An Ancient Gift – 300 Words by Kasey Lou Lindley

I’ve done a lot of traveling in 2012, and with that comes searching — searching for purpose, home, and my next step. This urge to travel and move was also triggered by my personal need to figure out where my art endeavors will be supported and the most successful. I’ve made many sacrifices for art and that has come with a huge amount of rejection. I’ve even gotten to the point where I proclaimed that I would stop creating and pursuing the expectations I have for myself because the “failure” is discouraging and too painful. Why not just “give in” and stop creating? Perhaps my life will become easier; perhaps letting go of my need to create will take some weight off my shoulders. What’s so wrong with living an art free life? But recently something unexpected happened and I was given a gift when I visited the Anasazi Ridge Petroglyphs, in Southern Utah. It’s not known exactly what the images mean, but they bring many questions to mind. What compelled this civilization to create images? Are they depicting stories that the Anasazie’s wanted to pass on for generations? Are they trail-markers? Are they images created for magic hunting rituals? Are they messages to their gods or aliens? Or are they “sketches” to pass the time? Whatever the reason may be, I found myself completely in awe and came to the conclusion that I can never stop creating, no matter how discouraged I may be feeling. Could you imagine if every person stopped creating because they felt discouraged? Those petroglyphs probably wouldn’t exist if that were the case. So with that thought in mind, and that weight off my shoulders, I say cheers to a new year full of new (good or bad) art!

Featured Artist: Kasey Lou Lindley
Kasey Lou Lindley’s Website