2022-01-01
Let There be Chaos

LET THERE BE CHAOS

In all chaos there is a cosmos, in all disorder a secret order. — Carl Jung.

Hmmm, maybe.

A few weeks ago I was listening to a replay of an NPR interview with the recently departed Stephen Sondheim, who explained that he made music by bringing order to chaos, which was the distinct purpose of art as well, because “life is inherently chaotic,” he added.

Here at Hacienda Dominguez & Chelenzo Farms I’m beginning to feel and see and understand Sondheim’s postulate a little bit more each day. Whether it’s children and chickens, or dogs and dementia, much of what makes up our homestead does not want or care nor is really cognizant of any calling for order.

If anything, there is a constant and fairly consistent rake of disorder that leaves parts and pieces and poop and spontaneous half-finished art projects and games and plates in its wake.

Continually and haplessly attempting to sweep up after and then put it all back together is exhausting.

So, I can see the appeal of simply giving up and giving into the idea that out of chaos one must simply make art, rather than any sense of futile and quite ephemeral order.