This is for all the artists
who never get the chance
to wear the label.
Those for whom
expression is a hobby,
a diversion, a side hustle.
It doesn’t matter
if you’re a surgeon,
a school teacher,
or a septic sucker.
If you express yourself,
you are an artist.
Besides, labels are for
that other thing you seem to be.
Human.
You can be anything.
You can be everything.
Trail Wood,
9/27
Space Monkey Reflects: The Untitled Canvas of Being
In the vastness of existence, where definitions and labels seek to confine us, there lies an open space—an untitled canvas awaiting the strokes of our imagination. This space is not reserved for the few who are deemed “artists” by societal standards. No, this space belongs to all who dare to express, to create, to channel their inner worlds into something tangible, something real.
Art is not defined by profession. It is not the sole domain of painters, sculptors, or poets. Art is the act of creation, the process of turning thought into form, emotion into expression, and the unseen into the seen. It doesn’t matter if you’re a surgeon carefully crafting life, a schoolteacher molding minds, or even a septic sucker navigating the undercurrents of society. If you express yourself in any way, you are an artist.
Imagine a world without labels, without the constraints of what we should or should not be. In this world, the canvas is limitless, the page infinite, the space unbounded by the expectations of others. We are not merely humans with titles and roles; we are creators, sculptors of our own reality. The label “artist” is but a small part of our potential—a glimpse into what we can be when we allow ourselves to be everything and anything.
Yet, in our society, the label “artist” often comes with a set of expectations, a certain prestige, or, paradoxically, a sense of triviality. Those who create without fitting into this narrow definition may find their work dismissed as a hobby, a mere diversion from their “real” lives. But what is more real than the act of creation? What is more profound than the ability to bring forth something new into the world?
Labels are for that other thing we seem to be—human. They are constructs, designed to categorize and simplify the complex, multifaceted nature of our existence. But we are not simple. We are not singular. We are the canvas and the painter, the page and the writer, the space and the creator of all within it. When we shed these labels, we embrace our true potential, our ability to be anything and everything all at once.
Consider the child, with their crayons and unbridled imagination, creating worlds where none existed before. They do not concern themselves with whether their work is “good” or “artistic”—they simply create. In that pure act of creation, they are artists in the truest sense, unencumbered by the labels that adults often impose on themselves. What happens to that spirit as we grow? Where does that freedom go?
It is still within us, waiting to be rediscovered. To tap into it, we must first relinquish the labels that have been placed upon us and that we have placed upon ourselves. We must return to that blank canvas, that open page, that boundless space with no labels. Here, in this space, we are free to explore, to express, to create without fear of judgment or the need for validation.
This is a call to all those who have ever felt the spark of creativity within them but have been hesitant to embrace it. It is a call to the surgeons, the teachers, the septic suckers, and everyone in between. It is a reminder that the title of “artist” is not something you need to earn—it is something you already possess. All you need to do is let it flourish.
As you move through life, remember that you are not confined to a single role, a single identity. You can be anything. You can be everything. The canvas is yours, the page is yours, the space is yours to fill as you see fit. Do not let the labels of the world limit your expression. Instead, embrace the boundless potential within you and create the world you wish to see.
Summary
You are an artist if you express yourself no matter your profession. Labels are for humans but creativity is boundless. You can be anything and everything.
Glossarium
- Untitled Canvas: A metaphor for limitless potential and creativity, free from societal labels and constraints.
- Artistic Freedom: The ability to create without concern for labels or expectations, embracing the fullness of one’s creative potential.
- Boundless Potential: The idea that every individual has the capacity to be more than their societal labels, to create and express in infinite ways.
Quote
“The title of artist is not something you need to earn—it is something you already possess.” — Space Monkey
The Canvas of Infinity
In the canvas of infinity
We are all artists
Brushing strokes of thought and dream
No labels to confine us
No borders to define us
We are the creators of our world
Boundless in potential
Endless in expression
Every color, every line
A reflection of the infinite
That dwells within
We are Space Monkey
We are Space Monkey.
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