The Genius of Genius

When someone knows what they're doing--I mean, really knows what they're doing--it's a thing of beauty. It truly awes me down to my toenails.

I know a couple educators that have that (including my wife). I have a friend that's a banker that knows loans inside and out. I've heard a few musicians whose brilliance can make my heart stop. And I've known some writers that can make their words a breathing entity.

In Mother's Arms, D. Gerhartz, Oil on canvas, 2017

It comes not from being merely a technician, or merely a hard-worker, it comes from a passion from one's soul and an innate ability to see things differently, and react to things differently, from regular Joes like me.

Today I spent the afternoon at the Museum of Wisconsin Art in West Bend, WI, taking in an exhibit called "Daniel Gerhartz: The Continuum of Beauty."  And it was one of those awe-to-the-toenails experiences.

Full disclosure, I know the artist. Actually, I knew his dad. They lived in a little village not far from my home. I went to the exhibit today because some twenty years ago, I was lucky enough to accompany his dad, Gary, to Dan's studio (but I was too stupid to realize my good fortune). Dan was talking about the snow, and I made some comment about how easy that must be to paint. If I recall correctly, he said, to the contrary, it wasn't just white--there were all different shades and hues throughout. I just nodded with my usual blank stare and said, "Uh-huh."

Later, I realized that this was the definition of genius. I was just too dumb to notice. So today, I went to revisit that genius. And I marveled. And I thought what a wonderful thing it must be to be a genius.

And what an amazing thing it is to witness one.


For a glimpse at Gerhartz's thoughts and process, check out some video clips here. For his works, visit his website.

Putting my money where my mouth is

This blog is called "Write or, um, die."

Obviously, I haven't been writing.

For anyone keeping score, thankfully, I haven't died, either.

Instead, I've just been milling around for months on end, waiting for the writing career to take off, so I don't waste my best posts when nobody's reading this.

Um, and, well, nobody's reading this. Even my mom no longer even has the Internet, so neither is she keeping tabs on my literary-ish efforts.

So I'll just start writing again anyway. 

And hopefully I'll be a little more diligent.