Beware of Artists Part III

The quote is one of which I never get tired. I’m rendering it in a few different pop art forms in hopes that many of my creative friends will grab the concept and make Queen Victoria’s nightmare come true. You see she said, “Beware of artists. They mix with all classes of society and are therefore most dangerous.” In a world where many artists become elitist, I want to be an artist and lead a tribe of artists that reach across all borders and use our gifts to serve humanity for the greater good. Care to join the movement?

I’m currently working up a page called Beware of Artists. Which will be found soon at http://www.bewareofartists.org that will offer an online gallery, creative challenges and more. To check it out before it goes completely live go to http://bewareofartists1.wordpress.com

New Print, New Initiative from My Most Popular Post… BewareofArtists.org

Queen Victoria once said, “Beware of artists – they mix with all classes of society and are therefore most dangerous…” I love that quote and wear it like a badge of honor. I posted it to my blog almost two years ago and it still gets more hits than almost anything I have every posted. Sounds like it resonates with people. I am working on a street art initiative now for my ministry AMOKArts.com and it’s going to be called Beware of Artists. Details coming soon to BewareofArtists.org

For a poster print of this piece, click the image or click this link to get it on a T-shirt.

Wow! What is Up with Beware of Artists?

On January 13, 2011 I posted this post

http://amokarts.wordpress.com/2011/01/13/beware-of-artists/

Today when I checked my web stats I was surprised to see that that post alone had over 240 hits last week and 60 today. Anybody know what’s happening? I love the quote and hope that is exactly what all Christ following artists will do to the glory of God.

By the way, if you like the image on this page and the sentiment. It’s available on a t-shirt by clicking the image.

Beware of Artists

Way back in the day, when I wanted to be a comic artist, I thought about taking on a moniker, a pen name. I was going to be Dangerous Dave Weiss.

Now if you know me, Dangerous is not necessarily the first adjective you would choose. It was sort of a joke because my dad used to look at me and say, “If you had a brain you would be dangerous.” Don’t get too mad at him. He loves me and he only said it when I did something that was…well…dangerous. It was exasperation, not abuse.

I gave up on being Dangerous Dave when I began taking Jesus more seriously, but lately I’ve been reconsidering.

Queen Victoria of England once said, “Beware of artists – they mix with all classes of society and are therefore most dangerous…” Now I know she said that out of fear and prejudice, but wouldn’t it be awesome if it were true. The arts are so powerful. They have the power to touch hearts, to change minds and to cross just about every imaginable barrier. I think it’s that way by design.

I believe that the Creator gave us imaginations and creativity, not just so we could create but so that we could be touched and moved. The same power I just ascribed to the arts can most definitely be applied to the Gospel of Jesus Christ. It too has the power to touch hearts and change minds and cross barriers and it is definitely that way by design.

The great commission calls believers to go to every nation. The Bible calls followers of Christ to help the poor and ignore lines of class, loving everyone, regardless… Queen Victoria feared artists because they crossed imaginary boundaries of class, but that is also the reason so many of us love them. Likewise one of the reasons Jesus was feared was because He associated with people the powers that be rejected. Artists, Christ-followers, I think it’s time for us to get dangerous too. Let’s be the kind of artists Queen Victoria warned us about. Let’s love everyone, serve everyone and point everyone to the One who was most “dangerous” of all.

Maybe Dangerous Dave’s not such a bad name after all. Let’s be dangerous.
Get this image and quote on a T-Shirt, here.

Bible Reading Guide
An important part of following God is knowing what He wants and a great way to know what He wants is to read His Word. Follow this plan and you will finish reading the Bible in a year.
Genesis 31, Psalm 7, Galatians 6
You can also download your own chart here.