Joey came last night

Photo: Fentress Architecture of Pallazzo Verdi. Chandelier Chardin by moi.

So Joseph Campbell walks in to a bar....

OK, so Joey walked in to my dream last night to tell me to string together my book. I said " isn't that what editors do? and he said " no, they just cut out the good stuff " they just trim, you have to do the stringing. Then I ran across this rant today, by chance, after my I-Tunes played the Campbell lecture "The Way of Art" by chance. I love chances.

I have been thinking about this book for several years now, and it has yet to manifest itself. Funny in a way – here I am a person that professes that I can help people be more creative, and create anything they want to, yet I wallow in my own blocks and stops and rejections.

Rejection is a strange animal. Most of the time, we think of it as an external force – that someone rejects you, or an institution rejects you. But really, when we really get truthful about it, we often are our own worse enemy.  We reject ourselves. We reject our own ideas, thoughts and visions. Accepting ourselves is perhaps one of the most difficult tasks.

So, stripping the the elements of ego and business away from the project, why do I need to write this book?  What purpose this salve? Why do people need to read it or use it? Hasn’t someone already nailed this? 

I believe that it is a part of my mission as a creator to help others create. The more people inspired to create, the more creative the world will be. The more creative the world is, the more beauty will emmerge. And of course, Dostevesky was right – “ beauty will save the world”. I get to pose the Universal question in a neat package.*1

The creative act is easy. The creative process is learnable. Great creative works are a lot of hard work and not easy. If great creative works were easy wouldn’t we have created a lasting peace on Earth? Wouldn’t we have created enough food for everyone? Wouldn’t we have already created a system of economic sustainability for the many instead of the few? Of course we would have. So that means that 

Everyone needs to become more creative and use more genius to save the world!
Wow!

On Being Creative

I have been told since I could understand the words that I am “extremely creative” – This has always puzzled me. Maybe I won some divine creativity lottery or some such thing, but why me? I don’t feel any different. I don’t know why I am “creative” and the next guy “isn’t”. I sometimes think that I became extremely creative because people told me I was and I didn’t want to let them down, so I trained myself to be creative.

Buckminster Fuller was right, we are all born geniuses. The recognized genius’ are just that – RECOGNIZED.  Each person’s genius is different, and it is wheather or not it is found.

Someone may be born a music genius, but if they never hear music or pick up an instrument, the genius never manifests.

This is one of the reasons I think crosstraining is so important- both children an adults should be exposed to as wide a range of activities as possible, making it possible to win the genius “lottery”. The slogan for our state lottery is “you can’t win if you don’t play”. That is actually a good motto for the creative process as well – You can’t win if you don’t play.

A big part of creating is the finite side of the process. Do not pass go unless you:

Accept that there is a process that must be completed in order to create. There is actually no happen chance in the process of creating. There may be great happenchance, magic and even eureka in the creative product, but not the processs. 

Hone your ability to know both on a conscience and subconscience level where you are in that process.

If you know that the process is a journey, and you know where you are in that journey, you can end up at your destination. Simple enough – right?

If you don’t accept the process, you will most likely be fooled by the many killers of the process. There are deceptions and lies that are actually part of the process.

Example:
When arriving at the Magic Castle private club in Hollywood, if you were not accompanied by an official member, you might walk in the room, find an interesting but door-less library, turn around and leave. Now if a member of the club is with you, they might speak with the stuffed owl sitting on the bookshelf, and suddenly, the bookcase would slide open to reveal a sumptious drawing room and bar filled with magicians and their guests.

I have seen repeatidly  that people say they want to create something, and they embark on the journey. The first moments of creating something are often the most fun – conception is full of positive energy – but when we come to the first gate keeper, the first wall, the first challenge, the journey is abandoned often with out the knowledge that with just a couple of actions – that wall would have opened revealing magic and new energy to carry us to the next juncture of the creative path. 

We are often also really hard on ourselves and others during creative “infancy”.
Demanding greatness from a newborn child would bee considered a cruel and misguided action. Demanding greatness from your creative work in the beginning of the process seldom yields greatness, but most often abandoment of the very work.  Demand process, demand passion and energy, demand truth, demand compassion, demand expression – you can create great things from these demands, but never shake the baby.

My profession, and all of my hobbies for that matter, involve creating. In the course of an ordinary day, I may need to write, draw, paint, sculpt, communicate, draft, script, budget, arrange and present. And it is pretty common that I need to do several of these at the same time. Just as any mother could tell me, it is not so much heroic as necessary. 

