An Interview with Bill Pratt

Here we go. Pull up a chair, get a cup of coffee and enjoy the show. Bill Pratt is amazing. You will love this interview, so please read to the end.

1. Who are you and what is your "art"?

I am Bill Pratt.

I suppose I am a digital artist, though I might be a musician and/or a photographer. Maybe life is my art, but in that case, I'm not very good at it, and sometimes I enjoy creating puns (is that art?).

I play a lot of music on instruments with strings and frets, though quite often the frets are mere graphics and I use a metal slide to change notes, as well as levers, pedals... it's a little complicated...

I take a LOT of photographs, even more since freeing myself of chemical addiction (going digital).

I work with digital multi-media:

sound & music;

photography, video, graphics & digital imagery;

text and spoken word.


2. How long have you been doing what you do? How did you get started?

There was a guitar under the Christmas tree 45 years ago. I played a ukulele from my grandmother's attic for a short time before that, and totally rocked out on Steven Collins Foster tunes, having no one to rebuke me for political incorrectness, since it hadn't been invented yet. A Christmas or two later I got my first reel to reel tape recorder, and from there it was a long slide into the current abyss. In college my roommate had a banjo, which is nothing other than a desperate cry for serious help, but I was hooked, so when I out I bought my own.

But I digress...

When I was in high school, companies like Texas Instruments and Royal Typewriter were just beginning to create programmable calculators. Back in those days the geeks carried slide rules in little belt holsters. (this is not a joke) All these programmable calculators would get dropped off at the school by salesmen as 'demos' and the math teachers would call me because I had a knack for figuring out how to work the things. I especially had a knack for creating bizarre outcomes the machines were never meant to produce, and, sadly, that started me on the path that led to becoming the geek I am today.

But I digress...

At around 10 years old, my grandmother (the ukulele one) gave me an Ansco Twin Lens Reflex camera with a huge flash reflector and leather case. My other grandparents also fed my addictions - they're the ones who bought me my first electric guitar, a Tiesco Del Ray in the classic pizza spatula style, 3 pickups and a whammy bar...

But I digress...

Music, photography and technology all became fascinating to me at a young age, and I followed them here.


3. How does your art fit into your schedule? When, where do you get it done?

It's never done (did I mention I enjoy puns).

Truly, I engage things creatively all day every day (in this weird, little mind of mine), and then work them out as time allows. I generally pray and meditate in the morning, then may do some artwork for awhile before going to work. I may create photographs as the day unfolds, and then work on various projects in the evening. Lisa (my bride) and I try to observe our Sabbath from Friday afternoon to Saturday afternoon. During that time, it seems, lots of ideas emerge.

My answer, then, is I am always seeking and always creating, art is my schedule.


4. How and where does God fit into your "art"?

God is first, last, and preeminent in all things. He is the source of inspiration, the source of any gift which allows us to create anything, and, if we are proper in serving the inspiration, (practically impossible in our fallen nature) He is the object of celebration in our work and product. He is the true possessor of our gifts, tools and time and the true decider of the outcome.


5. What is your definition of "art"?

Art is a human response to God.

To being made in His image (In the beginning God created...)

To His revelation in the form of His Creation, His Word, His provision in all things, and The Spirit's work in our lives.

To His awesome power and transcendence - we respond to His Truth, Beauty and Goodness.

That the artist may be unaware of these things in no way changes the essence of art.


6. Why do you love what you do?

It is what I was made to do.

It pleases God.

It may open the eyes of an audience to God's power, provision, transcendence, revelation and presence.

It may encourage other artists to engage their inspiration.


7a. Do you see your art as being mainly for you, for others, or for God?

At different times, in various ways it is for any combination of all three constituencies. In all cases I pray it is pleasing to God. I love the idea of worship and intimacy between God and me with no other purpose - for example sitting home alone singing worship songs, or just improvising. I am blessed ANY time He uses my work to encourage His body or open the eyes of seekers to His presence and power.


7b. Do you ever have trouble finding balance between those?

Sure. I am selfish and broken (wretched, depraved, without hope except for Jesus... I digress).

A quote from Del Tackett's introductory text for Lesson 8 of the Truth Project: "...it is the powerful human hunger for significance... that constitutes the single most formidable barrier to intimacy, communion, and oneness. All too often, we forsake the Lord and cut ourselves off from others in attempting to puff up our own sense of self-importance."

Guilty.


8. How is what you do "creative"? Do you see it as "art"?

Gruel is survival. Great soup is art.

Gruel may fill and fuel. Great soup responds to something beyond the basic need, and requires skill and creativity.

Music, photography, multi-media compositions are creative by nature - they respond to something beyond basic needs (though they can be profaned into acquisition, prideful self-promotion, etc., etc.)

Ansel Adams said, "Any art, to be good art, requires the utmost from the artist."

When I have been true to the vision God has given, I am comfortable calling the work art.


9. What inspires you?

Primarily God's Creation.

His Word, The Sacrifice of the Cross and examples of human nobility are pretty powerful as well.


10. Is there an artistic accomplishment you are particularly proud of?

Interesting question, if we claim "Soli Deo Gloria."

I provided several instrumental tracks for two albums recently released by Knoxville songwriter Greg Adkins. From my perspective, I was able to serve the work as well as any I've done, and I am pleased to have had a part in the productions.



11. What do you find most rewarding about what you do?

The relationships that have resulted, including intimacy with God and fellowship with other artists.


12. What is most challenging about what you do?

Committing to excellence rather than completion.


13. Share some of your philosophy about creativity.

Inspiration comes from the purest of places.

Our call is to respond in a way that honors the source, regardless of whether it will sell, impress, validate, or shock. Any of those may occur, but whether or not they do is God's business, not the artist's.



14. If there were no barriers (money/time restraints, location, etc.),what
would you love to create?

For a while I've wanted to create a multi-media installation called "Reverence," using a dedicated room, incorporating projection of still images and video, sound, music, lights, text and photographs.

I would also like to do a set of images to illustrate Psalm 104, perhaps for a book or video in the style of my recent Genesis project on the Art for the HEart blog.


15. Who are some of your favorite artists?

Ansel Adams (photographer), Paul Franklin (pedal steel guitarist), Garrison Keillor (story teller), Mary Chapin Carpenter (singer/songwriter).


16. Do you have any advice for aspiring artists?

Lay your entire life before the God of the Universe. Admit you are of unclean lips in a culture of unclean lips and offer every corner of your life to His will and purpose. Then listen, and create excellent responses to His inspiration.


17. Is there a verse or quote that inspires you?

Philippians 4:8-9 Finally... whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable if anything is excellent or praiseworthy think about such things. Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me put it into practice. And the God of peace will be with you.


18. What is your next "Art Project?

I have several projects underway, in a variety of media, but I would love to do a festival worthy film - perhaps a documentary or an inspirational piece.


19. How can we pray for you?

Pray for clarity in discerning God's call and inspiration, courage in carrying it out, and a persistent commitment to excellence. (Thanks)

Bill Pratt