Only a couple weeks away from the move to Oklahoma, I have been reflecting a lot on home, making (or not making) art and what makes us who we are.
Going to Oklahoma is taking me 1400 miles away from all that is familiar; family, friends, my woods (a walk in a forest will be a new and very different experience from Ontario). The decision to take on a new adventure was a difficult one. I am simultaneously terrified of leaving behind the familiar and excited to experience the new. I think the personal insight and, consequently, the creative insight will be priceless.
Who we are is a moving target – just when you think you know, it changes. I think ‘knowing who you are’ is not a destination. To look at it as a static ‘place’ misses the adventure of exploration and discovery and can trap us in restrictive labels and ‘shoulds’ never allowing us to really experience ourselves.
With so much still to do, I want to share a couple of things that really got me thinking about what I need to keep in mind as I go forward. Perhaps, all of you might find it useful as well.
Artist and teacher, Lori Woodward wrote a wonderful post, “Identifying my True Niche” on breaking free of what everyone else think you should do to knowing what you need to do. She wrote it in response to reading Seth Godin‘s “We are all Weird” and excellent manifesto on the paradigm shift in culture market and how we perceive ourselves. What she said was profound and has been on my mind since I read it a week ago and will simmer there for a while. I look forward to your thoughts and feel free to share your adventures. To new roads and new discoveries!
Enjoy and see you in November…
Michelle, thank you for the link, I loved it right now…I listen to you and feel a certain amount of trepidation on your big move and a certain amount of excitement. I am sure you feel the same…but, I hate the interim, so hope you are ok. I feel for you on that one. Oklahoma…looking forward to the posts already 🙂
Very nicely said. I had a career move that took me to the east coast for about 52 months. It was exciting and scary. I stretched in ways I’d never have imagined.
i got to explore and spend time I’d not had had family been close as I was not able to visit. So I did some day triips and travelled and wrote about it to them.
I look forward to a little sharing by you of this new phase and adventure in your life.
Michael
Michelle,
Just found out from your tweet that you’re leaving. Even though we’ve only ‘met’ in virtual reality, I feel I’ll be missing you in our great country. But I’m sure you’ll have new horizons to explore and enjoy, like that wonderful photo you have on your previous post. I hope you’ll continue to keep this site, blog and tweet. Sure like to see what new levels you’ll take your art to… I wish you all the best!
Thanks Michelle for your blog post!!
I look forward to hearing what will be happening in your life, and with your blogs… none of us will be too far away!!
Thinking of you and Jeff, and wishing you all the best.
Anita
Your words on identity are the key to why some of us stop making art during the thick of life’s changing. Change challenges our notions of identity, and art, and the place where it comes from is utterly dependant on our sense of self. It only takes time, and you will regain it, and the art will be there for you when you are ready. Good luck, and I can’t wait to see what your move brings to the world of art.
Thanks for sharing Lori’s article, it is good “food for thought”…My best to you in your move.