“Future generations will be called to solve some of the most challenging problems ever created and faced by man. Our children must master systems-thinking to envision multiple methods for addressing complex challenges like renewable energy, world hunger, climate change, and ultimately, the design of a better world. They must also possess the compassion to recognize the rising human population and create a world that is inclusive, rather than exclusive.”  http://www.fastcodesign.com/1663416/teaching-kids-design-thinking-so-they-can-solve-the-worlds-biggest-problems

We are living in a new time, full of ways being ushered in, and old ways becoming redundant and unworkable.  Though we are in a time of flux and transition, it is like a snake shedding it’s skin, or like the eagle, that must go through the painful process of separating itself from others for a time and through a long and painful process, pluck out all of it’s own feathers, and then all of it’s talons in waiting for new ones to come, or it will die.

We are moving into a time where ‘team, collaboration, inclusion, compassion, vision’ all must be a major part of our vocabulary.  You see the way youth operate already, and most of them are much more willing to operate in group settings than us older folk do.  In order to walk successfully in those things, competitiveness and clamouring for top dog places will no longer work.  Lone Ranger philosophies will not allow for the future to come forth successfully.  It will be a time when recognition of the individual and their gifts (reminds me of Avatar – “I see you”) and encouraging those gifts to be used for the greater good will be more important than fighting for your own recognition and placement.  Shift is scary, but it is also exciting.

What does this have to do with art you ask?  It has everything to do with the art of transition, with the art of living differently, the art of seeing things differently, the art of recognizing others, with the art of creative living in collaboration with others.  Spring is here, shake off your old dusty, heavy ways, and put on a brand new, lighter, brighter coat for spring to celebrate the coming shift.

The Sunroom Studio

Wow, what a night last night was!  Dale Russell (formerly from The Guess Who) who is one of the founding directors of SASS (School Alliance of Student Songwriters) and his founding partner Artemis Chartier came by with David Millar, Director from DFCC  to begin our work on a joint project with all of the above and Art With A Heart Inc. 

Artemis was our Producer and Artistic Director as we undertook to film a live work of art created by myself (Sheri Gundry from Art With A Heart Inc.) with Dale as musical muse…We worked collaboratively to respond in the moment to both the music and the art being created  in order to get a teaser up on You Tube to encourage young people to undertake similar projects.  We are doing this exact thing with students in the Durham Region, having some respond to music through art, and others to create songs in response to artwork. 

We are hoping the project will be completed in March 2011 including the release of a CD with booklet including artwork and songs from this experience, perhaps with a CD release and small show at a local gallery like the RMG.

We know the synergy produced by working together and the exciting things that can emerge from it, we saw a bit of it happen last night as we created art together.  I have posted  the art piece taken with my little point and press today, but there will be some You Tube finished hopefully next week.  Both SASS and DFCC/AWAH have students already at work on their parts of the project, and we look forward in  seeing the results from their collaborative response to each other.  With the creative spirit at work and flowing between them, I am sure it will be nothing short of amazing!

Great news!  Here is the You Tube clip for you to see – The Art of Synergy

Coin depicting mythological Roman god Janus

Was inspired recently with the theme of an upcoming exhibition at Station Gallery when I stumbled upon a great bit of information about the Roman God Janus and an art installation done in Boston a number of years ago…

The Roman God Janus was a two faced God that was known for “looking forward and looking back” at the same time…it is where we get January from and it could possibly explain why we have New Years resolutions and a reflection of the year behind and the year to come.  He is known as the god of New Beginnings, of gates, and of doorways, bridges, as well as endings in time.

He symbolized both concreate and abstract thinking about the beginnings of the world, god, human life, the historical ages, and also economical undertakings.  I also found it interesting that he was the god of change and transitions where the past progressed into the future, a condition to another or a vision to another…the transition of youth growing up etc.  We often talk about hindesight being 20/20 and this is the god that represented being able to see the past and the future with his two faces…he was worshipped at harvests and plantings, at weddings and funerals, and even where rural places became cities…

It seems so culturally relevant and fitting to have such an interesting character somewhat represent the times we are in, even in my own personal life, the youth that I work with in trying to encourage them into a productive and creative path, a young friend presently travelling in Italy who is so fascinated by gates and doorways and at that transition point in her life from youth to adult, transitions in our economies from industrialized centres to more creative centres…even for Station Gallery who is reflecting on the past 40 years and looking forward to the next…

