JOHN OLSEN--ABC1, 12 August 2008, and ABC1 5 August 2008.

RonPrice · Joined: 02 Nov 2006 Posts: 39 Location: Launceston

In the last ten days I have seen John Olsen on television twice. He was described, among other things, as Australias greatest living artist. He certainly had some things to say about art and creative experience which are relevant to my own activity as a writer and the way I go about my creative life with words. In the act of writing, one thing leads to another and what goes down on paper can not be planned, Olsen stressed. He also placed character far above talent and exploration, feeling and the ability to look both into the past and into the future as critical determinants of artistic success. For Olsen painting was a means to self-enlightenment; for me this is true of writing.-Ron Price with thanks to ABC1, 12 August 2008, 10:00-10:30 p.m.; and ABC1, 5 August 2008, 6:50-7:00 p.m.

In some ways these prose-poems
possess unifying qualities that are
found in artists journals. Daily
life and digressions into religion,
philosophy, history, aesthetics
are found. Daily life is an aide-
memoire, a factual base, context
for my own insight into creative
processes, into mystical bonding
of the spirit, into private encounter
and collaborations with chance,
accident, autonomous and quite
mysterious principles while I am
immersed in a world of ideas,
their endless divertissements
and dialogues with the external
and internal world which just
take over in idiosyncratic ways,
strange blends, fragments which
I join together becoming more
than minutiae, but parts of a record
of a military, exacting and precise
campaign to get the micro and macro
together into my settled daily life without
which a sustained outpouring of work,
my continued productivity is not possible.1

1 Sasha Grishin, John Olsens and John Wolseleys Journals, see the internet at: www.timolsengallery.com/pages/articles

Ron Price
14 August 2008
(note: the possessive case by means of the apostrophe, can not be properly inserted in posts at this site.-Ron)

Tango · Joined: 06 Mar 2006 Posts: 1049 Location: Melbourne

Hi Ron, you say that for Olsen painting was a means of self-enlightenment, it's just a pity that he didn't get enlightened before he decided to have children, as he might be considered one of ''Australia's greatest living artists'' but he certainly isn't one of Australia's greatest living fathers; his enlightenment came at a great cost to others.

RonPrice · Joined: 02 Nov 2006 Posts: 39 Location: Launceston

My wife, who watched the programs with me, made the same point you did. In fact, she went further to say that Olsen's philosophy is not unlike those of various religious persuasions who feel they have a direct line to God. And so, as you say, Olsen's painting may have been a "means of self-enlightenment" and "it's just a pity that he didn't get enlightened before he decided to have children." "He might be," as you conclude your post, "be considered one of Australia's greatest living artists, but he certainly isn't one of Australia's greatest living fathers."

His enlightenment came at a great cost to others as is the case with so many who devote themselves to art, religion or any other activity with the force of some obsessiveness. Is the final word "moderation" or "living a life of virtue." I think there is so much discussion to this topic in the history of the various obsessions in life that one could fill libraries.--Ron Price, Tsmania Cool

Brad Buchel

RonPrice · Joined: 02 Nov 2006 Posts: 39 Location: Launceston

I'm retired from FT, PT and casual/volunteer work now, Brad. From 1961 to 2005 I was as busy as a Canadian beaver, had little idea what was on TV and missed decades of stuff. Now in the evening of my life, my wife checks out what's on, let's me know and "Bob's your Uncle," as they say. So, Brad, live in hope.-Ron in Tasmania