A Shared Passion

There’s nothing quite like getting together with a group of people who share the same passion to unleash an abundance of inspiration.  This could be a group of gardeners, a group of artists or a group of musicians who share their knowledge and ideas.  I have the good fortune to be attending a class called ‘Using Colour’ at Emily Carr University.  At the very beginning of the class we were asked what we want to get out of the class.  Everyone gave their feedback – gain knowledge of colour mixing, get a foundation in colour theory, learn about the psychology behind colour, all very aligned to the goals of the class.  When the instructor came to the final student for her feedback, the student looked at the instructor with a big smile on her face and said “I just want to have fun”.  That set the tone for the class, and opened us up to laugh and have fun as we learned.  I’ve now completed 3 out of the 5 classes and I have to say, our wonderful group really bonded.  We laugh over our mistakes and celebrate our successes.  We share our ideas and inspire each other to produce our own, individual works of art.  By creating a fun environment, we free ourselves to explore and play.

There is inspiration in the everyday, as Kristin mentioned in her blog.  For me, that inspiration comes from spending time in my garden where I am surrounded by colour and light - purple and yellow irises growing against a backdrop of green, orange poppies like splashes of paint against the white backdrop of our garage, and hostas that shoot up spires of white flowers that attract the honey bees.  I am surrounded by nature, and inspired by its peace and beauty.

Curiosity and courage, as Mari wrote about in her blog post, also fosters inspiration.  For me, curiosity in my art – the need to experiment – inspires me.  Who knows what can be produced with a little creativity and experimentation.  Some of my best work has come out of curiosity – what happens if . . . . . ?

As Tara wrote, magic happens when people connect.  This magic happened for me in my class.  I may not ever connect with this group of people again after this class, but at this moment in our lives, we are sharing our passion and friendship, and we are taking the opportunity to inspire each other and explore new possibilities.

So go out and surround yourself with the beauty of your community, be curious, connect with people and follow your passion.  Let the energy surround you and create a state of inspiration for yourself.

Happy Canada Day everyone!

Virginia

Magic Happens When People Connect

The theme song for Indiana Jones' Temple of Doom played over the radio on the warm summer night. I was lost deep in thought and reflection about the epic evening that I'd just had and  I almost forgot that I was driving.  "Erch" I had to come to a lurching stop to avoid hitting two girls who were lackadaisically walking across the street enjoying the rare warm summer evening that had blessed us with it's presence.  As I stopped, I breathed a sigh of relief, "phewf".  You could see that both of the girls sighed too.  They both looked like they had just seen their lives flash before their eyes. One of the girls dressed in a green maxi skirt, a white peasant top and a straw hat with a black bow atop her bobbed, dirty blond head, turned to face me and flashed the piece of paper in her hands at me.  "Free Hugs" was printed in large, black, Arial, size 72 font across the page.  I immediately smiled and gave them the thumbs up!  She returned this reaction by blowing me kisses.  They then crossed the street and we continued on our separate paths.  

It is moments like these that inspire me to reflect on a little phenomenon called human social connection. It was at the time that I read the sign "Free Hugs" that we were immediately connected.  We were a part of each others lives for a split second.  For that brief moment we had the ability to impact the lives of one another.  If I had plowed into them with my car or had frowned when I saw the sign "Free Hugs" this would have been a negative reaction.  My reaction, the collective sigh of relief, the thumbs up and the blowing of the kisses was thankfully a positive reaction by everyone.

Whether your connection is just for a brief moment like it was with me and those two girls, or if it is with a co-worker, friend, or family member over a month, two years or a lifetime, it is connection that defines not only our everyday behaviours, actions, thoughts, feelings and beliefs, but arguably it is this connection that defines our entire society.  Although it is short interactions that may impact you daily, it is the interactions of those that are closest to you that have the most impact. 

Have you ever asked yourself, how open am I to talking to strangers?  How connected am I?  Every time I go out with coworkers for lunch I find myself running into at least one person I know from somewhere else.  I have gotten a reputation for "knowing everyone".  Yet how is that even possible?  Of course I don't know everyone, I know a lot of people, but I definitely could know even more!  Yet what prevents me or you from meeting new people?  Why do we not talk to more strangers other than the fact that you are taught as a child not to?

A report on Communications and Engagement  was just published by the Vancouver Foundation.  It states that one of the biggest problems we have in Vancouver is not homelessness or unemployment, it is connecting with people.  One of the major examples of this lack of connection as the difficulty people have with making new friends. If you reflect on the last time that you made a new friend can you recall it?  Have we become so entirely "cliquey" in Vancouver that we have forgotten or perhaps never learned how to connect with new people?

