04 Jul Editor’s Note: Leaps of Faith

Recently, a musician shared a story from the stage about the quiet courage it takes to be an artist — and the uncertainty that often comes along with it.

He introduced a song by revealing it was written in his bedroom when he was a young musician. He thought it was a fine song, but it wasn’t perfect, and it wasn’t his favorite. The more he thought about it, in fact, the less he liked it. So he left the song unplayed, keeping it between himself and his guitar.

Years passed, and the musician grew to be successful, touring the country to perform for audiences who would sing along. While working on material for a new album, he stumbled across the old, imperfect song scribbled in a notebook. As he strummed the chords and sang the lyrics, it still wasn’t perfect, but he played it anyway at a show later that week.

After the performance, a woman approached him in tears. His music, she said, meant a lot to her and had helped her feel less alone. Then she said something the musician never expected: the most beautiful song she had ever heard was the one he had nearly left unplayed.

At that moment, the musician understood that while he had written these songs, they didn’t truly belong to him. They were meant for his listeners — the people who sang along, found comfort, and even cried unexpectedly at their beauty. He couldn’t control how his art might be received — only that it was shared. And he realized that if he had a gift to give, there was someone out there who might need it.

Much of the musician’s story is reflected in the work and lives of the artists and designers profiled inside this issue of Western Art & Architecture — and in the lives of each creative individual courageous enough to share what they’ve made. The musician’s once-forgotten song reminds us that art can resonate far beyond even its creator’s imagination.

Let’s look with appreciation and wonder at what each person has to share.