I am a working designer, a working artist – and in order to keep the “working” part of the title in the equation I must work. A lot. That means there is little time for the stars to align and the majestic creative muse to decend with gifts of glorious expressions of great art. No, it is more like hurling yourself in to the creative flux at a moment’s notice. It is neccesary to turn on creat creativity at almost anytime and produce work.

I am what ther refer to as “Creative Warhorse”. I have thousands of projects under my belt, some good, some bad, a few atcrocious and fewer genius, but all completed works. Complete works are the only ones that count. 

Completed works count. Internal visions are entertaining, provoking, and depressing at times – but only to us. These internal operas die with us. Not given to another. Not expressed.

 “A visions’ just a vision if its only in your head” – Sunday in the Park with George – Stephen Sondiem

Ok  - so bigshot, what’s the secret? Where is the facuet you turn off and on?
So after 100,000 hours or more, why can’t I define this precisly for even myself?

“Truth can not be stated once and for all, because truth transcends time” – Jayne Harnett

Does that mean that at the most basic levels, we look for the truths that seem to transcend our time. What feels truth-filled usually is. In other words – 1/2 of this may be predictable, and the other simply unique for every human being.

More clearly: We can define the basic game, but the rules will change constantly, and the game board is moving as well. Other than that, I will clearly define the creative process in a different but perfect way that has not yet been voiced in the last few thousand years. Wow.

Saying yes to the call is perhaps the most daunting task in the creative process. By our very human make up, there is an instinctual reaction to things and moment or riska and danger – fight or flight . In most cases it far more rationale to flee from a creative problem than to stay and “fight”.
The brain is a very protective device, an it can come up with increadibly rational reasons not to be creative.

Every aspect of us can be challenged, and can result in “system rejection”. The systems include: emotional revelation in front of pears. Intimacy. Ego/id fear of downgrading, hiearchy disruption, physical danger, uncomfortibility – paint on my clothes!, being revealed as un-educated or un-hip or a fool, oh ya – the list goes on an on. Creative endeavors demand a level of trust and respect in or to function in a group or be judged by others. 

So following the concept of the brain almost wired to not create –
How could this corrilate with the observation that many artists, inventors, designers, architects are a little “odd” or outsiders. Is is easier to create if you are not in the A group pear pressure? Do oddballs become creative to compete with suave executive types? 

Back to the point. Creating doesn’t take as much magic as moxy. Creating is not for social sissies. You gotta have guts to create. No pain no gain. 


*1 
I believe the Joseph Campbell description of the “proper work of art” … a proper work of art asks “the universal question”. It is not didactic or pornograhic but a static, well intended and balanced view of the center of it ALL. The viewer can then glean enormous energy and inspiration from the work. 

Timing is Everything

I  Must AdmitThat I was getting pretty excited about auditioning for the new "Project Runway" type show (Working title American Artist) about Art and artists. It has the best producers (Magical Elves - the originators of Project Runway and Top Chef working with Sarah Jessica Parker's Pretty Matches) , and promises to be a very interesting show. 

Since the beginning of my career, I have always dreamed (and trained)  to compete in an "Arts Olympics".
But it wont be this time.
The auditions are over the next few weeks and shooting in the Fall and next year. Of course the Cabinet of Curiosities show and Hudson Holiday are in full production now, and I can't go skiping off until Hudson Holiday opens November 20th, so I need to let the younger chicks stratch each others eyes out and scramble to win. 
It was fun to answer the application questions in my head, plan out my trip to Chicago to audition, and imagine all the fun and stress and tension and madness. What a rush.
Sort of like that few minutes after buying a lottery ticket.

Timing is everything.

Dan Solo - Type Hero

Dan Solo is a living treasure in America. When using one of his rescued types for the up-tenth time,  I decided to look around on the internet for him, and of course found him. This is his  biography. I think it is a good read. He teaches, through his amazing collection, the language of alphabet and typography. A language that is lanquishing........... (not bad - huh?)


...And certainly seek out his fonts on MyFonts and Dover - He is the master. I will need to give the link, as I realize that the bio was not pasting in the blog:



Chirping

So the world is twittering and posting and socializing and blogging and texting. 
Welcome to 2009. 
This morning, without i-tunes playing or people talking or anything broadcasting, I heard the birds in both my front and back yards at once, singing and talking and tweeting and socializing. I am happy I have both of those worlds in my life. And I am especially grateful that I am finally getting to the point in my life that I will allow myself to occasionally just listen. 

