The Art Itself…

shua Powell talks about music, community, and the creative process.

What gives me the most joy is still the art itself…

All I needed to know (well, not all…) about Joshua Powell I gathered at an open mic night he hosted at Red Lion Grog House.

There was a palpable feeling of community…an in-the-moment buzz produced by music, camaraderie, and an intentional conductor.

Everyone felt welcome. Joshua made sure of that…hugs, handshakes, conversations.

The other thing (not as if there are only two) I gathered about Joshua came from a brief comment by local musician Judy Liu. As she and I sat just across the street from the Red Lion at Square Cat Vinyl, she mentioned how instrumental Joshua had been in helping her get started.

That said a lot…

Just recently, I asked him…you are a mentor, you help other bands…what gives you the most joy at this point?

“The art itself…”

…but art is meaningless without community. You need people to appreciate art. I make it for myself first, sure. But the joy is capped pretty quick if it just goes on the shelf. The most joy still comes from seeing that the magic I made in private is snaking its tendrils out into the public world.

And that process of snaking its tendrils out into the public world is, as Powell describes it, “a godlike process…(where) creation was pointless without humans to enjoy.”

You, yes you…you are a human! You are meant to enjoy the snaking tendrils.

Joshua Powell’s creations and creativity are waiting to make that human connection and let the magic happen between artist and interpretation.