Holly Blog 21: THE Artiste

I met somebody famous today and it was no big deal. Tyree Guyton stepped out onto his porch one morning and had a vision for his neighborhood. He saw art. Outside. In his neighborhood. Everywhere. He then began working to make real what was in his head. Several years later, he’s now uber famous in the art world and I saw him edging his yard. How cool is that!

Clad with a big pair of shades and an old hat driving an older F-150 hauling junk, I stopped him and said, “Do you live here?” He says:

“WHOA WHOA WHOA!!! Let’s start that over. Hi. How are you?” I obliged with an apology and with common salutatory sayings. I asked again if he lives here and he says “You can say that.” I asked what his name was and he said “Tyree.” I asked how long he’s lived here and he said “a while.” I asked what he does and he said “I am an artist and I did this.”

“WHOA WHOA WHOA!!! You’re THE artiste?! I’m honored.”

I talked with him for a good 30 minutes or so and learned a whole lot of things about life and art. He asked me at first if I was an artist. I said yes. I play classical piano. We talked about how I see the world through music and how he sees it. The further I delved into the conversation. I realized that I am an artist, but not because I am a pianist. I am an artist because I am a living being. And life is art. Therefore, I don’t do art. I am art.

I’ve been thinking about this concept for two days now and the ramifications and implications are astounding. I was actually ashamed of my answer to his, “Are you an artist” question because I feel that it was very shallow and non-committal. Ever since my come-to-Jesus-moment in December when I reevaluated everything that I thought was me and realized how far I had swum into the Sea of IAmEverythingAndNobodyAndHaveNoClueWhoJenayaIs, I’ve struggled with the idea of “Who am I” and “What I Do” are completely different and that some things belong in one category, some in others, and others in none. For example: “I am a pianist”—that is what I do. “I am love”—that goes into both for I am loving and I love (what I do). Both are equally valuable and necessary. So when it all came down to it, “Jenaya” is a blank piece of canvas and I have the privilege of drawing who I am.

One of the questions I asked him was “How do you maintain who you are when you have all this fame and prestige?” He said it’s simple. I remember who I am. For I will be Tyree in this circle and I will be Tyree in that crowd. Tyree never changes even though he moves.

How profound and so simple. Yet so seemingly impossible. To me, this approach to maintaining one’s sanity in this convoluted and “self”-stealing world is truly something that must be practiced.

I’ll probably be coming back to this point later. I am a slow thinker. Well, not slow, more like thorough.

On to cleaning the bathrooms. We get students today (WOOHOO!!!). Time to start doing my job.

Peace out!

JLP