Share Like An Artist

Chowanook Uprising

My 85 learners have shared many lessons with me this semester, some profound and some tender.  The process of education has wasted energy and missed opportunities.  The values of “handcraftsmanship and pre-capitalist forms of culture and society” are relevant today to get reconnected to creative hands.  The process of making something out of nothing is healing especially when we find ourselves in difficult circumstances.  Life is about taking the bitter with the sweet and learning how to walk out your fears.  I’m living in indigo blues.  I’m content with the circumstances of my life.  I forgive my self and others.  I stay focused on living in the moment and I’m learning to trust and obey God and His plan for my life.  I'm Chowanook Uprising from Toisnoit & Contentnea.

Prep work for teaching contemporary art & design next semester.  Course will be in 3 units:

·      Unit #1 ~ It’s Not How Good You Are, It’s How Good You Want To Be

·      Unit #2 ~ Share Like An Artist

·      Unit #3 ~ Art & Fear

Show Your Work! By Austin Kleon

1.    You don’t have to be a genius.

2.    Think process, not product.

3.    Share something small every day.

4.    Open up your cabinet of curiosities.

5.    Tell good stories.

6.    Teach what you know.

7.    Don’t turn into human spam.

8.    Learn too take a punch.

9.    Sell out.

10. Stick around.

What Do I Want 2 Make Today

Back to journaling my journey.  Now more than any time, I realize the value of sharing creative hands.  It’s by Divine Mercy that I’m able to function day-by-day and breath-by-breath.  I give credit to Almighty Father Creator of all things, whose son’s Passion gifted me sanctification and redeemed by soul.  Jesus Christ is my Shepherd, my True Vine, my BFF.  Birth family circumstances can be complicated and friends come and go.  We have to take the bitter with the sweet.  At some point we’re on our own, where we take responsibility for the steps we make on our earth walk.  Yat say, “Can’t never change nothin’ ‘bout nobody. Change me and I can change the world.”  I get it Mat Randolph!

I’m walking out transformation in my life from creative hands adventures at Penland School of Crafts.  Penland demonstrates by example the values of “handcraftsmanship and pre-capitalist forms of culture and society.” Web Link I witnessed this transformation in my own life participating in my first fiber only art gig – Holiday Market at the Durham Art Walk.

My Table -- Great Location

My observations come from my prep work to teach contemporary art and design next semester at Chowan University.  The first unit in the course will be It’s Not How Good You Are, It’s How Good You Want To Be, the title of the best-selling book, by Paul Arden.

Lesson #1:  It’s Wrong To Be Right | BEING right is based upon knowledge and experience and is often provable. | Knowledge comes from the past, so it’s safe.  It is also out of date.  It’s the opposite of originality. | Experience is built from solutions to old situations and problems.  The old situations are probably different from the present ones, so that old solution will have to be bent to fit new problems (and possibly fit badly).  Also the likelihood is that, if you’ve got the experience, you’ll probably use it.  | This is lazy. | Experience is the opposite of being creative. | If you can prove you’re right, you’re set in concrete.   You cannot move with the times or with other people. | Being right is also being boring.  Your mind is closed.  You are not open to new ideas.  You are rooted in your own rightness, which is arrogant.  Arrogance is a valuable tool, but only if used very sparingly.  | Worst of all, being right has a tone of morality about it.  To be anything else sounds weak or fallible, and people who are right would hate to be thought fallible. | So:  it’s wrong to be right, because people who are right are rooted in the past, rigid-minded, dull and smug. | There’s no talking to them.

["sanctify" derives from the Latin verb sanctificare which in turn derives from sanctus "holy" and facere "to make]

My First Fiber Show

Join me at the Holiday Market at Site 01 in the Durham Arts Council building on November 21 and 22.  This is my first time showing and selling fiber.  I'm beyond excited!  "At Last" I've found the voice of my creative hands.