Grant Hansen--Artist and Moral Statements

Artist's Statement:

As a person I try to develop myself broadly, and engage in a variety of activities so as to develop a variety of skills and talents. As an artist, I'm no different. As I learn about new mediums, new techniques and approaches, I find in myself a strong desire to become master of each of them. My intent, therefore, is to pursue anything that interests me when it is apparent that it interests me more than anything else.

I very strongly believe that if I want to make a career out of any skill that I develop, then it had better be a skill for which I'm passionate. If I'm not passionate about what I'm doing, then I know that I won't have any drive to improve, advance my field, or make an impression. I want to be someone who makes a difference in the world through the work that I do, and stepping into a career that only minimally interests me won't work.

In pursuing my most potent interests, I believe that I'll find myself guided into the artistic areas where Ill find my work most profitable and enjoyable all at once.



Moral Statement:

As an artist, I know that my services may be requested by others whose moral standards don't line up with my own. In that situation I'm going to have to regard it as I would any other moral choice. If in any situation a person would ask me to lower my moral standards to fit their own, for whatever reason, I wouldn't do it. It will be the same thing as I'm creating artwork.
I think of the time that Alma and Amulek were tempted by Zeezrom, being offered silver if they would deny God. The moral discrepancy was so obvious there that it was laughable. I think that being commissioned to create immoral artwork is no less direct. "Will you accept this money to lower your moral standards--even for just a moment?
The answer is no, though as simple as things are to state, I know that the decision will weigh much more heavily when it comes to bear.