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The Artist As Warrior
Keynote Address, Tokyo 2006

by Fran Ward, Ph.D., adjunct faculty

Prepare for battle. Arm yourself with keen senses. Ready a battle plan. Be strong, brave and true. You are an artist, and you are a warrior—both of which call for fierce beliefs. You must stand up to criticism. Because you have the vision, it is you who must share it.

Whatever your occupation is now, it probably involves a paycheck. Whatever your working world entails, you may be hovering safely in your job because you know it will put food on the table. Especially if you have others at home, you feel an obligation to provide for them and yourself; responsibility drives you to perform your work.

So where does art fit in? Art is what you live for. You might not necessarily fight to the death for your job, but you would consider it for your ideas and for your ideals. Passion is what makes you an artist. It is first of all the vision, the idea, the imagination. Next comes making the idea come to life.

The artist’s obligation is to share what we see. It is our view into the future, into other worlds and into the depths of ourselves that we must reveal. Not everyone can see the way we do. In fact, many people can not see, feel or dream this dream.

Like the warrior who can foresee a number of outcomes, he chooses one and leads others to follow. It is the warrior’s resolve in that perceived truth that instills trust in others to follow.

Some artists lead with paint brushes, some with words, with clay or with other materials. It doesn’t matter. What matters is that we lead. We stand tall and strong and forge ahead. Nothing will stop us.

We all meet with obstacles. Obstacles stop some people. They do not stop us, for we do not have to move the obstacles out of the way. We can climb over them, or we can walk around them. We are creative. We have creative solutions. We do not think the way most people do—and may not be not aware that any of this is out of the ordinary. We are just performing in our own way; in ways that move us toward the goal of presenting our idea for others to see.

Let me demonstrate my belief in the ferocity of the artist by one example.

I am an artist. During the night while I sleep, I am sometimes lucky enough to be given a dream. Some dreams wake me up with their impact. I had one such dream in November. I could see beyond the veil.

I had different views depending on the sheerness of the wall between me and the other side. Sometimes I had a good look, sometimes it was blocked. But as it moved, I could almost see. I wanted so badly to see what was on the other side. So I was an artist even during the night, and I walked around the veil. I could be on both sides, one at a time. I could see beyond the veil because I could be beyond the veil.

I couldn’t wait to wake up and create the artwork.

Then I was invited to be in this exhibition, the new artist unit. I was so excited that not only could I share my vision with others, but also that I could share it on the other side of the world!

Japan is beyond the veil for me. It is the other side of my reality. Foreign, yet nothing is foreign. Strange, but only until I have experienced it. Exciting in its adventures that are promised. New sights, all beyond the veil.

Making the artwork became a series of lessons and puzzles. First I had to find a place large enough to construct it.

The challenges seemed insurmountable. I was rejected time after time. I began to make mental columns of people who supported me and my beliefs and people who did not believe in my dreams and visions. I did not judge anyone as good or bad, just supportive or not supportive. It was difficult enough for me to ask for help. But as an artist, of course I have had experience in being rejected.

It is one thing to have an idea. It is another to manifest that idea into a physical manifestation of a form. It is something else again to let other people look at what you have created. Some will love it. Some will hate it. That is good. It is when people walk by and don’t respond in any way that you have not made an impact on that person.

Not all art is for all people. Not all artists are for all people.

As artists when we are rejected, I take it as time for strengthening. I am a sword that has been thrust into the flame to be made stronger and then pounded by the blacksmith into a sword—shaped and tempered and sharpened.

Thankfully, I will go through times when there is praise. I must also be thankful for those many other times, sometimes more often than not, to face the task of being re-fired, reshaped, refined.

I am so strong now that I have to be careful of my power. As artists we have the power to reveal. We have the power to hurt. But we must be careful how we use our talents and abilities.

We can recover from blows, but we must never deal them. It is our right to protect ourselves, our ideas, our beliefs, our works and our charges. But we must never strike a blow to harm someone or to lessen their powers.

It is my belief that the only sin is to impose one’s will on another. We can express ourselves, but it is not right for us to think that ours is the only form of expression. It is not right for us to believe that our way is the right way and that no one else’s way is true.

Part of being an artist is in having a wide open mind. We must stretch our belief system. We must encompass the possibility of all beliefs. Of course I am right. Of course you are right, too. Isn’t it wonderful?

As warriors, we do not have to kill or harm or reject anyone for a difference in beliefs, religions, cultures, hair color, choice of food or any little detail at all.

As warriors, our greatest strength is the ability to encompass all ideas as good—not only our own. But other ideas are good for others.

And as artists, if we can believe strongly in our own ideas without diminishing the ideas of anyone else, not only are we good artists, but we are good leaders.

Back to “Beyond the Veil.”

There were challenges every day so huge that they seemed insurmountable. One friend asked me if I stayed awake every night worrying. I said, “No. I stay awake planning every minute of the next day.” One day at a time I tackled the problems, the logistics of literally making a dream come true.

Each day was a lesson. I would share the struggles with people who asked. I would not burden those who did not.

There were lessons in creating, in packing, in shipping, in everything. And there were rewards. By phone, I asked manufacturers to donate materials I would be using. They all agreed. Sight unseen, they believed in my vision. I was grateful for the contributions. I was most grateful for their faith in me and in the final execution in Tokyo.

I met some people in person. I met some people by phone. I met some by computer. I met some by mail. I met some by hearsay—by hearing about what they had to say but never speaking directly with them. I learned that we can communicate in many ways. One of the best was in communicating behind the scenes. I would ask my guides to work with the guides of others. Somehow the next day, problems would be solved.

I learned that a pleasant attitude will go a long way towards resolving a problem. I learned that persistence and perseverance are crucial. I was a pit bull. I would not let go. I would follow up and follow up many times during a day until one step was solved.

I love what I do. I am lucky to be given ideas. I do not take credit for them. But I know I must share them. I must share my beliefs. I must share my art. For only then is it art. For only then am I who I am.

I am a warrior. I am an artist.