True art is magical. Art objects seduce us into collecting, saving and preserving them. They are capable of driving us to new levels of obsession and irrational behavior. People have been known to steal, deface, and even shoot bullets at them. Works of art stir passion within us like no other objects. Artistic objects, as opposed to those with a functional purpose, have a tradition that stretches back to shamanistic cultures in which crafting of talismans and ritual objects could bring good fortune and healing. To a certain degree, artists continue this shamanistic tradition. Like shamans, the objects they create have a fetishistic quality. To posses the object is to possess the magic and power inherent in it and the spell an artwork can put on us is undeniable. Being in the presence of a great work can change the way one feels, thinks, and sees the world. We do not give meaning to an artwork. The artwork gives meaning to us. When we are enchanted by an art object we become the object. We evoke it’s drama, exude it’s power, or absorb its calm. The effect on our consciousness is palpable and addictive. To create art of this kind, an artist must become a vehicle for the mysterious undercurrent of our experience. In order to do this they must let go of their ego. Artists that are concerned with making “good art” are doomed to make weak art. Artists that are preoccupied with how their art reflects on their persona will fail to create objects that can live on their own. The greatest artistic skill to posses is the ability to listen and understand what the artwork wants and needs to be. The artwork dictates how it must be made. Too often artists attempt to impose their will on a work. They decide before hand what the thing will be, only to struggle when the artwork wishes to be something else. When one succeeds in the creation of true art, they often will not know how they created what they have. The artist was only a facilitator and in truth the artwork has created itself.