Pitch Flick!

Ok, I know that I said I would set up a Hudson Holiday blog, and I will, but I just received  this link from Kelley Bergmann, who with our fearless leader Cynthia Madden Leitner created this piece to promote the event. I think it is really cool. Please check it out and send the link on to ANYONE you might want to join the fun as a sponsor or promotional partner. We have been working on this project for 3 years and we are finally flipping the switch!

Confessions of a Young Magician #2

OK, I will only use initials, (I'll be LH) to protect the dignified
Or I should say the presently dignified in their grown up lives. 
Here is a verbatim Face-Book exchange, after I have received a snapshot of me in the late 70's at a sewing machine stiching a gigantic, satin, (striped turquoise, teal and ultra-marine) curtain.
LH:
Just recieved the photo without a black-mail note! That's a first in years
What a crack up - I wonder what ever happened to that 564 yards of satin?
You were such a good sport. I can't believe you still talk to me. 
Actually, you don't. 
oh. well... 
Love your writing. Smart and glibby with an occasionally smarck and high giggle.
LP:
Yes, well, I spent a lot of time handcuffed in a box because of you. 
Sounds bad out of context!
LH:
Handcuffed, in a box, in a bag, in a trunk, with a costume change to make - 
No, I didn't expect much.
But you did it!- and boy does it sound strange.
To my dear LP and the special collaborators that have marched in to my manical dreams and been willing to go to these places and do these crazy things for the sake of foolishness and art and the seeking of magic, I dearly thank you for playing with me.
But I can't promise I wont go to the next impossible, and possibly embarrassing quest.

Edit: I have already been informed that this is way to obtuse to understand. At one point in time, I did a magic act that included "Metamorphosis" or the "Substitution Trunk" routine. My assistant would be handcuffed, stuck in a large tied bag, and put in a chained, padlocked packing crate, and the keys given to an audience member. I would then stand on the crate, raise a curtain above my head, and when the curtain came down, my assistant was standing on the crate, dropping the curtain, and had made a costume change - I had disappeared, and she had escaped. the keys were then obtained from the audience member, the crate opened, the bag untied and I was found in the bag, in handcuffs, also changed in to a different costume. Spectacular illusion, still can't believe we ever pulled it off, and hope that whoever now has the cuffs and curtain and accessories is using it well.

Intimate Black Hole

In terms of the experience of blogging...
 It feels to me like writing notes to your dear friends and the universe. Then you send them, with great intimacy, out in to a black hole, without any expectation of(an)echo. 

Don't get me wrong, the echoes are wonderful, but unexpected.
"stroke an artist and surprise a child"

But for most of my waking hours it is about being productive in the service of my crafts. I love being able to express some of the feelings, without expectation.

In real life, with pen and paper, I am on sketchbook #96 or something. 99% of those books will never see the light of day. Yet the internet is both collective and perpetual. The cosmic dictionary. 

At least a tear in the river


Ok, back to heady stuff...


We can not cure the world of sorrows, but we can choose to live in joy.
 - Joey, or J.C.

Several references led me to remember this quote and tenant. We must not be overwhelmed with all the pain in the world or we will not paint with pretty colors or make useless things or experience any joy - we will be vacant of strength to help the human condition. 
.... and lord knows,  misery loves company.

Jayne and I refer to Joseph Campbell as "Joey" and Leonardo Da Vinci as "Lenny"
It makes it all less ominous, and although conceited and blasphemous, it is meant as endearment and familiarity. It makes it easier to absorb lessons if they are coming from a dear friend, rather than a Genius or God. (Joey would hate those last words)

(Click on the picture for a better view)



Behind Curtain #2...

You heard it here first!
The Museum of Outdoor Arts has inked a deal with Hudson Gardens to create an outdoor light show and display called 
Hudson Holiday
We have been working on this project for three years now, and we finally have the perfect site and a great partner.
The show will open mid November and run selected nights through the New Year.
The thirty acre site is a stunning landscape to work with - 
I am so excited to be designing this show! I love my job!
In addition to light-scaping, we will be bringing back and expanding the Emry Gweldig's Wondrous Keep display (This time outdoors in a Conifer grove), and launching many projects we have had in the works including the Herd of Electric Sheep & Crazy House.
This will be a ticketed event and will benefit both non-profits - MOA and Hudson Gardens.

In the not tooooo distant future, I am going to start a separate blog "Designer's Sketchbook" for the Cabinet of Curiosities and Hudson Holiday projects and keep this blog for the more personal sputterings.