By The New Congress LebensART can be compared to the expanded concept of art as understood and taught by the influential German artist Joseph Beuys. Beuys believed that art played a vital role in the progress of knowledge and the regeneration of man's creativity. His con- cept was a way of proceeding and did not rely on one's belief, it was merely the out- come of his experiments in the workshop. LebensART is a way of proceeding in the world, it is a way of being. LebensART is an international word made from the German words ‘lebens', meaning life, and ‘Art’ meaning way. It describes the major artistic form of The New Congress. The word places focus on the artist and encorporates his way of life into an understanding of art. LebensART describes the entire artistic or creative - experience. Let us consider Michelangelo Buonarroti's David. When an_ individual views this colossal work he experiences much more than the visual effect of sculpt- ed marble. He engages with the work and experiences it fully. The viewer contem- plates the figure, technique, history, the mastery of the work, the character of David, and of course the artist himself, Michelangelo. The individual also reacts to the work based on his own experience and understandings. The viewer, if at all engaged, also becomes an artist. Om me The whole of the lebensART theory centres around the presence of an engaged individual. The def- inition of engaged is somewhat vague, but in the sense of LebensART, describes an individual who is actively occupied with, and taking part in, one's own existence. An engaged individual in The New Congress sense is one who works towards positive evolution of self, communi- ty and/or environment. The engaged individual actively learns, teaches, explores and works towards betterment. An engaged individual is aware. The lebensART theory combines this engaged individual with a history, activities of the mind or soul, communication, and work. An engaged individual plus at least one of these components creates the art form of lebensART. Accordingly, one must consider the past experi- ences and influences of an engaged human as lebensART. LebensART could be a moment in time when the engaged individual made an important discovery, or perhaps it is a cultural influence that had a bearing on the individual and led to his engagement with his exis- tence. : What a person conceives in his mind is also con- sidered to be lebensART - again only if this individual is engaged as defined earlier. The way he perceives, feels, understands and processes information is art; the same is true for his communication, learning and teaching. LebensART is also the work and efforts of the engaged human. Let us consider a couple of examples: It is easy to understand that the Mona Lisa is a work of art because it is a traditional painting. LebensART theory insists that the Mona Lisa is a work of art because in essence it is a communication created by an engaged individual: Leonardo DaVinci. The work communicates feelings, impressions and information. This leads us to question other communications created by DaVinci, are they too works of art? One does not have trouble considering his notebooks and sketches ‘art’ although they were not considered so when they were made. Now let us suppose that we are not looking at DaVinci's sketches, we are looking at Einstein's famous equation: e=mc?. This too is a communication created by an engaged individual. The New Congress - also considers this art or as we call it 'lebensART'. This applies to communications of all engaged individuals, not only the famous or accomplished. Consider Conceptual Art. This is art which deals with ideas and experience rather than permanent form. Conceptual Art is not a traditional art form and its worth is debated. Despite this debate there seems to be enough artists working in this vein to say that conceptu- “al art is indeed art. If one can consider an artist's concept to be art, whether it is realized or not, then one must question whether or not other concepts can be con- cidered art. The lebensART theory insists that all ideas and experience of the engaged individual are indeed art. Let us again talk about Joseph Beuys. As an artis- tic experiment Beuys locked himself in a cell with a wild coyote. This was a moment of time involving an 2are ts a way of life> engaged individual, and is widely considered to be per- formance art. This leads us to question other moments in time involving Joseph Beuys; were other moments in his life art or performance art? Take for example the legend regarding his experience as a pilot in the Second World . War. Having. been gunned down ‘he was rescued by nomads and wrapped in animal fat and felt to heal. This experience informed and influenced much of Beuys' work for the remainder of his life. It may be a stretch for some to consider this other moment in time as art but others can see how it may be thus considered. The New Congress believes this, and moments in time of all engaged individuals, are lebensART. As you can see, lebensART encompasses all of the thought, activities, work, etc. of the engaged indi- vidual and elevates it to an artistic status. This is one way that lebensART follows in the tradition of Joseph Beuys’ widened understanding of art. While Beuys said that "Everyone is an artist", The New Congress says that "Every engaged individual is an artist". Congress celebrates April 11th as New Congress Day, a day that New Congress members pause celebrate their acheivements. This April.marks the fifth anniversary of our artistic movement, an accomplishment of which every New Congress member is proud. As we reflect on our past work and contemplate the work that lies ahead we are encouraged to continue in our artistic explo- ration for the betterment of our own lives and therefore - the betterment of our community. Happy New Congress Day! If You Never Thought Of Your Child As The New Congress Type, Think Again. Now is the perfect time to think about what The New Congress has to offer. Although The New Congress is getting larger, the Delegation still need to recruit almost 200 young men for Assembly membership each year. _ TodayOs New Congress is one _of the most sophisticated and dvanced artistic movements in the world. As in the past, e opportunities and rewards ‘or joining The New Congress : will continue. So, if you know a smart, ambitious high school student who is determined to make the most of the future, maybe