Is Attention

Hello friends,

For years, as I’ve moved from office to office, I pin up a letterpress printed quote by writer and painter Guy Davenport. Battered, creased, and faded though the heavy paper is, the quote still boldly declares, “Art is always the replacement of indifference with attention.”

I kept the quote—printed way back in 1992—because it causes me to pause and ponder. Is there truth in the quote? Does art always replace indifference with attention? Is attention the opposite of indifference? Hmmm…

At core, I think the quote rings true. Art—film, paintings, dance, music, writing—is expression. Expression does not arise from indifference. Expression arises from interest, passion, and yes, at the very least, expression arises because the artist is paying attention.

Art pays attention to our interior spaces, and art pays attention to the world around us. So the expression of art, I think, causes the viewer, listener, or reader to pay attention. Even when art takes us away from the troubles of the world, it causes our attention to focus on what the art itself is trying to convey: grief, pain, hope, love, lust, wonder…

I’ve always surrounded myself with art of all kinds. It changes my life for the better. So does paying attention.

What do you think? Does Guy Davenport’s quote ring true?

best wishes - Thorn

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Thank you so much for everyone who has backed and/or spread the word about my Witches of Portland campaign! I’m doing a flash goal today: if we reach $4500, all backers $5 and up get another short story! Plus, the print books got a lot more gorgeous at the $4k mark, so thank you again.