From:
"Oscar Bearinger" <oscarbear@zzzzzzzzzzzz>
Date:
Fri, 8 Oct 2004 07:41:20 -0500
Subject:
.... this idea of gestalt
Welcome to the list, Jane
I thought I'd say a few more words about this..
Quoted text begins.I'm curious about this idea of gestalt. Of course I've heard the word, but
I don't really know anything about it. Oscar's description makes it sounds
a little like the practice of raising my children...
End of quote.
"Gestalt" as a German word means form or shape. In terms of human
psychology (the science of the soul) it is used to refer to the
process of human perception, which forms our sensory experience into
"meaningful wholes." Further to this is the idea that the sum of our
experience forms a whole (a "gestalt") that is larger than the
individual pieces of data, of sensory input, that we perceive.
The process of learning to nourish ourselves (which of course does
include the parents at times, as you say, Jane!) has similarity in all
fields. For example, learning to eat has some real similarity to
learning to carve stone!!
One more aspect of gestalt I want to mention here is the idea of a
"cycle" that we experience, that we go through, in any meaningful
engagement we are involved in. Very briefly I talk about this cycle
in four stages: gestation, active work, merging with the activity
completely, and withdrawal, letting go.
This has been very descriptive and useful for myself in the creative
process. We go through this cycle (both macro and micro levels) in
every creative engagement. I could say, we go through this with
every stone we work.
I hope this gives you some clearer sense of gestalt and how I am
applying this to creative work. I am happy to respond to any
questions or comments from the list members.
Folks are welcome to contact me off-list to discuss this further. I
am writing more on this and will self-publish soon, so if you want to
hear when that happens, please contact me off-list.
I went swimming yesterday, October 7, which is some kinda miracle for
us northerners here!! Happy carving.
Oscar
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