Art and Design Commons^™

Art: The Language We Use When There Is Nothing We Can Say, Peter London

Artizein: Arts and Teaching Journal

When matters of ultimate concern are upon us, the language with which we ordinarily negotiate life reveals its limitations. At these pivotal moments of life, we spontaneously yield to tears or laughter or song or silence. At these high moments reason no longer feels sufficient, is too slow, too pedantic. In these moments we shift inexorably from walking to dancing, from speaking to singing. We rely upon song to console us, we believe in song to hold us steady, to carry us past or closer. We rely on art, these seemingly flimsy things to save us.

Digressing, Kylie Walsh

The Tuxedo Archives

James sat up when Death knocked on the door. He was there to collect James the way children collect laughter. James opened the door; he was not very bright with things like this.

When he was younger his sister smashed a vase over his head after his provokings grew into gaping creatures. After numerous X-rays and MRIs the doctors told them all, “We looked at his head, there’s nothing there.”

Much amusement among the brothers and sisters at this. He could do Calculus problems in his head and tell you about wars that your great-great-great-grandparents fought in when they lived …