transcending
A few months back
asked a question: "Are you a 'Transcender'?" It's a reference to an idea proposed in a book titled Transcend, by Scott Barry Kaufman. The term, itself, is a shorthand way to describe "people who seek and sometimes find transcendent experiences and values."
It hooked my attention. Resonated deeply. I bought the book immediately. And every morning at the gym I started reading.
It wasn't as engrossing or enthralling as I hoped it'd be. But it was interesting and always left me thinking. To be fair, portions of it were over my head, and honestly, it's difficult to be enthralled or engrossed by much of anything when you're running on a treadmill at 6am.
But when Kaufman talks about the way ‘transcenders’ can speak "the language of poets" and "of mystics", how they can "perceive the sacred within the secular", how they find and notice the hallowed essence within the structure of the everyday, how they can sacralize everything, I know that with everything I make that's what I hope to do. I know that with every morning that I wake, that's the kind of person I hope to be.
P.S. ICAD - Day 185-187
P.S. -
wrote a fantastic post about collage art recently and was kind enough to mention me along side some other truly great collage makers. I highly recommend reading it and subscribing to his newsletter. I love what he does!
P.P.S. - I’ve been watching my pile of index card collages become disconcertingly high and I haven’t quite figured out what to do with them all. I decided to make a few of them for sale on my nearly forgotten Buy Me a Coffee Shop. I’ll continue to add more if any of you are interested.
If I might be so bold, I recommend looking into Deleuze's "immanence" as an alternative to "transcendence." Transcendence typically involves a "going over and above" or seeing oneself as "beyond" the ordinary, and seeking "higher" unities. Immanence is within - and grounds us within the ordinary, swimming in the fragmentary, ashen cinders of multiplicity. Personally, my poetics is one of immanence: folds, pleats, seams, etc. Not that I am myself Christian, but one way of exampling this is the difference between the god of the Old and New Testaments. Transcendence is the God of the old testament - above and beyond us, always at a distance, judging, and believing itself in command of all. Immanence is the God of the New Testament - the "kingdom of heaven is within." Just some thoughts. Love the art as always 🖤
I wholeheartedly agree, Duane. Every day is sacred. Thank you for the reminder—I needed this today! As always, your collages are stunning and I’m glad you’re willing to sell them. They are potent and beautiful works of art that one can only fully appreciate in person.