Oh I forgot to mention the most wonderful thing about improv, I think! It's a continued conversation, with the phrase, "yes, and..." in there to keep the conversation going!
My daughter and I are talking about intertwining our media. I'm mostly a painter (well, an amateur one at best), and she is a textile artist. I love, love fabric and everything textiles also, and have dabbled a little, more lately thanks to Julia. We were talking about piecing in quilting, and those beautiful "crazy quilts" such as the classic Gee's Bend quilts (which of course go much deeper than the process of quilting itself). She just mentioned to me she's looking into Improv piecing - free improv - free piecing. I imagine it's deconstructing and reconstructing to make a new expression. I can see this in collage also! We've been working kind of parallel for a few years now, me trying to find my artistic voice. I'm going deeper into creating from a place of faith and spiritual understanding of the creative process. It's messy and it's beautiful!
I have always loved painted story quilts; Faith Ringgold's work is a particular favorite. You mayt know it from her children's books?
I feel like I am improvising when I work with collage; I think it is the visual art material that is most improvisational.
I would love to hear more as you experiment with improv piecing and intertwining painting and textiles (inviting the materials into conversation with each other too:) So much richness in what you share, I look forward to hearing more
I've been thinking about improv too, esp. in relation to my work as a spiritual director. The interplay involves so much listening and responding, and like you said, courage and trust. Thanks for deepening my thoughts on the subject, friend.
Yes, so often I think we associate improv with performance but it is very much a relational skill. Even when used in theatrical performance, it is relational. The more I read the central skill of improv in all different settings is listening. I am curious to explore more about how improv is part of listening and conversations in quieter settings and professions of accompaniment.
Well, creating is audacious and vulnerable. Like all these brave shoots trying to make a life for themselves. I found in writing that I had to sit and open myself, then push through a veil where words came I didn't know I knew. And this could only really happen before anyone else awoke...until I got a decent plot going.
Yes, to gratitude for safe return to Earth. Gratitude grounds us and I love your naming of the now and not yet. Spring feels full of now and not yet as things unfurl and offer hints of what is to come in their next stage of unfolding and blossoming.
Oh I forgot to mention the most wonderful thing about improv, I think! It's a continued conversation, with the phrase, "yes, and..." in there to keep the conversation going!
I love this understanding of "yes, and..." and love your thinking about improv and conversation, thank you!
My daughter and I are talking about intertwining our media. I'm mostly a painter (well, an amateur one at best), and she is a textile artist. I love, love fabric and everything textiles also, and have dabbled a little, more lately thanks to Julia. We were talking about piecing in quilting, and those beautiful "crazy quilts" such as the classic Gee's Bend quilts (which of course go much deeper than the process of quilting itself). She just mentioned to me she's looking into Improv piecing - free improv - free piecing. I imagine it's deconstructing and reconstructing to make a new expression. I can see this in collage also! We've been working kind of parallel for a few years now, me trying to find my artistic voice. I'm going deeper into creating from a place of faith and spiritual understanding of the creative process. It's messy and it's beautiful!
I love the parallels in your processes and your interest in intertwining media. I just saw an amazing exhibit of quilts at the Renwick Gallery in DC.
Here's the on-line gallery...https://americanart.si.edu/exhibitions/black-women-quilters
I have always loved painted story quilts; Faith Ringgold's work is a particular favorite. You mayt know it from her children's books?
I feel like I am improvising when I work with collage; I think it is the visual art material that is most improvisational.
I would love to hear more as you experiment with improv piecing and intertwining painting and textiles (inviting the materials into conversation with each other too:) So much richness in what you share, I look forward to hearing more
I've been thinking about improv too, esp. in relation to my work as a spiritual director. The interplay involves so much listening and responding, and like you said, courage and trust. Thanks for deepening my thoughts on the subject, friend.
Yes, so often I think we associate improv with performance but it is very much a relational skill. Even when used in theatrical performance, it is relational. The more I read the central skill of improv in all different settings is listening. I am curious to explore more about how improv is part of listening and conversations in quieter settings and professions of accompaniment.
Yes!
Well, creating is audacious and vulnerable. Like all these brave shoots trying to make a life for themselves. I found in writing that I had to sit and open myself, then push through a veil where words came I didn't know I knew. And this could only really happen before anyone else awoke...until I got a decent plot going.
I can relate to the process you describe, and to the need for solitude and quiet in the beginning vulnerable stages, thanks.
As I believe God is always Creating for us the recent arrival of the Astronauts back to Earth was my
Gratitude Thanksgiving for a God who loves us unconditionally. We exist in God's perfect world of now and not yet. Let us be most Grateful for today.
Yes, to gratitude for safe return to Earth. Gratitude grounds us and I love your naming of the now and not yet. Spring feels full of now and not yet as things unfurl and offer hints of what is to come in their next stage of unfolding and blossoming.