he is The New Congress type after all. By The New Congress LebensART can be compared to the expanded concept of art as understood and taught by the influential German artist Joseph Beuys. Beuys believed that art played a vital role in the progress of knowledge and the regeneration of man's creativity. His con- cept was a way of proceeding and did not rely on one's belief, it was merely the out- come of his experiments in the workshop. LebensART is a way of proceeding in the world, it is a way of being. LebensART is an international word made from the German words ‘lebens', meaning life, and ‘Art’ meaning way. It describes the major artistic form of The New Congress. The word places focus on the artist and encorporates his way of life into an understanding of art. LebensART describes the entire artistic or creative experience. Let us consider Michelangelo Buonarroti's David. When an individual views this colossal work he experiences much more than the visual effect of sculpt- ed marble. He engages with the work and experiences it fully. The viewer contem- plates the figure, technique, history, the mastery of the work, the character of David, and of course the artist himself, Michelangelo. The individual also reacts to the work based on his own experience and understandings. The viewer, if at all engaged, also becomes an artist. @-+2 The whole of the lebensART theory centres around the presence of an engaged individual. The def- inition of engaged is somewhat vague, but in the sense of LebensART, describes an individual who is actively occupied with, and taking part in, one's own existence. ‘An engaged individual in The New Congress sense is one ‘who works towards positive evolution of self, commu ty and/or environment. The engaged individual actively learns, teaches, explores and works towards betterment. ‘An engaged individual is aware. The lebensART theory combines this engaged individual with a history, activities of the mind or soul, ‘communication, and. work. An engaged individual plus at least one of these components creates the art form of lebensART. ‘Accordingly, one must consider the past experi- ences and influences of an engaged human as lebensART. LebensART could be a moment in time when the engaged individual made an important discovery, or perhaps it is a cultural influence that had a bearing on the individual and led to his engagement with his exis- tence. What a person conceives in his mind is also con- sidered to be lebensART - again only if this individual is engaged as defined earlier. The way he perceives, feels, understands and processes information is art; the same is true for his communication, leaming and teaching. LebensART is also the work and efforts of the engaged human. Let us consider a couple of examples: It is easy to understand that the Mona Lisa is a work of art because it is a traditional painting. LebensART theory insists that the Mona Lisa is a work of art because in essence it is a communication created by an engaged individual: Leonardo DaVinci. The work communicates feelings, impressions and information. This leads us to question other communications created by DaVinci, are they too works of art? One does not have trouble considering his notebooks and sketches ‘art’ although they were not considered so when they were made. Now let us suppose that we are not looking at DaVinci's sketches, we are looking at Einstein's famous equation: e=mc’. This too is a communication created by an engaged individual. The New Congress also considers this art or as we call it "lebensART’. This applies to communications of all engaged individuals, not only the famous or accomplished. Consider Conceptual Art. This is art which deals with ideas and experience rather than permanent form. Conceptual Artis not a traditional art form and its worth is debated. Despite this debate there seems to be enough artists working in this vein to say that conceptu- al at is indeed art. If one can consider an artist's concept to be art, whether it is realized or not, then one must question whether or not other concepts can be con- idered art. The lebensART theory insists that all ideas and experience of the engaged individual are indeed art. Let us again talk about Joseph Beuys. As an artis- tic experiment Beuys locked himself in a cell with a wild coyote. This was a moment of time involving an engaged individual, and is widely considered to be per- formance art. This leads us to question other moments in time involving Joseph Beuys; were other moments in his life art or performance art? Take for example the legend regarding his experience as a pilot in the Second World War. Having been gunned down ‘he was rescued by nomads and wrapped in animal fat and felt to heal. This experience informed and influenced much of Beuys' work for the remainder of his life. It may be a stretch for some to consider this other moment in time as art but others can see how it may be thus considered. The New Congress believes this, and moments in time of all engaged individuals, are lebensART. ‘As you can see, lebensART encompasses all of the thought, activities, work, etc. of the engaged indi- Vidual and elevates it to an artistic status. This is one way that lebensART follows in the tradition of Joseph Beuys' widened understanding of art. While Beuys said that “Everyone is an artist", The New Congress says that “Every engaged individual is an artist*. Congress celebrates April 11th as New Congress Day, a day that New Congress members pause celebrate their acheivements. This April marks the fifth anniversary ‘of our artistic movement, an accomplishment of which ‘every New Congress member is proud. As we reflect on ‘our past work and contemplate the work that lies ahead we are encouraged to continue in our artistic explo- ration for the betterment of our own lives and therefore the betterment of our community. Happy New Congress Day! If You Never Thought Of Your Child As The New Congress Type, Think Again. Now is the perfect time to think about what The New Congress has to offer. Although The New Congress is getting larger, the Delegation still need to recruit almost 200 young men for Assembly membership each year. Todays New Congress is one of the most sophisticated and advanced artistic movements © in the world. As in the past, will continue. So, if you know a smart, ambitious high school student © who is determined to make the most of the future, maybe : is The New Congress type pend after all