We’ve all had it, that voice that says we can’t do something, or that we can’t do it well enough, or we don’t have the time. Perhaps we need to listen to Van Gogh who said “If you hear a voice within you say ‘you cannot paint,’ then by all means paint, and that voice will be silenced.” The staff at Opus Art Supplies has made a video illustrating this quote. It was a nice little reminder for me this morning and thus I wanted to share it.
The Tricksters Hat by Nick Bantock
“The Trickster’s Hat, A Mischievous Apprenticeship in Creativity” by Nick Bantock, was given to me recently as a birthday present. In the early nineties I was all excited about Bantock’s first huge success “Griffin and Sabine” which reflected my own love of collage, letters, found objects, and small art such as postage stamps. Then I “grew up” and life got in the way of creativity and play. I’ve become more concerned about a regular paycheque and paying the bills than I am about playing with my art materials. Where did I loose my path? I still create, but something is missing.
Even just having this book put into my hands has suddenly sparked my brain into creative drive. Like Julia Cameron’s best selling “The Artist’s Way”, which got me out of a creative and personal bump in my road a few years back, I hope “The Trickster’s Hat” will guide me down an artistic highway for some fun adventures.
<p><a href=”http://vimeo.com/39181285″>Nick Bantock, Author & Artist</a> from <a href=”http://vimeo.com/user1686564″>Jenn Strom</a> on <a href=”https://vimeo.com”>Vimeo</a>.</p>
With my recent feelings of being a bit blocked, this was an amazing speech to listen to at the end of one year and the beginning of a new one. No, I’m not blocked, I’ve just been caught up in paying bills, and completing chores, and trying to do things that everyone else says I should do. Life isn’t always easy, but at the end of the day, or perhaps the beginning, we should do at least one thing – make good art! Thank you Neil Gaiman for your good words.
Ghost River Theatre’s David van Belle and Eric Rose have created a production that asks “What happens when you take a risk? What makes you take that first step from an unimaginable height? ” “The Highest Step in the World” is a one man show (David van Belle, who does a great job) with 2 men behind the scenes who make him fly. Based on Joseph Kittinger’s record breaking jump from a weather balloon in 1960, the play also includes the story of Vesna Vulovic, an airline stewardess who survived a fall out of a bombed plane, and the mythological characters of Daedalus and Icarus.
Sometimes people take risks and fail. On my way to the theatre I was driving around a tight curve to get onto the Queensborough Bridge. Traffic slowed and I eventually had to pass a semi-trailer truck lying on its side on top of the cement road dividers. The driver had obviously taken the curve at too high a speed and tipped over. Some of its wheels were still spinning. Emergency vehicles hadn’t arrived yet. When I returned across the bridge in the late afternoon after my theatre experience, I saw the truck being hauled away, the cab horribly crushed. I don’t know whether the driver survived. We take risks in our vehicles every day, and often don’t think about it.
Then there are the risks we do think about, like jumping out of a tree when we’re little, or creating a new piece of art. It can be as small as deciding to use a different colour palette when redesigning your living room, or as large as taking the steps to walk on the moon. Taking risks can be scary, but without it life can be boring. Without risks we would never have new inventions, or art pieces. We might never get married, or travel to a different country. I’ve always been a cautious person, but I do take some risks, and maybe it’s time to take a few more.
For you, why not take a risk in theatre and go see “The Highest Step in the World” on now until October 26, 2013, in Richmond’s Gateway Theatre. Here’s the trailer:
As soon as I saw the You Tube video “Caine’s Arcade” (thanks Astrid for the link) I knew I had to post a link on my website. I have to admit Nirvan’s movie brought a tear to my eye because I see so many children that are forgetting how to play on their own, creatively like we used to years ago. I used to grab old telephone parts and light switches and set them up underneath our picnic table, imagining it to be a spaceship, or boat, that would manoeuvre across the backyard lawn to new worlds in my mind.
Caine has taken the “lemonade stand” to a new level. Nirvan Mullick’s movies, and the Imagination Foundation, have helped create a cardboard wave of creativity around the world. Watch the second movie here and then check out the original on You Tube. Then go grab some cardboard and make something, no matter what your age is!
Last week, Mike, a fellow musician, posted a link to a podcast that talked about career complacency. I’m not one to spend a half hour listening to something online, but I did this time, and I went further to find where the text version was (by Scott Dinsmore), and to see the trailer for a film being made on the subject (“I’m Fine, Thanks”). I encourage everyone who has ever had the thought “I wish I were doing something I love,” or “I wish I could be an artist, musician, dancer, architect, astronaut …” to go and check out these sites.
What is true to your heart? What gives you a creative high? Don’t be content to just float through life, spread your wings and soar! What an amazing world this would be if we all decided to try our best to live our dreams instead of just doing what others tell us is practical and realistic. It’s hard to get out of our daily routine, but I would like to try. How about you?
