follows it. I love bundling up in extra clothes. I love the chilly and lazy Fall days, spent simply curled up on the couch under a cozy blanket, warm tea in hand, nestled in for some long needed time just looking out the window, watching the world go by. And when that gets old, changing your attention to a good book, or maybe watching your old favorite movie. It is in this season, that I feel my spirit really gets to rest. No other time of year do I get to rest, relax, and cherish my surroundings as I do in Fall. Spring is spent preparing, Summer is spent doing, and Winter is spent just trying to keep ahead of your growing 'to do' list. It is the delightful Fall, when my mind gets to explore, rest, and marvel. It's like the entire earth takes a deep breath during Fall (or at least the parts of Earth that are experiencing it). My mind always wanders. I begin to dream again. I prioritize myself this time of year. I begin to shake off all the stress and busyness from the rest of the year, and seem to find myself once more. I have a sense of wonder, and feel like anything is possible. I start to plan for the future, and take time to think of what I truly want. It's a freeing season for me. I feel like, as the trees shake their old and dying leaves, I do the same, with my weariness and stagnant frame of mind. I go through a process of renewal, and refreshment. The solitary, yet comforting sense of this season is part of why I like it. One can truly be alone in Fall, and yet not feel bad about oneself. Unlike in the holiday season, the season of love, and the adventure filled Summer season, where no one really enjoys being alone. In Fall, you can not only be alone with yourself, but you can cherish it. Find yourself, enjoy yourself, help yourself, and let yourself rest. I think it is largely due to this time with myself that I can happily go through the rest of the year. Not that I don't like people, or don't see anyone at all during Fall, just that those few times where you can be exclusively yourself are crucial to a healthy mind. It's centering. Despite what it probably sounds like, I'm usually quite social during Autumn. I enjoy going out with my friends, spending time with my family, having small parties and get togethers, enjoying seasonal festivities like making caramel apples, or going to corn mazes and such. But there's a different sense in it during this season. Maybe because it feels less mandatory, and more just because I feel like it. Maybe because sprinkled in between are many more quiet and restful days. I'm not sure. But I love it. As I love this seasons thoughtful nature.



To conclude, Fall is much more than pumpkin spice lattes, scarves, boots, football season, and Halloween. It's a truly lovely season, with a lot of thought provoking aspects, and though I sometimes feel that it's underappreciated, I don't really mind, because that makes it feel all the more special and lovely to me.

So best wishes! And may your Autumn season be truly enchanting.

~Carrie

What Is Art?

What is art? Why is it that one person can make a hamburger and it's a culinary masterpiece, and one person can make one and it's just food. One architect can design a building, and it simply meets the requirements of the task, and another designs a building and it's a beautiful work of art that inspires people and is remarkable enough that travelers come from across the world to marvel at it.

Is it because the one is just a better specimen? Not necessarily. Maybe the hamburger made by person number two was just as tasty if not more so than the first. He simply made it just because he was hungry and that's how he prefers it. Is it in the attitude behind the work? The creative energy and love being poured into it? Maybe, maybe not. Surely the little child in school pours love into his class pottery project, but does that make it art? Maybe it isn't just love and creative energy, maybe it's also the skill to successfully make it. Does art have to be good to be art? Also, what can be art? Society acknowledges painting and sculpting as art. Usually music is considered art. Poetry. Culinary arts. Many people consider fashion to be an art, as well as ballet. But what about the other things? People pour passion and love into all kinds of hobbies and tasks. Can a passionate mechanic be an artist? What about an inventor? They certainly put a lot of care into the things they create. And also how do you distinguish who is and who isn't. A person who paints is a painter is an artist. But a person who cooks isn't a chef isn't necessarily a culinary artist. Why are some hobbies automatically arts, and some you have to qualify? Is it because some are in their foundation an artistic thing to do, so obviously you're an artist if you do it? And the others aren't really artsy in nature, but can be converted into such through the hands of a passionate and creative person? And also, is it really true that anyone who takes a paintbrush to a canvas is an artist? That seems to be a popular opinion, but is it true? Anyone can decide to (Or be forced into)take an art class. They go for four weeks and have a project each class, they have fun with it, and once they're done they're done. People go to their house and see a project or two and declare "Those are wonderful! You're an artist!" But is that all it takes? Also what if they were really bad? The projects didn't come out as desired, and aren't pleasing to the eye. Still, the friends declare the person an artist, because hey, they painted something, right? That's all it takes.

But is it?

And here's another question, does art have to be pretty to be art? What most people think of as art is some beautiful painting, or some marvelous statue, but is that all? I think it depends on your definition. Does it have to be pretty, like a flower or sunset? No, but I do believe it's always beautiful somehow. Art can be sad, or moving, or angry. It can be quiet, or vibrant and full of life! It can be completely off putting, but so raw and genuine that it's beautiful somehow. Art can give a window into a persons soul. Or act as a portal to a new culture, or different way of life. It can bring you into a moment, or emotion. Sometimes it isn't a moment you like, or an emotion that is enjoyable, but somehow the expression is beautiful. So no, I don't think art has to be pretty, but I believe all true art is, in some way, beautiful.

