4 GROUNDCOVER NEWS OPINION Dreamcatchers: the good, the bad, the ugly Dreamcatchers are more than just a decorative and attractive accessory. They have roots in legend and folklore and are rich in revealing history. The legends and meetings associated with each dreamcatcher reveal how Native Americans relied on the Earth for their home. Modern day interpretations have altered the intentional significance of a dreamcatcher. The concept of the first dreamcatchers were created by Native American culture that believed the air at night was filled with good and bad dreams. Each creation was intentionally designed as a protective charm that was placed hanging above cradles of young children and beds of adults, the belief being the dreamcatcher would protect them from bad dreams. Dreamcatcher enthusiasts believed that their bad dreams were trapped in the web and destroyed by the light of day. TERESA BASHAM Groundcover vendor No. 570 JULY 14, 2023 Dreamcatchers are more than just round hoops with feathers and beads. Each dreamcatcher is unique, with shapes and accessories having specific meanings to the Native American. Traditional, authentic dreamcatchers are made using only organic natural materials — from the wooden hoop, to the sinew webbing (animal intestines) and handmade beads. Can you spot the differences between these two dreamcatchers? The left is a tchotchke, decorative rather than functional, and the right is a traditional dreamcatcher. Art, it's so much more Art — what is art? I had to think deeply about this question. I wanted the answer to be genuine, not some copy-pasted Google jargon. So, after a cup of coffee and a few drags of the mango vape, here's what I came up with: Art, my dear reader, is the act of transmitting an idea or a thought from one mind to another, or to humanity in general. Humans are social beings, whose complexity includes an appreciation for beauty, vibrancy and color. As we go on living, we accumulate memories and experiences, both serene and chaotic, sweet and bitter. These experiences and memories become an inspiration for creativity. The beauty in art, for me, lies in the realization and understanding of the ideas or representations of the artist's thoughts by the consumer. Something magical happens when we read a poem, enjoy a nice portrait or hear a song that resonates with us. It makes us feel happy or leads us to reminisce about past times. In a sense, art allows us to feel collectively cohesive and socially connected. It lets us feel human and say, “Hey, the artistic human who wrote the song or painted the portrait or the singer who sang it did so with so much feeling. They must have experienced a similar situation or encounter to mine,” and this, in turn, connects us together. How much effort goes into sculpting or composing a song, painting a picture or cooking a meal? Art requires a MOHAMMED ALMUSTAPHA Groundcover contributor cherished memory during a wedding dance. Meanwhile, another song can be chanted by thousands at a concert. Art is the creation and appreciation great deal of energy — both mental and physical. The accuracy and focus of a painter's hands, the subtle flicks of a guitarist's fingers, the agony, pain and heartbreak a poet feels when writing that love song — it is not easy for humans to bring beauty into the world, yet it is so easily enjoyed. We experience art every day, whether it's the songs we listen to, the logos on our T-shirts, or our favorite piece of art that resonates with us. Art is also an expression of the collective progression and sophistication of our species. Look how far we have come from Neanderthals drawing on cave walls to Michelangelo, Picasso and Tupac. Art is healing. There is a reason why music therapy, pottery and drawing therapy work. The concentration and focus required in creating art can be calming. It is relaxing and makes one feel good, contributing to our overall well-being. A beautiful song can bring two souls together in love or create a of beauty. Art is respect in the sense that we understand the hard work and effort artists put into bringing joy into the world. Art is love in its many forms, whether romantic, familial or patriotic. Art is understanding. Art is compassion. Art is life. Art is color. Art is vibration. Art is the beautiful feeling you get when your favorite song comes on. Art is the smile that lights up your face when you see a pretty picture. Art is the intense happiness of the first bite of your favorite meal because food is art too. Culinary art, in my eyes, is the most intense because it takes the chef's precise mixing of ingredients at the right timing to create a masterpiece that one enjoys not only with the palate but also with the sense of smell and sight. We humans are the greatest work of art. I started to look at all my fellow humans as beautiful art pieces created by the greatest artist of all — not speaking in terms of physical beauty but in the sheer capacity to be generators of good, laughter, happiness, joy and love. Our capacity to do things for each other, to be empathetic, and to think about how our actions will make others feel is amazing. The variations in our culture, traditions, thinking, phenotype — it makes us truly amazing. If we could all start to look at each other as pieces of art, here is what I think would happen: if we looked at women as walking living art, there would be no more domestic violence, no more sexual violence, no more sex trafficking, and no more assaults. If we looked at children as art, there would be no more child abuse and child kidnapping. If we view each other as works of art, we raise the collective appreciation of each other and can progress into a better future. All I'm saying is this: take some time out, listen to a good song, go to a flower garden, attend a poetry slam or a museum. It will invigorate your state of mind. My favorite artwork is “Napoleon Crossing the Alps” by Jacques-Louis David. It shows Napoleon in his full military regalia crossing the Alps on his Arabian mare, Marengo. The portrait shows the determination of the short little Corsican to achieve his goal and objective. It motivates me every time I look at it. My favorite song is “Here Comes the Sun” by The Beatles; it picks up my spirit every time. I'm still looking for a favorite poem. “Striving to be a better man today than I was yesterday, and a better man tomorrow than I am today.”
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