After reading the email and the facts related in it – I just had to find out more and if it was the truth. It is true – the links to the original story is found under my “Sources”.
As I have been reflecting on this I was taken back to a local Farmer’s Market that is held every Saturday Morning. Mixed with the local farmers selling their produce are some artists and some musicians. The artist try to sell their products to a crowd that cares less whether they are good or not. The musicians play their heart out for nothing – in fact on a rainy day they are situated just outside the Washrooms – in the entrance way to the building used by the farmers.
I have listened to them often – and watched as people walk by never paying any attention to what is happening… or what they are doing.
The Joshua Bell Story…(short version)
A man was situated at a metro station in Washington DC and started to play the violin; it was a cold, December morning. He played six Bach pieces for about 45 minutes. During that time, since it was rush hour, it was calculated that thousands of people went through the station, most of them on their way to work.
Three minutes went by and a middle aged man noticed there was a musician playing. He slowed his pace and stopped for a few seconds and then hurried up to meet his schedule.
A minute later, the violinist received his first dollar tip: a woman threw the money in the case and without stopping continued to walk.
A few minutes later, someone leaned against the wall to listen to him, but the man looked at his watch and started to walk again. Clearly he was late for work.
The one who paid the most attention was a 3 year old boy. His mother tagged him along, hurried but the kid stopped to look at the violinist. Finally the mother pushed hard and the child continued to walk turning his head all the time. This action was repeated by several other children.
All the parents, without exception, forced them to move on.
In the 45 minutes the musician played, only 6 people stopped and stayed for a while. About 20 gave him money but continued to walk their normal pace. He collected $32. When he finished playing and silence took over, no one noticed it. No one applauded, nor was there any recognition.
No one knew this but the violinist was Joshua Bell, one of the best musicians in the world. He played one of the most intricate pieces ever written with a violin worth 3.5 million dollars.
Two days before his playing in the subway, Joshua Bell sold out at a theatre in Boston and the seats average $100.00 each.
This is a real story.
Joshua Bell playing incognito in the metro station was organized by the Washington Post as part of a social experiment about perception, taste and priorities of people. The outlines were: in a common place environment at an inappropriate hour: Do we perceive beauty?
Do we stop to appreciate it? Do we recognize the talent in an unexpected context?
One of the possible conclusions from this experience could be: If we do not have a moment to stop and listen to one of the best musicians in the world playing some of the best music ever written, how many other things are we missing?
This is where it gets personal…Last week I took my New Teddy Bear Creations to the Market to talk with another artist about what I have created and show my wears. As I pulled my Carved Teddy Bears from the bag to show them to my friend – people glanced at us and walked on. Only one lady out of 20 people passing stopped and showed some interest… She told me she has in her possession 2 Raikes Bears. (Raikes is the only other carver that I know that does what I do- or has done – or I should say I do something similar to what he does..)
After I put all this effort into what I have done – and no one gives a ding dong… well maybe the Subway Station is not the best venue… nor is the Farmers Market.
If Joshua Bell doesn’t mind – neither do I…
~ Murray Lincoln ~
http://www.murraylincoln.com/
Sources to consider…
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=myq8upzJDJc
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/04/04/AR2007040401721.html
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/discussion/2007/04/06/DI2007040601228.html
Related to Robert Raikes Bears
http://collectibles.about.com/library/weekly/aa061501a.htm
1 comment:
Hi Murray--Your Bears are lovely--a real Collector's item--maybe you need to try the Internet for other Bear Lovers.
People come to the Flea Market to look around--but they do remember what you have & will come back at a later time---it means you have to sit there week after week--
Sorry that the golf idea came at a bad time.
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