Personally I am quite shy.  I am the perfect balance of introvert and extrovert - don't ask me how - in social situations with new people I often lean more towards my introverted side and often am unable to make small talk with strangers.  I wouldn't describe this as being cliquey, but I would describe it as a struggle with connecting to new people.  

My friend L is, on the other hand, 100% extrovert!  She is able to make friends better than anyone I have ever met and she is my hero in that regard!  When I traveled to Europe for the first time, somewhere where I knew nobody, the only way that I survived was by pretending I was her.  I kept thinking to myself, what would L do in this situation, would she sit on the bus in an empty row and not talk to all of the other people who are sitting by themselves for fear of rejection?  I think not!  She would walk straight up to them, sit beside them and say hello.  She would have 30 new friends in a 10 minute smoke break - and that's not an exaggeration!  And so, I decided to try a little experiment on a fairly recent trip to London.

  

Cruising along on a double decker tourist bus in the heart of London I originally sat by myself, then when I noticed that a guy had a map and was also sitting alone I leaned over, introduced myself and asked him what tourist attractions he had on his list.  He had the same ones that I had and so we ended up hanging-out together for the entire day.  It was probably one of the highlights on my trip!  Touring the city with a complete stranger with no other intentions but to see the sights of London.  We went to St. Paul's Cathedral and saw Sir John A. Macdonald's tomb.  We toured by No.10 Downing street.  We drove by Oxford Street (which I knew well and was able to point out my favourite shops to him) and eventually ended up at Harrod's where we enjoyed the most divine hot chocolates.  After that we both went our separate ways.  We never exchanged details nor did we have any real desire to really stay in touch.  We were complete strangers in a strange land and we were connected by this and we will always be connected by this experience.  It improved my day and neither of us had done it for any other reason but to not see London alone.  This social connection was one that I will never forget and it all started from talking to a complete stranger!

The experiment worked!  Yet since I've come back to Vancouver have I tried this experiment again?  Not really.  Clearly I'm not the only one.  An interesting article was published January written by a guy named Jorge Amigo as a response to the Vancouver Magazine article "Do Vancouver Men Suck?"  In this article he talks about the lack of connection between people in Vancouver.  Perhaps the most interesting part of the article is that all of the non-Vancouver people that he tries to connect with in Vancouver aren't scared!  In fact he even ends up be-friending some of them!  I love my city, yet what has happened?  Why are we unable to connect in a world that has been more connected then ever before?

My challenge to you is the same as Jorge's challenge to Pechakucha goers last Thursday evening, talk to a stranger, make a new friend, don't be afraid!  After all, "when people connect magic happens" (Playground.is)!

PS. Here are some cool examples of what happens when people connect

- Playground.is

- Vancouver Tool Library

- African Stages Association

- Rhizome Cafe
- #bemyamigo

Curiosity + Courage = Path to a lightbulb moment

Have you ever Googled your name, to see who else had the same first and last name as you?  I did – out of curiosity.  I came across another woman named Mari Omori, who lives in Texas.  She is an artist and an art professor at the Lone Star College in Houston.  After discovering her, I would go back to see what new art she had on her website.  It wasn't until several years later, I got the courage to email her.  I admit it was the most difficult email to write – emailing someone with the same name as myself felt strange, and I wasn’t sure how she would react to it. I emailed her to say that I enjoy looking at her art work, and that I have the same name as her.

She responded back the next day.  And you know what?  She knew about me too!  She searched for her name on the internet once, and came across my photography.  In fact, the night before I emailed her, she was telling a friend about me.  “We must have been under the star of coincidence.” said Texas Mari.  Knowing that I’m a photographer, she mentioned about Fotofest, a photography event that happens in Houston.  She invited me to come to Texas, and even offered her place for me to stay.

I hesitated at the invite at first, because I’m quite shy, and didn’t want to be a burden on her.  But then I thought: “I should just do it.”  I emailed Texas Mari, and told her I’m going to visit her.  I immediately booked my flight to Texas.  Then I sat there and thought, “Did I just do that?”  I felt excited to meet a woman with the same name as myself and get to know her more in person.

When the plane landed in Houston, I rushed down to the baggage claim area where we agreed to meet. Because we saw each other's photo on our respective websites, it didn't take long to find each other. As soon as we met, we talked non-stop about art, creativity, and finding inspiration in things.  When we got to her house, we decided to make tea to continue with our conversation.  When Texas Mari opened the cupboards, I looked at the cups, each beautifully painted, and I asked "Are those handmade?"  

