Goodness and the Suicidal Gunman

An artist maybe best known for suspending a goosebump-inducing tiger shark in formaldehyde, mouth open and menacing, has just completed a mega-sized series on the beauty of cherry blossoms. What's going on?

I'll put the links below so you can hear Damien Hirst for yourself saying, “I want (people) to feel good.” I never expected I'd be on the same page as Mr. Hirst, but the world has pretty much put us all through the wringer lately. We need beauty. We need solace. We need.

If you've been following my work and reading my website, you know my work is about appreciating good things. I want us all to immerse ourselves, even for a few seconds, in recognizing goodness, especially in something you might take for granted.

Last week I was on campus, hiding behind two sets of locked doors, while the El Paso police searched for a suicidal gunman who'd called 911 to say he was on drugs and headed our way. And this went on for hours. I sat in the KTEP/NPR studios at the University of Texas at El Paso, a guest of the lovely guys who work there, thinking, “So this is how it feels to know someone might send a round of bullets your way at any minute. Or shoot through the locks and finish us all off. This is how other people have felt in this kind of situation.” I called my family. I called friends. I asked my pastor to pray for us. The news updates were very thin and far between. Again, hours. My son told me on the phone, “We're going to have so much fun at Thanksgiving, Mom.” Part of me added, “If I get out of here…”

Well, I did. The police didn't say much in the end. Just claimed it was a hoax call. The university called it quits for the rest of the day, and I went home and immediately into my pajamas. And I couldn't focus at all on anything for about four or five more hours.

Now I believe in the power of goodness even more. My radio station heroes friends joked and revisited old world events and even dug out a contact sheet to show me: photos an Army buddy had taken of Elvis while he was in service with him. We built our own world of light, in spite of the situation. Sure we were creeped out. We did our best with logic, and then we proceeded to tap into hope, humor, friendship and faith. It goes without saying I'll never forget it or them.

I've been in situations before when people have cracked a joke in the face of horror, and it has soothed and buoyed everything. If I were a preacher and I could preach a sermon, I'd remind us all the we are the face of God for each other. What you say, do and broadcast matters to the people around you. Every emotion on your face matters. We watch each other for reassurance and hope and love.

So - again - I am for the good things. I am all about them. It matters deeply to enjoy the smoke trails after the fireworks, to sniff the citrus oils when you twist the peel, to sink into the cool side of your pillow. I try with all my might to put these feelings into my work. If you can feel it there, I succeed.
Damien Hirst on his cherry blossom show
The making of the paintings
A 360 video on the show