A Blessing or a Curse?

Creativity is a great gift. Not everyone is given that gift. Some glimpse it. Some receive intermittent bursts. But for those upon whom the full gift is bestowed, they can lift the world. But beware. There is often a price that comes with that gift. Many of the most creative people have struggled with the non-creative parts of their lives. Many times have we heard stories of depression or other mental health issues that have stalked creative geniuses.

I have not been blessed to be immersed in the pool of creative wonder. Rather, if I am lucky, a few drops may land on me from time to time. But then, neither have I had to deal with the problems that plagued Van Gogh, Curt Cobain, Hemingway, or Robin Williams.

To be sure, being creative does not mean you have mental health issues, just as having mental health issues does not make you creative. But I am struck be how many creatives have problems.

It isn’t just the arts that benefit from creative genius. Where would physics be today if Einstein hadn’t pursued his “thought experiments.” The bread and butter of science might be analysis and calculation, but creativity is what leads to many “aha!” moments. Creativity has shaped all our lives, even if we, mere mortals, only catch glimpses of it.

Having the creative gift has now become even more problematic. First, there is the internet, which has put so much free content out there that now there is an expectation that no one should have to pay for anything. The possibility of making a living for the artist, composer, writer, or performer, was becoming increasingly narrow before Covid-19 arrived. Then the shutdown happened. Like all aspects of the economy, artists are watching galleries, theaters, museums, and music venues closing; some are closing for good. Related businesses have also taken a hit: Marketing people, stage crews, janitors, and food vendors. On top of whatever normal pressures artists feel, they have to be concerned about the future. The Centers for Disease Control has reported that 40% of adult Americans reported at least one mental or behavioral health condition since the start of the pandemic. That is out of all Americans. One only wonders what the percentage is in the creative community.

It is more important than ever to support everyone. Support each other. But it is especially important to support the arts. If you are able to pay for music, books, or videos of live performances, please do so. If you are able to donate to arts organizations, please do so. Art perhaps even helps the rest of us with our mental health. How difficult would it be to go through a lockdown without music, books, or television? Contemplate that. Art uplifts us. Let’s lift up the artists.

Image by Colin Behrens

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