Here are the sites: http://liveyourlegend.net/ Read the post:
Then go to this site to see the trailer, and maybe donate, to the feature length documentary about complacency called “I’m Fine, Thanks” http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/cranktank/im-fine-thanks
Edinburgh book sculpture Tea
An artist friend sent me a link today to some mystery art that has been popping up in Edinburgh’s literary environments. Fabulously detailed sculptures made from books and placed in libraries by the anonymous creator have everyone wondering “Who is this artist, and why do they leave such gifts?”
To look at an article about the book sculptures go here: http://thisiscentralstation.com/featured/mysterious-paper-sculptures/ It’s long, but read all the way to the bottom to learn about the whole mystery.
In a world that has become more about making money than creating experiences and joys for each other, this is a wonderful present the artist has given the people of Edinburgh and those of us who can view the sculptures from afar. I too have left little treasures, mostly along forest paths, wondering who will find them. This artist is lucky in that she, (for they think it’s a she from one clue in a note), has the opportunity to see all the press her creations have initiated. As much as I enjoy making art, I also love seeing the reactions of people as they look at it. This week I have sat or walked by my painted terracotta warrior outside the Richmond Art Centre. It’s been fun seeing people look at him and take pictures. Sometimes I talk to them, telling them I’m the artist, sometimes I don’t.
Rankin admirer paper sculpture Filmhouse
The detail in the book sculptures is amazing. The collage aspect, with all the words from the book pages reminds me of some work I did while at Emily Carr College of Art & Design. Stories, made from words cut out of magazines and glued onto scales from pine cones and then placed in wooden cigar boxes. Ah, to create! I think I need to go to my studio!
I have been won over by the Olympics. Not by the politicians and business people, but by the tenacious athletes, gifted artists, and happy crowds who have shown in their performances on the slopes, rinks, stages, and streets, that dreams can come true. With passion and determination lives can be changed from ordinary to extraordinary.
At a time in my own life when I am looking for a spark to ignite me onto my next creative path, the Olympic athletes and cultural artists have shown their strengths and talents and given me hope for my future endeavors. More than once I have had tears in my eyes after seeing the exuberant faces of athletes who find themselves standing on the top of a peak, surprised at reaching such a height after what often has been a difficult climb. Their achievements inspire me to follow my own passions.
Like many people I had ambivalent feelings about the Olympics. I wonder if the millions of dollars spent on staging this colossal event could have been better allocated to healthcare, poverty reduction, or education. I am angry at the news of more school closures, and the possibility of me finding employment as a teacher in the BC school system looking less hopeful. I wonder if this is partly caused by money going towards the Olympics.
Perhaps B.C. went overboard on the spending and could have produced a wonderful event without such things as lavish new venues. After seeing how the Olympics changed the mood of this nation though I no longer question the basic money needed to organized the 2010 Olympics. I believe people need to have balance in their lives and this cannot be achieved by providing only the basic necessities of life. What is life without art? Without the exaltation of winning a competition, or even just bettering results from a previous attempt? And for those who are spectators, our happiness grows too, and our lives are richer, and we are fueled to go out and do great things with our own talents. As Clara Hughes said, we must rise to the occasion and be the person who we truly are.
Life is more than food in our stomachs and a roof over our head. I do not diminish the importance of these basic needs, as seen in the recent disasters in Chile and Haiti. But I also believe we need time to play, to create, to party, to sing, and to know that dreams can become reality when we try our very best. I thank the athletes and artists for reminding me of this.
This is a great documentary film about the current state of the music industry. I ended up watching the whole thing this morning, and was very inspired. So, I’m sharing it with you here, and then I’m off to make my own music!
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The road to fame begins, the quest has started, we’ve unleashed the hounds, the horses are out of the gate, the countdown has commenced, I’ve started the engine, now give it some gas, and we’ll be off and running!
Welcome to Tiana Kaczor Fine Arts
This is a place to connect to the creativity that flows out of me. Whether you have come by just to observe, or you plan to purchase, all are welcome. Without you I would be nothing. Well, not nothing, but a lot less. I tend to feed off of others. That’s often where the best creations start. So inspire me with your comments, your project ideas, your links to others. In return I promise to give you the best that I’ve got. Let us learn from one another, create together, and build a path to … well I’m not sure, because we haven’t got there yet, but let’s hope it’s a fun journey.
Artists draw from all areas of life to find inspiration for their creations. In this blog you will not only find information about my specific creative activities in visual art and music, but you will also find comments about anything in my life that I feel will be of interest to others. Politics, literature, entertainment, anything that I come across is fair game.
Every week something new to exhibit, share, sell, or discuss. I hope you will visit me often, and tell your friends! To start off I’ll give you a maze. It seems fitting now to go back to mazes. I have drawn them during times of change in my life. Perhaps I am looking for a new direction, a new path. I have a feeling this will be an exciting one. Am I ready? You bet! 1, 2, 3 . . . GO!
Stars and the City 10"x16" ink on paper, 1993
Tiana Kaczor Fine Arts 