Art Saves • by Alessandra Cave

When I was asked to contribute with a story for the Art Saves column, my initial thought was to tell the story of when I quit my safe day job of 10 years to become a full-time photographer. On a second thought, I decided that stories like that can trigger all sorts of anxious feelings on those of us who are hungry for change and longing to be saved. So, perhaps the next time I contribute here, we’ll talk about big leaps. But for now, what I really want to share with you is that we do not need to do something drastic in order to save ourselves.

Looking for the Signs
Today I’m thinking of those of you who might be in need of some self-expression and creativity in your life. You might want to be saved from that job that crushes your soul, from the physical, intense, and invisible work you do as the primary-care giver to your child, from an unhealthy relationship, the sorrow of a recent loss, or perhaps your own anxiety of wanting to be an artist. Today I’m talking to those of you who are reading along, looking for that one last sign and that one last piece of inspiration that may finally set you off on your art path. I’m writing this and nodding my head, “Yes, I’ve been there too.”

The art, creativity, and self-expression talk can feel so loaded, and there have been times in my own journey, when wanting to make art and claim that I was as an artist, felt more like a curse than something that could save me. And why was that?

First reason is that I thought I needed to make big changes in order to find my creative path and ultimately feel happy and saved from a frustrated life. Big changes seemed hard back then, so I never did anything. I thought it was wise to wait for the moment when everything would line up perfectly for me, the day I would have the time, money, energy, and courage to make a move. Only then, I would attempt making art, and mind you, I would be off to a great start making incredible art, and would of course be receiving loads of praise right away and also making good money to top it off! I waited and waited …

My second mistake was to think of art as a glorious finished piece. I wondered when I would ever be able to finish anything decent if my time, energy, and money were so limited. I thought that I needed something tangible, quantifiable, comparable, to define myself as an artist.

Finding my Rhythm
But here is the thing. That perfect day never came and my busy schedule never allowed me to properly start, let alone finish things according to my high standards. Instead, one day I began to take little steps doing little things that made me happy. I went on photo walks, I created mood boards, I planned film dates … Soon, I realized I did not need to produce like a pro to be happy. I simply needed to cultivate an artful way of living and do my own “art” for self-care purposes and pure pleasure. I let go of the idea that I needed a product, a masterpiece, and found joy in the making. I found my rhythm planting one foot in front of the other, step by step, and taking one picture after another, step by step. It actually continues to be this way. The tangible work emerges as a consequence of my creative habit, but honestly, in a way, it hardly matters. The painter Munch put better than I ever could, “I do not believe in any other art, other than that which is forced out by the human need to open one’s heart.” I agree wholeheartedly. It turns out that art is a humble and honest daily process that is as vital as air for me. I believe that the kind of art that saves is a result of a constant hustle rather than the aftermath of just one big scary leap. It is also not the kind of art you can hang on a wall. The art that saves is rooted in our process. It’s in those creative steps we need to take in order to open, heal, and express what is in our hearts.

To learn more about Alessandra Cave, visit alessandracave.com.