ANARCHY-GO ON WITHOUT THE CROWD

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Throughout my life, there have been several individuals who I can say have been inspirations. One person who comes to mind is Ernest Shackleton and his crew of twenty-seven. His expedition to the Antarctic on the ship "The Endurance," which broke apart in the frozen ice and their survival in the most treacherous of conditions is quite a story. For the hell of it, I put my hand in the freezer for only four minutes and decided that was the closest I wanted to venture in recreating their plight. (I don't recommend it.)

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​Another individual is William Morris. Yesterday, I was visiting a local bookstore and saw a book about William Morris. What caught my eye was the title "ANARCHY & BEAUTY WILLIAM MORRIS AND HIS LEGACY," by Fiona MacCarthy.                         For those not familiar with William Morris he was born in the mid 1800's and during his life was an English textile designer, poet, novelist, translator, and socialist activist.  

 I realized that all artists, those who take their craft seriously, are anarchists in one form or another. The mind of artist works like no other mind. The serious artist is an artisan, but is also a craftsman who ventures out into the world with total abandon of the average and the determination to create something special. The thought alone goes against the fiber of the main stream. At first, there might be fear just in trying, but once the bug of desire sinks its teeth into the true artist then there is no stopping the creativity from flowing.

It does not matter which form of art the true artist uses to express him or herself, but what does matter is that they fight everyday with the aspiration to become the best that they can within their personal being. Tell me that does not go against the grain of today's society. Tell me that is not a form of anarchy.

To push one's self when the majority would rather surrender to mediocrity because they desire instant gratification, and to have the guts to destroy one's own artistic work only to begin again, knowing that the next time "it will be better."

To be the one who pours out of the tourist bus with the group only to stop and tie their mythical shoe laces, telling the others they'll catch up. Waiting for the right moment, when the crowd disappears around the corner so that the artist can venture off in another direction alone, as the explorer. True anarchy in the purest form.

The writer, sculptor, musician, poet, singer, painter, and all other forms of artistic expression live in a world unto themselves when they are creating, thinking, developing, and plotting. The finished work, the artistic anarchist's personal expression, is purely that, a personal expression.
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For those who have always ignored the call of the artist within you, rise up and follow your desire, commit to yourself, work hard, and never give up. Be an anarchist.

Thank you
 
Robert Stephen

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