In finding the project that had been done in larger scale, I am still excitetd to consider undertaking a temporary art installation that could be done on New Year’s Eve in Whitby and displayed later with a “statue” of sorts of a type of Janus and the opportunity to have it as an interactive art piece for others to sign on New Year’s Eve with their reflections and resolutions…I can’t wait to see if the Town agrees that it is a great idea and could be much fun…

History, art, creativity, and making a mark today…all so much fun and so inspiring…

Intercession

Just came across an article about a woman who connected with a painting that she saw at an Oncology clinic during a surgery…it reminded me of a connection I made a few years ago with a woman going through treatments for breast cancer.

A few friends and myself had been dropping food off for this woman and her family and I felt prompted to give or “loan” a painting to her.  I brought it with me and offered it, and it led to a much deeper conversation.  The woman hung it on her wall at the end of her bed, and she said every morning she would look at it and it would help her to meditate or pray about her situation and it brought her comfort.  I offered her to keep the painting, or when it was all over, to take another painting in its place instead, knowing that there could be many negative feelings attached to it.  She agreed at the end of the process that she would rather get another piece in its place. 

She said that painting gave her hope every time she looked at it and knew that others were lifting her up and carrying her through this very difficult time. 

Sometimes we create for ourselves, sometimes we just create…sometimes what we create changes the lives of others and we don’t even know it.

This statement resonated with me instantly…and I agree that at times, education interferes and stifles our natural creativity.  I am reminded of that song by Harry Chapin.  Some teachers really are “real” teachers, where others are not, and this is an example.  Education has to be at it’s best, beneficial to the individual and help them flourish.  I have friends who were raised in a house of artists, and their work is so great and so flowing, I believe they were also home schooled…and it made all the difference in the world.

Flowers are Red
by Harry Chapin

The little boy went first day of school
He got some crayons and started to draw
He put colors all over the paper
For colors was what he saw
And the teacher said.. What you doin’ young man
I’m paintin’ flowers he said
She said… It’s not the time for art young man
And anyway flowers are green and red
There’s a time for everything young man
And a way it should be done
You’ve got to show concern for everyone else
For you’re not the only oneAnd she said…
Flowers are red young man
Green leaves are green
There’s no need to see flowers any other way
Than they way they always have been seenBut the little boy said…
There are so many colors in the rainbow
So many colors in the morning sun
So many colors in the flower and I see every oneWell the teacher said.. You’re sassy
There’s ways that things should be
And you’ll paint flowers the way they are
So repeat after me…..And she said…
Flowers are red young man
Green leaves are green
There’s no need to see flowers any other way
Than they way they always have been seenBut the little boy said…
There are so many colors in the rainbow
So many colors in the morning sun
So many colors in the flower and I see every oneThe teacher put him in a corner
She said.. It’s for your own good..
And you won’t come out ’til you get it right
And are responding like you should
Well finally he got lonely
Frightened thoughts filled his head
And he went up to the teacher
And this is what he said.. and he saidFlowers are red, green leaves are green
There’s no need to see flowers any other way
Than the way they always have been seenTime went by like it always does
And they moved to another town
And the little boy went to another school
And this is what he found
The teacher there was smilin’
She said…Painting should be fun
And there are so many colors in a flower
So let’s use every oneBut that little boy painted flowers
In neat rows of green and red
And when the teacher asked him why
This is what he said.. and he saidFlowers are red, green leaves are green
There’s no need to see flowers any other way
Than the way they always have been seen.Layout, design, images, and user-contributed text are © Copyright 1996-2009 HarryChapin.com: The Harry Chapin Archive.
“Oh, if a man tried to take his time on earth and prove before he died what one man’s life 

Creativity is Uniquely Human…

Michael McCrady from The Musical Brain

“…it is necessary to consider the idea that Genius and madness are closely allied.  It is not true, of course, that great poets, painters, scientists, and mathematicians are mad; far from it.  On the other hand, it may well be that they work as intensely and imaginatively as they do in order to remain sane; but they have access to aspects of the mind’s functioning from which those who live more staid and conventional lives are excluded, and that it is this access which gives their work both its flair and its sense of risk.” 

It is interesting that what everyone has been calling “artistic” might actually be diagnosed as a syndrome.  I hate putting people in boxes but there is something to this…