Flower Power

Poets have implemented poetry in their symbolism for centuries. It is a literary standard of beauty; inspiring generations to paint, describe, and photograph flowers. Metaphors as flowers having the ability to grow anywhere like a lotus out of the mud or the ability to look toward the sun like a sunflower striving to bloom. As long as flowers are tended to or resilient enough they will bring their beauty out of the seeds. I am inspired by artists and the turmoil they have faced during our American history as well as foreign cultures. There are countless artists who use art to overcome adversity, who use flowers, literally or metaphorically, to overpower otherwise overwhelmingly dark times.

Artists are more equipped to counter fear and hate than almost anyone in this world. We have tools to spread joy, warmth, and knowledge. No being of fear could ever match us so long as we choose to produce what we love.

Spread your happiness like flower seeds. The same way this woman spread peace through flowers protesting the Vietnam war. Just like the gardener might not be able to see the seeds they plant bloom into flowers, we might not see how every act of art we perform creates the warm glows that fight off terror and hate. It’s time that the artists remember the power each one holds. Dictators have feared artists, extremists have feared artists, so remember what we are capable of.  Gather your joys and plant them in the earth. Allow the seeds to grow and reproduce new joys for each person effected by the nature of good through your art.