"Yes - by my friends." Texas Mari pulled out each cup, naming the artist who made it.  "I think about my friends everytime I see these cups." 

Her house too, was decorated with other artist's work.  I found out that those same artists also had one of Texas Mari's art works. Imagine being surrounded by your friends' art everyday (and exchanging art too!).  It must be a wonderful reminder of the friendships you have with artists.

During my stay in Houston, Texas Mari and I went to art gallery openings.  At every opening, she introduced me to many artists and gallery owners she knew.  

After introducing me to a group of artists, I said to her : "You have so many friends!"   

"An artist needs a lot of friends." she said with a smile.

That one line really stuck with me. Even when I returned to Vancouver I kept thinking about it. It made sense.  By surrounding yourself with other like-minded people, you gain support and encouragement, and even inspiration by just being with those who are just as enthusiastic about art as you.

Gee, I could really use that kind of support system. I thought. This feeling brewed in my gut for several months. I've been solo on my creative path all my life, and wondering what it would be like to work with other artists and how that support would feel like. Then it happened. A filmmaker who knew about my conservation photography work contacted me for a photography project on a BC rainforest. It's just thrilling because I love photographing rainforests, and I will be working with other photographers as well.  Then an artistic friend proposed an idea to myself and other creative individuals which then became this blog.

So Curiosity and Courage took me on a path to a lightbulb moment, allowing me to see opportunities to work and connect with other creative artists. Life is unpredictable, yet fun, isn't it?

- The "Vancouver" Mari

"Everyday Inspiration"

What is art? What is inspiration? What is simple pleasure? Where can we find these things? And can we recognize them when we see them?

Inspiration is everywhere and art is all around us - if we just open our eyes to it.

Art is in the way that the late day light peaks through my blinds and dances on the walls. It's in the really great latte handcrafted with a swirl of a heart in the foam topping. Inspiration is in a friend who throws on a pair of jeans with a t shirt and a great, bold necklace. It's the community garden nestled among buildings in a tough neighbourhood. Simple pleasure is when you catch a sliver of a glimpse of the ocean through a mass of high rises.

Welcome to the inaugural blog post of Collectively Inspired, a blog dedicated to art in the everyday, born out of the beauty of collective inspiration. The referred to collective is a small group of like minded creative souls: Mari, Tara, Virginia, and me, Kristin. We are all different but what connects us is a love of creativity, art, and simple pleasures - all things that have enriched each of our lives. You'll get to meet my kindred spirits in the coming weeks and experience their own passions and inspirations.

Back to the question of where do you find these things? One of the first places that I look is in my own backyard - the spectacular city of Vancouver, British Columbia. First of all, it's undeniable the incredible beauty. The mountains, rain forests, and ocean are spectacular and I never seem to tire of them nor do I ever take them for granted. Catching a glimpse of the snow capped Lions of the North Shore Mountains never fails to take my breathe away. The rain that we Vancouverites love to hate, actually brings the gift of colour - watery blues and vibrant greens, reflected in the ocean, trees, mountains and sky. It helps make Vancouver, Vancouver!

But it's not just the scenery - there is a cultural diversity here that creates a pretty spectacular mosaic, full of tradition, languages, music, and food. We have citizens from all corners of the world as well as our own First Nations peoples, a wealth of inspiration in themselves and amazing storytellers and artists (just look at a totem pole).

I recently saw the city through fresh eyes when I played host to visiting family who hadn't been to Vancouver in ages. From the lush beauty of the food market on Granville Island, with it's riot of colours on display in the stacked pyramids of strawberries and the buckets of peonies and tulips, to the giant Lego Orca at the convention centre, to the totem poles and old growth forest of Stanley Park, the beauty and inspiration was everywhere. Art was everywhere! And yes, it very obviously inspired this post.

The world that we live in is busy - it moves at break-neck speed, in fact.  Often, when we turn on the news we are inundated with stories of injustice and cruelty. Even more reason to look for and appreciate the beauty in everyday life!

Seeking and finding inspiration, art, beauty and simple pleasures has helped me get through challenging times and increase my overall happiness. And that is why I encourage you to slow down and smell the peonies or enjoy a strawberry!

Join Mari, Tara, Virginia, and I as we begin a creative journey in search of inspiration!

Kristin

P.S. The artwork at the bottom is by BC's own Emily Carr who was often inspired by the beauty of British Columbia and its native peoples. A number of Emily's pieces are on loan currently to a gallery in Germany so that others can share the beauty of her work and find inspiration!
Check out the story on CBC at the attached link:
http://www.cbc.ca/news/arts/story/2012/06/06/carr-emily-documenta-art-contemporary.html