This collection of poems is a mosaic that
contains a subliminal message. "It is my birthright to strive for an
uncommon existence," the message murmurs. And just what defines an
“uncommon existence?” I propose that it is a life in the arts. For starters, to
be a professional artist isn’t a 9-5 job. It requires that you go above and beyond the call of duty. Have you ever witnessed an artist or
musician creating something in a rush? Imagine a musician in practice. Are they
hurried, or do they take inordinate amounts of time to perfect their craft?
Imagine any writer tapping away at a keyboard or typewriter. Do they appear
rushed, or are they fully engaged in the activity and not caring what time it
is, where they are, or how long it will take? All artists, regardless of the medium—visual, musical, literary, cinematic, or dance—have an unwritten
understanding with the creative gods that producing beauty in any form is
expensive. And time, which they throw away obscenely on their craft, is the
biggest penance paid. The level of dedication-the seriousness of the artist, is
seen in how much time they devote to it. The more time you spend practicing
your instrument, the sweeter the melody. Thus, a lot of individuals
dabble as weekend artists, which is great, as it is a part-time way for someone to
hone their craft. However, it requires intrinsic ability, intellect, aesthetic
sensibility, and the desire to work alone, sometimes for months or years
without compensation—a lot of unpaid time—to create a piece of art,
music, or a book that is widely regarded as a masterpiece. Therefore, most
individuals appreciate art or even make a hobby of it but will not pursue
careers in art simply due to the price one must pay to be an artist.
Thus, it is the professional artist’s privilege to exist in
any way they see fit, particularly if it means leading an unconventional
lifestyle! One of art’s greatest contributions is its singular point of view—it
sees and expresses what no one else can because artists are not
conventional people. All of them are odd in one way or another, whether they
are extroverts or introverts, schooled, or self-taught. Therefore, it is our privilege
as artists to claim our birthright which is strangely mystical, and oddly
beautiful. Art declares: “I have a right to exist, and beauty is my legacy”
with every word typed, every stroke of the paintbrush, or musical note. Without
the artists of the world, humanity would be a whole lot less human, for art
gives voice to the human will and struggle to survive. Art tells the stories of our survival. Beyond survival, it
sings of our drive to create something lasting, to produce a statement of such consequence that
makes other humans stop, take notice, and appreciate.
When I
decided to return to graduate school to earn what would be my second master’s
degree, I knew I wanted to study Creative Writing because I had been writing
rogue and unschooled since the 4th grade. I wanted the expertise and
validation that only an advanced degree can give. I was surprised and delighted
to find that I would not be earning a Master of Arts degree, but a Master of Humanities
degree. The arts fall under the large umbrella of the Humanities at my
university. Humanities is the study of society and culture; that is, how we have developed as
a species into the advanced artisans we are today. Stanford University defines it this way: “The humanities can be described
as the study of how people process and document the human experience.” During the course of my program, I got to
dabble in a wide swath of subjects that define what it is to be a human: composition,
history, linguistics, literature, modern culture, classic Greek philosophy, and
critical thinking. I never understood how all these elements fit
together until I was able to study them in a systematic way. And what I found is
that regardless of the era, humans have always had a longing to express themselves and to tell their unique stories.
One way to
document moods and immortalize one's thoughts is through poetry, because a poem is a
supremely condensed and economical version of a larger story. What I mean is, in
less than a minute I can capture a snapshot of my life, of my experience; my heartbreak and my triumphs, in a poem.
If the piece is crafted efficiently enough, my thinking will spark your thinking. It
is like lighting a candle. After lighting my own, I turn to you to light your
candle, and then we both have light. This is what art is all about: I will
share my darkness and my light with you, and hopefully I do it in such an
exquisite way that you see your own darkness and beauty reflected in it. Fundamentally, this
is what it means to be an artist; to share your birthright of artistry with others. I hope
these poems, which are a broad stroke of my life, will resonate with you.
Devi Nina Bingham
Arizona, 2024
