From: Leland Jory (ljory@mts.net)
Date: Mon Mar 15 2004 - 23:40:36 GMT
Platt Holden wrote:
>Hi Wim,
>
>
>
>>Dear Platt,
>>
>>I have never been much aware of 'Quaker aesthetics'. I guess it rhymed with
>>my Calvinist background when I got to know Quakers, so I never needed to
>>become much aware of it as a change of perspective.
>>
>>
>
>What I had in mind were the artifacts of Quaker-Shaker life here in the U.S.
>such as chairs, chests, baskets, barns, buildings etc. which exhibit a
>distinctive aesthetic style marked by harmony, elegance and simplicity.
>
As long as you keep in mind that words like "harmony", "elegance" and
"simplicity" are pasted on post-hoc. The same goes for good rhetoric.
The rules are pasted on after the writing is complete. The fact is most
of that furniture and those buildings were built by true craftsmen, who
had a direct connection with Dynamic Quality. Calling Quaker/Shaker
construction a 'style' is demeaning the work that they did. I think it
is the profound lack of 'style' in Quaker/Shaker construction that makes
it so appealing.
I've seen many [Qu|Sh]aker "styled" replicas, and they are sorely
lacking in Quality. The styling is applied like a candy coating over
chipboard construction (to keep costs down and margins high). Or, if it
happens to be made of solid wood, it is made of the cheapest possible
materials. Plus, it is rarely as 'simple' or 'elegant' as true
[Qu|Sh]aker-built pieces.
> "Simplicity" is indeed the mark of the Quaker style, widely imitated by
>
>modernists. I like your phrase "manifestation of God" because I believe
>great art to be a "manifestation of Dynamic Quality." I know it's
>misleading to connect God and DQ, but sometimes I just can't help myself.
>
>
The only reason it could be misleading to use 'god' in place of DQ is
that the word 'god' is frought with meaning that has been applied
(again) post-hoc. Personally, I don't have a problem with the word
'god' any more than I have a problem with the word 'artichoke', and I
can't fathom why others do.
--
Leland Jory :^{)>
Cafeteria Spiritualist and Philosopher
"It is a puzzling thing. The truth knocks on the door and you say, 'Go
away, I'm looking for the truth.' and so it goes away. Puzzling." -
Robert Pirsig, Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance
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