Letter to Artists: A Letter to Women in Business, Too
“Overseeing the mysterious laws governing the universe, the divine breath of the Creator Spirit reaches out to human genius and stirs its creative power. He touches it with a kind of inner illumination which brings together the sense of the good and the beautiful, and he awakens energies of mind and heart which enable it to conceive an idea and give it form in a work of art” (Pope St. John Paul II, Letter to Artists).
In 1999, Pope St. John Paul II drafted his (now beloved by many) Letter to Artists. The 14-page letter is written to “all who are passionately dedicated to the search for new ‘epiphanies’ of beauty so that through their creative work as artists they may offer these as gifts to the world.”
So, it’s for artists, yes. But I believe it has something to say to each one of us, particularly to women in business.
Its pages are packed with truth and goodness, with counsel and encouragement. There’s so much we could unpack and apply. But though my mind wandered in many directions while rereading the Letter, my heart landed on the beginning and the end of the letter. (The middle is great, too. Super good. Chef’s kiss! Highly recommend reading and rereading.)
In the letter, John Paul II begins with The Beginning—the story of creation itself. He reflects on God as a creator and artist who, with “loving regard … passes on to the human artist a spark of his own surpassing wisdom, calling him to share in his creative power.” We see this calling play out in Genesis when, after creating Adam and Eve, God “entrusts” them to co-create with him: Name the animals and have dominion over them. Cultivate the ground and enjoy its fruits. And … you two, be fruitful and multiply!
Be Fruitful and Multiply
The Lord’s creativity is both generous and generative, and, because we are made in His image and likeness, we are called to be generous and generative, too.
I think artists and “creative types” do have a more natural disposition toward this calling. JPII refers to it as our “gift.” For instance, we might start with a blank page and some blobs of color and end up with a masterful work. Humble materials transform into statement, story, and heirloom, connecting viewers with each other and with themselves, urging them to think on higher things.
But all of us, whether we consider ourselves to be artists or not, are called to this type of generative activity. In fact, in one of my favorite lines, he says:
Not all are called to be artists in the specific sense of the term. Yet, as Genesis has it, all men and women are entrusted with the task of crafting their own life: in a certain sense, they are to make of it a work of art, a masterpiece.
Come, Creator Spirit
So, how are you crafting your life and your business? Are you approaching them in an artful way? It might be helpful to consider common characteristics of artists as a place to start. Take some time to reflect on the questions below. Then, invite the Holy Spirit’s creative power into your life and business.
Artists are …
1. Curious and Observant
In order to represent something (e.g., a vase of flowers, the feeling of love, etc.) meaningfully, artists must first come to understand the subject for themselves. A deep sense of knowing requires time, attention, and inquisitiveness. For instance, an artist may look at a flower (my phone is filled with pictures of flowers I see on walks), endlessly investigating its form. A dancer might study the movement of a swan; a musician, the sound of ocean waves; a writer, the drama of a relationship … always wondering: How does this work? How can I capture this? What does this mean?
You might notice common themes reemerge in an artist’s collections or an author’s novels. These themes recur because it can take a long time to work through these questions—to grapple with the intricacy, complexity, or abundant beauty in what they’ve encountered and to figure out what it reveals about them—and, if rightly ordered, what it reveals about God. Artists are curious, observant, and persistent.
Ask yourself:
How is the pace of my life and business? Am I moving with enough leisure to notice and spend time with the things that catch my eye or tug on my heart? Do I have a deep knowledge of my clients or colleagues?
When I face a challenge, do I balk, or do I ask questions: What if …? How can this be? What might God be inviting me to explore right now?
Do I let my ego or emotions cloud my decision-making, or do I set aside enough time and space to see clearly what’s actually in front of me?
2. Playful and Brave
Artmaking is an act of hope. Artists, simply by putting pencil to paper, insist that there is more than this life. Not only is there room for wonder, imagination, and beauty in our daily life, but these things are essential to the human experience. We need them to become who we are meant to be individually and together. Even when artists express the darker parts of life in their work, they do so to draw more out of others. If I paint it, they will see it and hear it. They will feel. They will act. They will change.
Because they know how vital these reminders of conversion are, artists are often willing to push the boundaries of what’s expected or comfortable. They might use anything and everything as a canvas, play with new materials or syncopate a rhythm. They capture our attention to help us “stay awake” (Matthew 24:42).
Our life and work can testify to hope, too.
Do I believe that God made the world—and humanity—to be good? Do I honor the goodness of every person in my interactions or customer experience?
Am I convinced that my work adds to human flourishing? If not, what needs to shift in my offering or in my heart?
Do I find new ways to delight in who God made me to be? Do I try new things? Do I use my imagination to envision new possibilities for myself, my work, the world?
3. Vulnerable and Relational
A work of art isn’t complete just because an artist has put her signature on it. Artmaking, of course, has enormous benefits to the artist, but the work she creates is bigger than herself. Remember, God’s creativity is generous and generative. A gift, by definition, must be given. And so, an artist shares her work with others—not to gain accolades or admiration, but to let the Lord move through the work to open hearts to one another and, ultimately, to him.
Our life and work can be conduits of God’s love.
Do I acknowledge my God-given desires and particular gifts and seek ways to use them for the good of the Church and the world?
Is my work generative? Is what I’m doing—the product or service I’m offering, the organizational culture I’m building, the projects I’m completing—life-giving?
Does my work—or simply my presence among colleagues and customers—add to their flourishing? Do they feel a little more alive and connected to themselves (and to God!) after they’ve spent time with me or my business?
The World Needs You
At the beginning of the Letter, John Paul II reminds us that we are each entrusted with the task of developing and offering the “gift” of who we are for the good of the world. In the final few paragraphs, he comes back to this idea, offering a compelling why:
People of today and tomorrow need this enthusiasm [sparked by our artistic enterprises] if they are to meet and master the crucial challenges which stand before us. Thanks to this enthusiasm, humanity, every time it loses its way, will be able to lift itself up and set out again on the right path.
Life is hard, truly. Tragedies abound, and the daily hardships we all endure in family and business life can at times creep in and distort the reality that God is good. That we are good. That, with God’s help, we can be better. Like a work of art, our life and our work can be like beacons, pointing back to the hope-filled way of the Father’s love for us.
The world needs artists, the letter says. Yes, and amen. The world also needs women—businesswomen—who strive to inhabit the world in an artful way. Businesswomen who are curious, who are alive to the wonder of the world around them, convicted of the potential of their customers and clients and co-workers, and who rest assured in the unrepeatable-ness of who they, themselves, are made to be.
St. John Paul II, pray for us. May our lives—lived fully alive and fiercely loved—be a delight to you and our Lord!
Tara Wright is an artist, Marine wife, and happy Catholic. By day, Tara creates content for Sesame Workshop, the nonprofit force behind the beloved children’s show “Sesame Street.” She is the owner of Tara Wright Studio, where she specializes in custom art and illustration, and is co-founder of Scatter and Sow. After spending several years on the east coast, Tara and her family now call Oklahoma home.