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September 30, 2006
artist's way: week 3
by gl. at 3:14 pm
i haven't had a chance to write about last week's artist's way cluster! already this group is baring shameful and brave secrets as they are triggered by our work together. some had simply heartbreaking stories, some had funny stories, some were frustrated, some were elated. but they're all engaging in the process and sharing with each other in a very satisfying way.
the art activity this week was to create a lifemap (which we you may have read about back in july at a guided intent event). the intent is to create a visual representation of one's life or relationships as a literal map (annalandia or emmaville), or juxtaposed using another visual metaphor like a body or bus route or house. we cut it a little shorter than i would have liked because the check-in conversations were so compelling, but it's difficult for me to cut people off when there's so much more to be said.
center (identity): i forgot to take a picture, but i filled the center with old photos donated by a collage fairy and words from poety dog tags, with a small candle as its heart. each week i encourage participants to contribute something to the center that represents the theme, and photos were a common item this week. what is it about photographs which make them so treasured as a source of identity? would we have contributed portraits if we didn't have photos? there's something about the ephemeral nature of photos that links us to a particular moment, a moment we want to remember, even if it wasn't anything special. and when we see other people's photos, we are drawn to them, we want to know their stories.
music: bela fleck & the flecktones
posted by gl. | September 30, 2006 3:14 PM | categories: artist's way