2 posts tagged “michelangelo”

I've been carrying around this passage for a couple years - I've always been a fan of the master Michelangelo, and this message helps me think about the dedication and vision he demonstrated throughout his career.  Can you image the potential we all possess if we tapped into this kind of commitment to excellence?  Personally, this inspires me to keep moving forward towards my goals & I hope it inspires you as well - Enjoy

David

1. You are able to create beauty even with a weak foundation if you have an attitude of constructive creativity. The marble Michelangelo was given to create "David" was substandard and he worked with it, anyway. What in your life has both a weak foundation AND seems to be calling you to create something with it?

2. You can make the "same thing" as other people AND do it from a different perspective to produce a completely different texture and experience. Michelangelo created David BEFORE his big battle, while traditionally he had been sculpted as the Victor, post battle. What have you been thinking about taking action upon that "Everyone else has already done before"? How can you look at your idea differently?

3. You can adopt a project that originally belonged to someone else and make it 100% your own through both your passion and your unique inventiveness. Michelangelo's "David"began its life as the work of Agostino di Duccio. What a loss for the world if Michelangelo had not taken the unfinished work of di Duccio to form the timeless, classic, heart speaking "David". Are there any intriguing, unfinished projects abandoned by a colleague, friend or family member that you would like to take on as your own?

4. Craft your life and your life work with the people you live with (or in terms of a business or project, the reader, participant, audience, student) at the forefront of your mind. The eyes of "David" are not formed anatomically correct: they are actually looking in directions that are not possible for human eyes to simultaneously look. Michelangelo knew that when people looked at his work "from profile" they would see one profile and one eye, and when they looked from the other side, they would see the other side....which would look more impressive with the eye peering
slightly differently. Not a huge tweak, and not noticeable unless you are eye to eye with the sculpture, which is physically impossible unless on scaffolding. It is almost like the Special Effects in today's movies. What tiny tweaks, special effects, would attract and engage people with your life and work?

5. Your life and work may bring about different meanings for different people. For some scientists,"David" is an amazing study of human anatomy. To others, it is a study of the human emotions. Some Art Historians note there is anger in David's expression. Others say the work is sculpted in his moment of decision to enter battle, so he looks expectant. What would a scientist say about your life and work? What about an artist? How about a child?

6. When your life and work is at appealing to a wide audience and it gains fame and notoriety, other people will capitalize on both you and the project.  Reproductions of "David" are available in many forms. Even garden sculptures are available for purchase. You can perch David right next to your roses or daffodils or cactus if you choose to do so. What might people choose to capture about your life or work to launch their business?

7. Michelangelo crafted "David" in response to his patriotic love for his home city of Firenze (Florence). The sculpture whispered "Freedom" into his ears, as his city had recently become free. What in your life or work is whispering "Freedom" to you? How can you take that raw, heartfelt emotion and use it as a component of your work, project and/or life? Do you feel a sense of patriotism for your home? How can people observe your expression of patriotism?

8. The sheer physical size of "David" is amazing: beyond words, really. To say "Larger than life" is almost amusing...except there is no other way to express it!  In what ways does your work, life or project have a "larger than life" feeling to it? How does this inspire you? If you feel fear in relationship to the largeness of it, how can you step away from that emotion and get grounded in the sheer joy of it rather than the fear of it?

9. It took Michelangelo 3 years to complete "David". Are you committed to a big project in your life enough so you can allow three years to pass from start to completion? Expecting a masterpiece to be crafted with microwave speed is simply not always a possibility.  How can you remain open and committed to the time it takes to create a masterpiece?

10. "David" was borne from Michelangelo's vision and passionate action to transform that vision from his own experience to a tangible experience for all. His famous words about his work are "I saw the angel in the marble and carved until I set him free". What vision are you seeing that is waiting for your special touch and guidance to set it free? What passionate action are you willing to take to set it free?

A work of art can teach us, reach us, in ways we don't always notice at first glance. May "David" inspire you to think differently, live transformatively, and create fearlessly.

Source: Julie Jordan Scott
http://www.5passions.com