Creativity is no anodyne, yet to focus on the pain of creation is a romantic obession that denies the concurrent poetics and pragmatism that propel most contemporary artists. The moment inspiration becomes destined for the tangible world, it begins to erode under systems of taste, economies, politics, and its own physicality in the temporal, degrading world. Instead of the sterotyped tortured ego-driven artist, actual creators possess generosity and humility to allow their perfect inner visions to become imperfect things, existing in an imperfect world. Expiration is both the opposite - and the result-of inspiration.

- Nina Elder

Well yes and no - there is a chasm and there is the surprise element when intention and vision manifest. Many times beauty and truth have a way of intervening with one's agenda. With age and grace, hopefully we trust the chasm and relinquish control.

- Marion Wasserman