In this conversation, Carey Wallace discusses her book 'The Discipline of Inspiration,' exploring the nature of inspiration in art, the role of the artist, and the spiritual disciplines that can enhance creativity. She emphasizes the importance of surrendering to inspiration and the interconnectedness of artists and audiences in the creative process. The discussion delves into how inspiration is perceived, the significance of attention, and how anyone can engage in artistic expression through the act of creation. In this conversation, Carey Wallace and Shana McLean explore the intricate relationship between discernment, inspiration, and the creative process. They discuss the importance of recognizing true art, the role of community in nurturing creativity, and the significance of establishing a creative discipline that can persist through various life stages. The dialogue emphasizes the need for artists to remain connected to their daily lives while also highlighting the voices of those who contribute to the artistic landscape, particularly those who uplift others' creativity.

Carey Wallace is the author of The Discipline of Inspiration: The Mysterious Encounter With God At The Heart of Creativity (Eerdmans), The Blind Contessa’s New Machine (Penguin), and The Ghost In The Glass House (Clarion). She works to help people from all walks of life find inspiration and build strong creative habits to sustain a lifetime of creation. She performs as a songwriter, exhibits her own fine art, and has spoken on art, faith, and justice with students at Princeton, Julliard, Emory, Pratt, and Yale. Her articles and poems have appeared in Time, Detroit’s Metro Times, and America. She is the founder of a retreat for artists in Michigan, and the Creative Discipline Class to form strong creative habits, which has been in operation for over a decade across the US and internationally. She grew up in small towns in Michigan, and lives and works in Brooklyn.

Links:

https://www.disciplineofinspiration.org/

https://www.careywallace.com/books

https://www.lenglewritingretreats.com/

https://www.freerrecords.com/team/bl-shirelle-nph47

Chapters

00:00 Introduction to The Discipline of Inspiration

01:10 The Genesis of the Book

03:28 Understanding Inspiration in Art

07:43 The Role of Incarnation in Creativity

09:41 The Cascade of Inspiration

14:15 Spiritual Disciplines for Artists

15:55 The Discipline of Attention

20:21 Surrendering to Inspiration

23:13 The Role of Discernment in Art

26:31 Understanding True Inspiration

30:21 Creative Discipline and Habit Formation

33:44 Art in the Context of Daily Life

35:33 Highlighting Creative Voices

38:12 Closing Thoughts and Future Projects

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