Is writing an art? Sometimes it's just typing facts, sometimes it's telling fantastical stories, sometimes it's telling deep and moving truths. Where is the line? Is it in the author? In the works? Or in both? Is it case by case? And also who makes the call about what is and what isn't art? Is it if the majority of the population agrees? Can something be art if no one in the world says that it is? Is there some cosmic truth that qualifies something to be art, and it is so for as long as it exists, whether or not it's publicly acknowledged? Take Van Gogh, for instance. He's acclaimed world wide as a wonderful and influential artist, and yet he had no fame when he lived, and died thinking himself a failure. Were his works always wonderful works of art, and the people of his time just missed the memo, or did they become art as they were rediscovered and appreciated? Is art in the object in question, or is it all in the perspective of the beholder?

Also, is making a bold statement art? Like the bizarre spectacles that can be seen on the fashion runway. Things made not for function, and not for beauty, but to make a point, or to surprise or shock people. Does the fact that they shaved their models eyebrows off and colored in her lips as black, then stuck her in a black plastic bag with hot pink 12" heels make it art? It's certainly unique, and a surprise to see, but does that make it art? Lots of people seem to think so, but why? Can anyone just spin the wheel and put together a cacophony of clothes and accessories then put it on the runway and be an artist? Or maybe you say that those strange and alarming sights aren't just random or there just for the element of surprise, but that the designer seamlessly and diligently put all those pieces together for a work of art that is on a higher level, and simply cannot be understood by everyone. I don't believe that. Undeniably there are pieces just made to be unique and bizarre. Never made to be worn out on the streets, or introduced into everyday fashion. So once the goal is just to be different from everyone else, who's to say that they still have the underlying artistic intent, and aren't just trying to think of anything and everything that hasn't been done before, and therefore will make them stand out. Perhaps you'll say that the goal of doing something that is so weird it hasn't been done before, is in itself an artistic thing to do. That's a thought, but I'm not sure I agree. I think the idea of flying from one extreme to another with your only goal being to do what's never before been done, to shock people, isn't a path for the artist, but for someone desperately seeking attention. I've seen lots of people hailed as an incredible and gifted artist, who don't make things for the sake of art, but for shock value, or to get under peoples skin. Are they artists? Is what they make art? Take some of the famed artists from the 20's for example. Most of their goals were to push the limits of society and be rude or obscene somehow. He's an example of the question of whether or not it's art. Pablo Picasso painted a very abstract picture of three naked women, and when he finished it he couldn't stand to look at it, and kept it hidden away in his office, turned around out of sight for years. Everyone at the time (himself included) were put off by it, and thought it to be brash and indecent. Now, however, an old painting of three crudely painted female bodies in less than flattering poses hardly makes anyone bat an eye, and is hung proudly on a museum wall, declared as a beautiful art piece. But it wasn't meant to be. It was painted not as a beautiful creation, but as a rude piece to be used to thumb the nose at society. The artist himself viewed it as such, as did all his friends and colleagues. And yet, here it is now. Labeled by everyone as art. Who is right? Is the painter and creator of it right, and it's an indecent jab at the world, or are the modern day art curators right, and it's beautiful and cutting edge? And if so, was it always a wonderful work of art, that was simply unappreciated in it's time, or has it never been art, and people are simply holding it up to be that because of it's age and who painted it? Or, stranger yet, did it somehow change, and was made not as art, yet turned into an art piece as society changed? Is it really that fluid?

Speaking or fluidity, take acting. Back in time being an actor was a low thing to be. It wasn't respected and it was viewed as basically the same as being a circus performer. I'm referring to way back in time, like Dickensian Era and before. Acting in plays, or being in a traveling show was not considered being an artist at all, it was not looked up to, and it wasn't a desired career choice. But now, being an actor on Broadway is a very big achievement, is considered by many people as a form of art, and is the dream of millions of people. So, were those old actors artists like their modern day counter parts, or were they not? If modern critics could go back, would they wax on about the raw emotion, the troubled soul of the unappreciated artist who was born too soon to an unprepared world? How these people were spreading emotions and stories of drama, and how they were so dedicated to their art that they did so even in the face of a society that didn't understand? Or, were these just vagabond people dancing around on a stage primitively acting out the roles of their character for money? I suppose I have a two part question. One, can we view modern day actors and our days gone by actors as the same, and then if yes, was it art back then and simply not acknowledged, or was doing the same exact thing at one point in time not an art, and at another point in time an art. Is it so subjective as that? Or is art an unchangeable thing. A rule, a truth that always is and always has been and always will be, whether acknowledged or not.


I truly don't know the answers to all these questions, and maybe no one else does either. But I thought they were worth asking, and worth thinking about. I hope you enjoyed reading my thoughts, and maybe it sparked a few new ideas for you.
Even if not, thank you for your time


~Carrie

A Fresh Start

I used to blog with some regularity several years ago, and it feels kind of nice to be starting a new one again. It's also fitting somehow, a fresh start on a new blog, for a fresh start on a new season. This post won't be like what most of them are going to be, or at least that's the plan. It will be somewhat of a mishmash of subjects and styles, whatever I feel like saying or writing about, and with whatever frequency I like. I'll try to post somewhat regularly, but I'm not making any guarantees! Writing like this is something that I kind of need to be in the mood for, but I'm hoping to stay in a creative mindset which shouldn't be too hard because I usually feel creative and wordy in Spring and Summer. I also have lots of random thoughts rolling around my head that I would like to put down into words. And I have some exciting things to look forward to that I will probably feel like talking about! Anyway, right now I actually have some friends coming over, so I need to start getting ready! But I'll write again soon! ~Carrie