Below the window is a city, but there’s only enough space for two
in the hotel room. There aren’t any dreams, it’s too hot to sleep
anyway. I’m putting down word after word. Letters. Quotes. A
traveller’s diary. The forgotten roads travelled to be closer to my
loves. Trust always comes later, as well as the discovery that I’d
missed it. Not only the street, but the entire continent.
The desire for beauty has accompanied man at all times. It found its expression in paintings, frescoes, sculptures, literature, and other works of art. Each generation made its contribution and gave rise to a new direction in creativity. For any person, art is an integral part of his life. We sometimes do not notice this, involuntarily admiring all the beauty that surrounds us. Works of art inspire, shape thinking, and also answer questions that many would be afraid to ask themselves. Art opens up new perspectives for society and also allows us to understand the physical and metaphysical world around us. It allows society to grow and develop.
By Wendy Peters
The Importance of Arts, Culture & The Creative Process
The arts/the creative process is important because it allows for self-expression and provides a unique channel for artists/creatives to express their emotions, perspectives, and interpretations of the world.
It fosters connection, the act of creating and sharing art allows us to connect with ourselves, with other creatives, and those who view our work and in my own case appreciate the natural world.
What stands out most to me about this project is the profound belief in the transformative power of the arts. It's not just about showcasing creativity; it's about championing it as a force for good. The emphasis on fostering a vibrant and inclusive ecosystem is truly inspiring.
I am particularly drawn to the focus on cross-cultural understanding. In a world that often feels increasingly divided, this project provides a vital platform for dialogue, empathy, and shared experiences through art. It celebrates the richness and diversity of human expression, bringing together voices from over 70 countries. This global perspective enriches the creative process and expands our understanding of what it means to be human.
I believe this initiative has the potential to be a truly impactful force for good, nurturing creativity in all its forms and fostering a more interconnected and understanding world.
What was the inspiration for your artwork?
My inspiration behind Tulip Tapestry is how complex and beautiful fallen petals can be, the juxtaposition of the delicate, still vibrant tulip petals in their curled and withered state, with the mould dust adding a layer of complexity, is representative of nature’s cyclical rhythm, offering a deep appreciation for the beauty in decay. How hidden beauty can be found in unexpected places.
Expanding and contracting like a nova
To a nebula of red alarm,
A blinding point of unstable giants—oxygen and gas—
The anointing molecules,
A cross of ash
And chrism of lips
I can press to my forehead, now, imagining it.
And—Isn’t that a kind of joy,
When you hold it
To your mind like that?
That sad, beautiful star
Falling through the universe, flashing
Before it dies—bright stroke
That once spit you, human,
From its convoluted core
And lit a torch to the future
Like lovers rapturing do, licking
The lap of death, flaming
Oblivion with burst light,
A final streak, a slash
Of seed against the black
Before they disappear completely?
By John Compton
i imagine john ashbery reading my book instead of dying
john ashbery laid my book
on his desk, his face
aligned with the cover.
his fingers stitched neatly,
binding his hands.
his eyes extending their reach.
he sat, soundlessly,
listening to david, in the other room,
gather produce for a vegetable soup.
the pantry door creaked gently,
dropping a poem into the air.
he breathed, a subtle groan—
the sound of preparing.
john lingered at the title page,
letting the poems simmer:
a breath caught in his cheek.
he slid his finger across trainride,
met the corner of the page,
& turned to “felicity.”
he understood the mathematical equation
referencing a blowjob.
his smile creased like a dog-ear.
●●●●●
inanimate stranger
i scout a pocket
to inhabit. the room
renders listless.
my mind distends with displeasure.
every second trickles. water
slurs through the glass.
air is soaking
with the smell. in the road
the dog is as heavy
as my pen.
he is a chattel
of my imagination. a meager
creature to the yellow
lines. the chatter behind me
becomes anonymous.
a girl shrieks. her flushed
face speaks
for her humane mouth.
//
a man
kisses a lady
in a photograph.
their white frowzy hair
speaks depths
about their happiness.
●●●●●
since the world is war
writing poetry
reincarnated
his country.
he records new cities
while watching
buildings
become rubble.
he sounds out
gunfire,
turns the music
of warheads
down.
he witnesses
children die—
he watches mothers
weep, ripped apart, then
die.
he scrutinizes men
with power,
wanting to be gods,
becoming gods.
//
he tries to ignore
the corpus mountain
that accumulates
outside his window
because in his nightmares
ominous stares
haunt him—
dead eyes
never close—
there, the deceased rise.
Living in a diving bell
how much can any creature know?
I watched minnows drift past.2
In their aluminum armor
saw my fangs, my four sets of eyes.
It was like being visited
by a stranger, my reflection a ghost
who appeared occasionally,
a bit lost, expectant.
The Creative Process: Podcast Interviews & Portraits of the World’s Leading Authors & Creative Thinkers
Inspiring Students – Encouraging Reading - Connecting through Stories
The Creative Process exhibition is traveling to universities and museums. The Creative Process exhibition consists of interviews with over 100 esteemed writers, including Joyce Carol Oates, Hilary Mantel, Neil Gaiman, Viet Thanh Nguyen, Tobias Wolff, Richard Ford, Junot Díaz, Marie Darrieussecq, Michel Faber, T.C. Boyle, Jay McInerney, George Saunders, Geoff Dyer, Etgar Keret, Douglas Kennedy, Sam Lipsyte, and Yiyun Li, among others. Artist and interviewer: Mia Funk.
