12/15/02

Today was the last meeting of the year and we did a wrap-up. We each looked at the art  that we have created in the group.  We reviewed, wrote and drew something about it our experience in the Inspiration Project.  After talking about our experiences, Gary lead a Biobrama activity where we acted out one of Edwin dreams. Sandra handed out notebooks to be used a charismas notebooks and we created collage covers for them.

Conclusions after exploring inspiration for the past year and a half.

Joan

My conclusions after exploring inspiration for the past year and a half. 2001-2003

Inspiration will find me without my pursuing of it.

Spontaneity works

Openness is important along with time

Fear can precipitate

Movement of all kinds is essential

Taking one step at a time - Making that first step is critical

Not knowing where all will end keeps me seeking

Gives me a place to go and a direction

Inspiration can go on forever

My feet and heart listen to the music and

lead the way

Edwin   The first thing I think of is the acting we did in terms of where I felt some of the strongest inspiration. Then there was the singing. I enjoyed going over the song and watching it on the computer. The song tune kept going through my head for along time afterwards.   What else about the drawings? I want to see more of a conclusion, not an actual conclusion but to see everything build on everything else. There are a lot of different loose ends to pull together.   Have I learned anything about inspiration?
I have a insight that is at the edge of my awareness that I need to capture and build upon. It's how inspiration is made of lots of ideas that come in a stream. I have an inkling of it. I see that something has to create the space for this phenomenon to happen within myself.   I realized how much I enjoy the movements of sharing with the group. I saw how I enjoyed sharing with others in the group. The chance to share helps to open me up and let me be inspired. This compares to just being off on my own, were I tend to get too wrapped up in my own thoughts and head.   Has the process of looking at inspiration changed me? I have a greater sense of grounding in the process of exploring inspiration. I'd say there's a greater confidence and growing skill. It has been a learning experience. Learning how to approach the subject, I still have a long way to go but it's a start. I wonder how to expand on this in my daily life.
I wonder how to bring it into a self sustaining project? I look at the artwork on the table and see myself sitting at the desk. I imagine all kinds of different images and scenes. Where's the inspiration? The feeling of energy? I am left with more questions? Are we always inspired, - the chemical release of energy from the synapses? Is it always happening, but we repress it? We don't let it out.. I had the vision as I walked to the cafe one day that a little guy was in my body and he would sometimes open the lid of a box that contained my inspiration. It would fly up like a frisky little bird

Gary

I am faced with the biggest creative challenge of my life right now, so I'm interested in summing up what I have learned in this investigation of Inspiration and applying it to the project at hand. My challenge is to move beyond my familiar range of expression, using the tools and processes available to me, yet keep the work consistent with the style of the illustrations I've already produced. I've been feeling thoroughly challenged in general and lately (the last 2 weeks) somewhat stuck and discouraged. So, how can I apply what I've learned to move through this? What have I learned?

 

1. The biggest insight is that inspiration is present in my immediate environment and concerns.  I don't need to look too far for it. Part of this is learning to trust the process and see everything as included in it. The times of doubt and confusion are as much a part of the total process of creativity as the great leaps, new discoveries, or moments of clarity. I accept myself more in this way.

 

2. I am inspired by people's feedback. It is good to share my work and search with good people. I always learn something and gain insights, and the contact itself is uplifting.

 

3. As much as I have resisted a methodical approach, I now see its value and usefulness, perhaps particularly in making the unknown more approachable, less abstract.

 

The challenge I face is that the remaining illustrations deal with love and light, and need to be authentic and convincing. I did well with the earlier group because they were about struggle and darkness, which I know well. I mistakenly tell myself I know nothing about love and light, and wait for inspiration to strike and illuminate my path. Why not investigate more methodically? I could observe those points at which love and light have touched my life and consciously look into the nature of those moments. I could remind myself that I do know something about these things, and look at what I do know, instead of what I don't, in order to steer in this general direction and be open to the REAL unknown.

 

Ida