THE ARTIST, HIS IMMORTALITY

the artist has an advantage ... the artist has his art ... it fills that category ... that which god did not make alone ... which is the second most interesting category in all of reality ... because it defines creature and creation ... what they did after they were made ... all art all artists he and she we and they make these things ... sculptures their miniatures ... game designers their sequence of play ... teachers their habits of thought ... plumbers their customers' relief ... electricians their enlightenment ... we leave something behind ... even if it doesn't last very long ... the satisfaction of the artist is a mental delight looking at what he has made ... but his spiritual delight lasts longer because it transforms his soul ... in his humility and in his gratitude ... and gets him ready to move ... then moves him to a safe place a neutral space that nonetheless respects his craftsmanship in the things that he has made ... a place where he can agree he did not make these things alone ... he had help ... and now flips the phrase and sees he was the one who helped ... good art helps the good and graceful craftsmen ... bad art helps the other ones