Art in Times of Crisis

With the current economic meltdown, it seems we may all be in uncharted territory. I've been thinking about the role that art plays in crisis. Historically, it is often the artists, and the creative class, who show us the way through our adversities.

Does magic have a role to play in all of this? I certainly think so. What's needed, in my view, is a perspective that we're all in this together, that whatever happens, we can rise above it and help one another to keep moving on. Competition and greed got us to this point; what will move us beyond it is cooperative effort: working together to meet the challenges that arise.

Magic, if used wisely, can bring people together; it can move people and inspire them. As Tolstoy put it, "art is a human activity that transmits to others the highest and best to which men have risen." Using magic to demonstrate our best, to reinforce our interconnectedness, doesn't mean you have to preach in your performances. It can be more subtle than that, and more direct.

Are you bringing joy to others with your magic, or are you using it to aggrandize your own ego? Are you using magic to convey, "Hey! Look at me, look what I can do that you CAN'T!" Or are you using it to connect with people, join with them in an experience of wonder, that can only be shared, and never imposed.

We do have a role to play, and a service to be rendered. Art means using your talent to share something meaningful with others, even if it's just a moment of joy. I challenge you to give some thought to what it is that you're sharing, and just as importantly, what you really want to share.

Be an inspiration, by simply being inspired, looking and finding your own inspiration, and then sharing it openly and freely with others. That's the real magic!