Today I am at MOCRA. This is my 42nd day of work in row.* I am tired, but happy. This type of work in the arts is incredibly important to me. The Cosmic Tears exhibit is a good one and Michael Byron will be speaking about his work on November 15th.
A few weeks ago, two men entered the museum and began looking around. The taller of the two asked me if I was an artist. I said yes. He said that he and his friend were both former students of Michael Byron. We then began discussing the two statements that Byron wrote to go with exhibit:
Cosmic Tears
The Universal Principal upon seeing its Creation, realized
the potential humanity could exert on the world. The very
thought caused a torrent of the tears – one for each man, woman,
and child. Each tear contained all the joy, pain, and sorrow each
person’s life would hold. To this day a cosmic tear is shed at the
birth of each child. It is the womb of our psyche. Our task is to shape that tear into
Meaning.
And on the opposite wall it reads again with a tiny change:
Cosmic Tears
The Universal Principle upon seeing its Creation, realized
the potential humanity could exert on the world. The very
thought caused a torrent of the tears – one for each man, woman,
and child. Each tear contained all the joy, pain, and sorrow each
person’s life would hold. To this day a cosmic tear is shed at the
birth of each child. It is the womb of our psyche. Our task is to shape that tear into
Meaning.

"Michael Byron: Cosmic Tears," at MOCRA, Fall 2009.
We talked about the definitions of principal and principle. We wondered about the words that were obviously purposefully capitalized. We then concluded that there was something intentional about the isolation and capitalization of “Meaning” at the end of the statements. We decided nothing concrete, but the conversation was enjoyable.
To me, I see a hint of Buddhism when I think of the bittersweet birth of a child. It is a happy occasion, but there is also sadness for me. I know the potential suffering that awaits the child. Buddhists wish to end human suffering and it seems that with each birth inevitably come more suffering and pain.
I am happy at the coming birth of my little girl. I am also worried about the pains life holds for her. Is this a cosmic tear? Or is this a cause of the tears? I think I see what Bryon is saying here…
— Bob Sullivan, Museum Assistant
* Not all of them at MOCRA. Bob has a busy teaching schedule as well! — ed.
The principle at hand
Today I am at MOCRA. This is my 42nd day of work in row.* I am tired, but happy. This type of work in the arts is incredibly important to me. The Cosmic Tears exhibit is a good one and Michael Byron will be speaking about his work on November 15th.
A few weeks ago, two men entered the museum and began looking around. The taller of the two asked me if I was an artist. I said yes. He said that he and his friend were both former students of Michael Byron. We then began discussing the two statements that Byron wrote to go with exhibit:
Cosmic Tears
The Universal Principal upon seeing its Creation, realized
the potential humanity could exert on the world. The very
thought caused a torrent of the tears – one for each man, woman,
and child. Each tear contained all the joy, pain, and sorrow each
person’s life would hold. To this day a cosmic tear is shed at the
birth of each child. It is the womb of our psyche. Our task is to shape that tear into
Meaning.
And on the opposite wall it reads again with a tiny change:
Cosmic Tears
The Universal Principle upon seeing its Creation, realized
the potential humanity could exert on the world. The very
thought caused a torrent of the tears – one for each man, woman,
and child. Each tear contained all the joy, pain, and sorrow each
person’s life would hold. To this day a cosmic tear is shed at the
birth of each child. It is the womb of our psyche. Our task is to shape that tear into
Meaning.
"Michael Byron: Cosmic Tears," at MOCRA, Fall 2009.
We talked about the definitions of principal and principle. We wondered about the words that were obviously purposefully capitalized. We then concluded that there was something intentional about the isolation and capitalization of “Meaning” at the end of the statements. We decided nothing concrete, but the conversation was enjoyable.
To me, I see a hint of Buddhism when I think of the bittersweet birth of a child. It is a happy occasion, but there is also sadness for me. I know the potential suffering that awaits the child. Buddhists wish to end human suffering and it seems that with each birth inevitably come more suffering and pain.
I am happy at the coming birth of my little girl. I am also worried about the pains life holds for her. Is this a cosmic tear? Or is this a cause of the tears? I think I see what Bryon is saying here…
— Bob Sullivan, Museum Assistant
* Not all of them at MOCRA. Bob has a busy teaching schedule as well! — ed.