Good hearing your voices today. Chanika you didn't sound negative at all. Besides, it would be hard to be more negative than me. Sorry about that. However, I really truly have enjoyed watching the process of both of you! I would like to keep the blog going as well - maybe at least until residency.
After the conference call I was able to think a little more clearly about things. During this process I haven't felt like there's been enough time to just sit with the various elements and work through them. We actually have a LOT going on!
1) Both of your projects are very rich and there's a lot to consider and loads of feedback/reflection that could go into them. I almost feel like we could have focused on just one of your projects and collaborated in the form of very focused support and feedback and that would have generated a solid collaborative effort around policy and art.
2) We have the task of collaborating without a very concrete goal. We created a good structure for sharing ideas but not necessarily working together toward an identified goal or project. Instead we have our own projects that we are maybe trying to make the center piece of the collaboration or maybe not...
3) We had the blog which requires regular input and output. And trying to respond to each other while also developing our own projects is a lot of work.
The summary - We have our projects/work and the questions that emerge from that, then on top of that, we are trying to think about and work on Art & Policy as a larger issue, then on top of that, we're trying to understand collaboration all while maintaining a forced (albeit, interesting) collaboration through the blog. Phew!
As for my negativity - I do apologize! Because my library gig didn't work out I was sort of immediately floundering on what to do. I've had a hard time figuring out how to frame my school/teaching artist collaborations as part of this experiment. Perhaps because I'm so immersed in the work it doesn't feel "special" or like a "project" but just my job. And it's been hard to balance all of that with regular life and the packet work.
I also want to address something that was said on the conference call (I might post this to the collaborative fb page too) I don't agree with the description of "retreating" into my studio or solo work. I don't see it as a retreat but instead as an advancement. It's very critical for me to address my own process, needs and interests and to examine myself as an artist. This is moving forward, toward myself not retreating. I think it I can use community work/collaboration as a way to avoid looking inward. Having other people's ideas and concerns front and center can be noise to distract from the silence I need to listen to myself.
Given all of the issues we're sorting through I think we've done a good job! I am honored to be going through this process with you both as difficult as it has been.
Ryan, I am very intrigued by your non-profit idea. I have another site for you to look at
http://cotaprogram.org/
I will continue to look for resources that might support you in the process.
Talk to you soon,
Constance
hi you two,
ReplyDeletethank you, both, for keeping the conversation going.
no need to apologize, either of you. i think your input has been commendably honest---critical, in the positive or neutral sense---not negative.
constance, i think your outline of all the elements of our work together is astute and accurate and it does a really great job of pointing up the complexity of what we've undertaken. i have to say that for my part -- and here's where maybe i get negative -- i don't feel like this Collaborative Learning Experiment was structured well enough to support us. i appreciate the work we've done together, but i think there wasn't clear guidance for us.
constance, i appreciate your comment about your 'projects' versus a 'job.' since i'm freelancing in short-term projects, it helps me feel like each engagement is its own discreet event. but i think i understand what you're saying. it made me think about both of you-- and many of our other peers at goddard--and how 'special' your work really is, as well as your inspiration, insight, reflection, critique. i've appreciated that and i do hope we'll keep it going.
also constance, thanks for clarifying about 'retreating' into personal work, versus developing through personal work/process. i think it's a really important distinction and i get you, i'm with you. i think sometimes it might be most productive to pause the community-based work to put some attention on the personal process and development. both might be better served that way. ...i for one have been attempting to structure a personal dance improv practice in my 'free time,' and i had a couple of embarrassing evenings at the kenny lake school, in the gym, dancing awkwardly when a custodian barged in on me. yikes. i'm thinking a lot about upcoming semesters and whether i can/should pause some of the jobs in order to focus on process a bit myself.
thanks both of you for all your input about this non-profit idea. i had a helpful phone date with bill last week and he gave me a lot of warning that i need to be prepared for the administrative aspect of running a nonprofit. i'm not prepared, and i recognize that. so i'm going to keep researching and try to figure what's the best way for me to really do what i want to be doing, and doing it well.
thanks for your responses on the blog!
i like your new idea for an image, chanika.
keep in touch,
ryan