'Cultural Fusion-Art as philosophy' is diligently applied not as a matter of concept but as a message that comes from the heart. I have been recently reminded that although that is core to the experience it is not as often the focus of these posts. What to do about that?
Well, first and foremost that is what the work is about and I have not been inspired to post the process as I thought I would when I started. However, I feel that has been for the better because then what results is all the more the embodiment of the solution which evolves from unknowing the problem.
And of all the the things that happen in between that and the solution being accepted and loved, the only one that really matters is that you pay attention to your breath and I to mine.
Once you get to the core of "I am" it is your breath… the thoughts, choices, etc that you have applied your breath to that create who you are. It is how you live your principles and values, the art you breathe life into…
One of the hardest things has been to share test runs of ideas. With paintings it feels less stressful at a certain phase than for larger conceptual stuff where I am really playing with new territory. And yet so often those are the ones I am the most excited about.
The payoff is that once I get the idea out of my head and into a form that helps someone else understand what I am trying to do, then others are able to see how to assist. This is how the projects evolve from a note on an envelope or post-it to a sketch on and on until we reach a finalized version with a the help of a fully realized Cultural Fusion Group. And I am thankful to the people who help remind me of this.
The lesson is consistently about moving beyond the fear of the unknown in whatever way it is getting in the way and the importance of asking the right questions.
The pain of only doing one kind of art, painting, is for me worse than the sting of sharing imperfect ideas and concepts. I can always keep working on them and seeing where they started the end results will be all the more meaningful. (Timetable info to come.)
"Cultural Fusion-Art as Philosophy" is a way of living because it shapes how one sees everything…it is the foundation for a commitment. Yeah, you know the one…
The Novella for the Footsteps for Life benefit has been sent off to the printers. This means you can place your advance order now!
The story conveys a metaphoric tale. It trust you to be capable of and willing to open your mind to understand the lives and ways of thinking/being that may not be like your own.
In collaborating on this project I was touched and transformed in an unexpected way. You see, I accepted the project initially on principal of supporting the cause of assisting HIV/AIDS orphans. However in working with on the project I came to understand something far more profound…the mind of another in a way that helped me understand the human drama behind the HIV/AIDS crisis. Furthermore, it opened my eyes to the opportunity for transformation to create a brighter future by empowering women and orphans as expressed through Chinye; as well as the redemption exemplified by Tina. (two characters from the story)
I recommend this book to you because it shines an important light on the plight that too many of these children face without sentimentalizing the issues that are intertwined to make it what it is.
How do you get this book?
You order it through ufp books ;
[email protected]
or
47 Wyfold House, Wolvercote Road, London SE 2 9TJ, UK
Costs: Hard copy $16 [including postage], Download $7
Time of delivery: [UK 5days; 10days overseas from the day order is confirmed]
Stay tuned and we will provide the Amazon link ASAP. Plenty of progres s to report in next update.
Each component of the artworks in the series operates as “layered systems processes”.
I develop systems and solutions infused with those base ingredients in the context of my Cultural Fusion series. Not all components have to be included in any given community solution. Rather this represents a menu that reflects the project proposal up until this point. This is a framework that will be uniquely celebrated and preserved according to the needs of the communities that participate in that project. For example, the central sculptural and installation themes will be interpreted for the specific site where it will be located. This customization will be seen in the materials selected as well as the scale.
As a model for interdisciplinary approaches it is evolving in an endeavor to discover how to create a culture, in which all are welcome, appreciated and supported in being their best.
Artistic Parallels that have inspired me and that I think will help put Cultural Fusion into perspective as a work of art that combines installation-performance-visual (paintings, sculpture, etc) and technology in a collaborative art series…. <a href="http://channel.creative-capital.org/project_329.html">William L. Pope's</a> work stands out to me.
Whereas William was focused on "race" Cultural Fusion is concerned with celebration of our Global Family-Humanity….interested in deconstructions of culture and history through art, rather than race or politics. Our interest is on exploration through celebration of our Global Human Family united through our breath.
Cultural Fusion will be the context for introducing an abundance based (instead of debt based) economy. It will also utilize the CF Hotel Infinity galleria concept and other event projects to create the market place for this social capital economy that leverages value of intangible assets in a radically inclusive commercial landscape. Business solutions flow from the process associated with this work and is the direct result of the Ingredients combined and recipes employed to develop them.
Furthermore, this is done in a playful context where others are engaged to share in the fun and benefits with attention to developing solutions to poverty by addressing root causes. The result is art that functions as WebAntiphon:Clear_CRM_Strategy that addresses the needs of all stakeholders.
Spectacular PROGRESS!!
OK I will attempt to find some balance between sharing the shear joy of this moment and how this very conscious choice is part of the process….the personal performance that sets a tone for the collaboration.
I need to capture this for my proposals first before I publish it here but I am working on a way to share this with you who are interested in the form of a podcast series.
Being the change one wants to see in the world is why Attention matters and quality Attention, Love and Creativity have real world value. Perhaps more importantly it is becoming clearer to me where this intangible economy <a href="http://comfusion.pbwiki.com/Source:Convergence">Converges </a>with the monetary currency economy to maximize social capital.
In a recent series of conversations with Desmond Green and his wife Dawn I have been reminded of something profoundly simple. This simple thing is something that I had originally discovered through my own experience more than 15 years ago. I had never forgotten this wisdom but somehow had not considered it in this broader <a href'"http://comfusion.pbwiki.com/Source:Context">context</a>.
What is amazing about all this is that at the time I had the experience it changed my life. It has remained a resource in my peace arsenal and I have called in countless time at a personal level. Which is to say a conscious focus and shifting of attention to this transformative experience.
http://comfusion.pbwiki.com/Attention
http://comfusion.pbwiki.com/Attention:Bilocality
http://comfusion.pbwiki.com/Project:what-is-peace
http://comfusion.pbwiki.com/Source:Acceptance
http://comfusion.pbwiki.com/Tarot:The_Fool
We have begun recording a dilogue podcasts series that captures the moments when these Elemental synergies revealed themselves as Ingredients in a just th e reicpe I was working on at that time.
Continued from last post…..
In the U.S. the group broadly identified as the creative class, appear to constitute 30% of the workforce according to Richard Florida, but skilled labor is not the defining element in this discussion. Rather, it is the conscious pursuit of perfection, fueled by creative passion, and personal satisfaction in work undertaken that brings artistry into play, so artists will be treated as a specific niche within the “creative class.” He suggests that they are emerging as the dominant force in the economy and can already be spotted by their impact in shaping regional economies. Sustainable economic growth flows where they thrive because they will search to find communities that inspire them, and for places clinging to old models the opposite is true because businesses will sniff out the creativity they need in order to innovate. Small and midsized businesses need the group that Florida denotes as the “creative class” in his book The Rise of the Creative Class to provide the creative services that used to be provided by in-house staff in the corporate model. But it is not only businesses which need what these creative individuals have to offer.
The concept of [radical] inclusion extends this to include creative classes overlooked in Florida’s analysis.
[Radical] Inclusion is when Attention is paid ONLY to inclusion…. SoulFood Tradition guides the way in making all feel valued and welcomed.
This discussion is distinguished from previous work exploring the creative class and low cash customers by embracing traditionally low cash communities and recognizing the value of intangible assets (creativity and attention).
