Those of you who were reading my blog, y’know back several months ago when I was actually keeping it up, may remember that I did a little plug for a project that is in the works with one of my partners in creative crime. (He’s someone I’ve known for going on 12 years, and he has a most awesome blog that you should all read regularly.) Last May, he traveled north from the wilds of Birmingham, Alabama, to pay me a visit and we got to talking about how the current creative channels that we had affixed in our lives weren’t quite doing it. We wanted to produce unexpected things that fell outside of the we-earned-our-MFAs-in-creative-writing box. We wanted to feel like our lives were a more adequate response to the inspiration that we felt daily as we walked around doing what we do—seeing films, reading books, talking to folks, going to shows (of all kinds), listening to music, traveling, etc.
Maybe these new things we produced would sometimes make us a little uncomfortable. Maybe they wouldn’t require a lot of skill except for the art of psychological letting go—of the result itself, and of the face the result made out in the world. More importantly tho, was this two-word phrase that kept coming up again and again in our conversations and e-mails and follow-up phone calls—an impulse, a command, maybe even a demand from some bigger force.
The simple two-word phrase: MAKE STUFF!
And so was born our future project—In the Eyes of Everyone: A Project for Everyday Visionaries—a title I beg you not to steal but instead tattoo on your brain so when we launch our site in 2010, you will recognize it and go there and become part of what is going to be an exquisite and inspiring project that will surely spawn a movement.
Last week, TJ (aforementioned partner in creative crime) and I decided that we were tired of all the talking and planning and untangling of logistics and thought we better start walking our talk and actually start the project. So we concocted creative assignments for each other, set a deadline, and went to it. Here is the assignment TJ gave me:
Assignment #1a for the future launch of In the Eyes of Everyone:
Take three pictures: 1) something historical, 2) something tasty, 3) something sacred
Before I post the documentation of the assignment, my whole point of this blog post is to say: DO THIS ASSIGNMENT and SEND ME YOUR PICTURES at intheeyesofeveryone@yahoo.com along with permission to post them here and on the future website for In the Eyes of Everyone. DO IT! IT WILL MAKE YOU FEEL GOOD. IT WILL MAKE YOU FEEL AWAKE. IT WILL MAKE YOU WANT TO MAKE MORE STUFF!
#1: Something historical
#2: Something tasty
#3: Something sacred
You can also go to TJ’s blog, and read the assignment I gave him, and do that one instead, or DO BOTH!
Join us … do an assignment. Be one of the good ones, and make stuff!
8 comments:
holy super-exciting, batman! I'm gonna do it!
Dang, you take great pictures! I'll see what I can come up with...
Thanks for sending your assignment, Jess! And Marie, send away...can't wait to see what gets made...
Laura
What a cool idea and what an inspiring project! I love the idea of coming up with assignments that are doable but that shake things up a bit and make you think. And I think so many artists will be grateful for the playful/smart/fresh prompts to creative action. Planning to share in my "curator of the week" post tomorrow in the blogging group on She Writes. :) Hope you are well...
Laura,
What a great idea, I want to do it too. I like it especially because it is doable, pics might not be as good as yours but the point is to just do it anyway right and damn that internal critic! Thanks
Sounds like a great project! Love the prompts, too.
if i write something here about how i'd like to do it then i sort of commit and that will push me onto actually doing it...so thanks, i think it's a great idea, and inspiring and since it's raining here today after 40 degree heat i'll see what inspiration rain brings.
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