Introducing a new page at MMA: Van Gogh’s Missing Ear

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The psychologist, Frank Xavier Barron, who spent most of his career studying creativity and personality said, “The creative person is both more primitive and more cultivated, more destructive, a lot madder and a lot saner, than the average person.”

As Barron’s quote suggests, possessing a creative spirit is not without its risks.

I had the fortune to attend a legal seminar, the topic of which was professional burnout and dissatisfaction, where one of the speakers explained how he had gotten away from his own creativity as a legal professional. He explained how that sent him on a downward trajectory into depression, and how he pulled out of it. This is what he said, more or less:

“Though I have had success at painting, ultimately it was not enough to pay the bills. So, I went back to law practice, and this is what I discovered. My creative pursuit makes it so that I can be a lawyer. To be just a lawyer is not an option for me. I tried that, and it almost killed me.

“Painting also helped me to discover what that horrible feeling in the pit of my stomach was. It was my creative spirit. That spirit, without an outlet to create, became my mortal enemy. What I learned is, if it didn’t get to create, I didn’t get to live. I let it out to paint. The hatred, anxiety and dispair that it was became grace, beauty and goodness at the point where the brush touches the canvas. Even when I am done working on a piece, that feeling of satisfaction I get from the act of creating stays with me, even when sitting at my desk at the office working on a mind-numbing case. As a result, my legal work–and life in general–is of a higher quality than it would be without my painting.

“Some of us are charged with the mandate to create, or whither on the vine, and spend wasted lives in the service of absurdity.”

Whether you are charged with the mandate to create, or not, Mad Mike’s America has a category devoted to the creative spirit featuring art, literature, music and anything else that might make you say, “wow,” and keep those of us who contribute mostly sane. It’s called, Van Gogh’s Missing Ear at Mad Mike’s America.

We hope you like it.

Leave your knives, swords, cleavers, battle axes and other sharp instruments at the door, please and make the journey now to Van Gogh’s Missing Ear!

 

About Post Author

Collin Hinds

Senior Writer and editor.
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Jess
12 years ago

I totally forgot about this link yesterday. Hey what can I say, I was drooling over men in uniform. Here is a project that is so worth a few minutes of your clicking time. I’ll warn you beforehand, it is very addictive. Enjoy your time there and may you come out of it with some smiles.

http://www.googleartproject.com/

Robert E. Lee
12 years ago

Hooray finally an art corner. Hoping to see a sports corner soon.

12 years ago

I have not yet visited the page, but your introduction resonated with me in a major way.

I am adding the essay to a list of outstanding expression I keep.

lazersedge
12 years ago

This sounds like fun Collin. Something or someone needs to get my head out of the dumps. Great idea.

Admin
12 years ago

Jess is BACK!!! Yay!!

Jess
12 years ago

I might just go join the Marines, after seeing this. Hope this keeps up with the music theme, you’re talking about here. Made me smile too.

Jess
Reply to  Collin Hinds
12 years ago

Looks like really good stress relief for them, considering the situation they are all in.

lazersedge
Reply to  Jess
12 years ago

I was definitely in the Marines at the wrong f****** time. WOW! Great video.

Jess
Reply to  lazersedge
12 years ago

I’ve never been in, but I would to meet more than one of these people. I have chosen my next ex husband from the ranks of the Marines, now I just have to find him 🙂

12 years ago

I love this, and am looking forward to making a major contribution under the guidance of CH. Go for it my lad.

Reply to  Holte Ender
12 years ago

Me too! I have the perfect Elvis song in mind 🙂

12 years ago

Now vodka has the same effect on me!

I knew I was right!

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