Inspiration Project
	Meeting Notes May 4, 2003   First Activity: Your Interest Sharing Your Art   Second Activity; Collage

This was the first meeting since December, 02. It was great to get the group started again..

First Activity

For the first activity, each person wrote a 10 minute freestyle writing on the question: What is your interest in Inspiration? With freestyle writing, the idea is to keep writing on the topic without stopping, just write everything that comes to your mind. This makes a good warm up activity.

 

	I'm searching for that certain something that makes me feel alive. The get out the bed  smiling and singing kind of alive.  I'm looking for the something that helps me to be present in each moment, with appreciation for what is... whatever it is. The oomph that helps me move forward to realize my dreams.
Kris Duermeier
Dreams of stepping out of the chaos into spaciousness and ease. Dreams of dancing in the street in the middle of the day and somehow getting others to join me. Dreams of creating a community, a family, that knows each other so well and exudes so much compassion that even conflicts become a welcome interaction. Dreams of radiating so much love from our community that the world around us begins to fall inward into the arms of our nurturing nest.  Inspiration is to me, not just the dreams, but the enthusiasm and willingness to confront the fears that keep us from making those dreams a reality.

 

	Inspiration - what a lovely word! Floating over my mind! I retired from my job/career of 28 yrs. Talk about inspiration - it was mostly exactly what I wanted to do - to help people become a family - to be a midwife and to create programs. I always felt so fortunate to do work that was nothing but fun. At times I felt guilty that I could earn a decent living and have so much fun!
Judith Knoop
The years passed, times changed, politically and socially the tunnel has narrowed. The word that keeps ringing in my head is Freedom - on so many levels. I retired last June and end enjoyed the new found freedom of time, thought, responsibilities - no stress! But here we are almost 1 yr. later and it feels aimless and without purpose, without inspiration. I don't want to  grab at straws and force it to happen, but inspired I'm not - free I am.   Didn't Bob Dylan say "freedom is just another word for noting left to loose? I'm not that extreme and don't  want to go there. I'm telling myself, I'm on a bridge and that the 'without inspiration phase' is just right for now, - but it feels weird and at times even scary  - will I find a thread to pick up - I'm used to having passion in my life - I  want it - not again, but anew.  I do believe it's OK - but help.

 

	Hello, I'm Nina, Nina Serrano an East Bay writer, storyteller and publicists.  I am here because exploring the inspiration project because growing and receiving inspiration is part of my own growing process for survival as an artist, teacher and activist.
Nina Serrano
This is a moment when both my inner and outer world are revved up -Bombs, guns, disease, restrictions, & threats on the exterior sending me personal messages through email, radio and print. I receive  these personal, absorb them all the way inside where I try to figure it all out to make my way safely to help right the wrong.  This is not an easy task, truth as always is filled with complications and almost appears as contradictions. Sometimes historic truth takes decades, centuries or more to uncover - so what I really seek is wisdom. I want the courage to think and explore dark thoughts in these volatile and murky times and for this I need faith. Faith is fed by inspiration. That and the promise of a moment to participate in creative activity with others brings me right here - right now.

 

	I've been looking at it for some time now.  But why do I want to explore inspiration?. I've become somewhat obsessed by the effort.  I have been looking in my own life for what inspires me. Where can I find inspiration: There are so many different kind There is the sort quick burst. The long term, life long type.
Edwin Rutsch
By exploring the theme I think I can find how it works in your life. I can find how it works in my life. I can become  more attuned to the moments where it occurs within and can do more of those things that promote it.  I like the quick bursts of inspiration but I'm looking for the long term creativity. Each day looking for clues. It seems to me that we grow by watching and experimenting. I'm watching where inspiration arrives. Put a focus on anything and your bound to learn something. If I place focus on inspiration, I'm bound to learn something about it. I have learned a fair bit, but there's still along way to go. Focus on the experience as a way to make it grow. Getting together with creative people and exploring together is inspiring for me. If I'm just off by myself I tend to get introverted. But when I'm with others working, creatively, other peoples ideas, inspire mew ideas and feelings within me.

 

	My interest is more in the concept of looking at a communication tool. When I think about what was the traditional separation of content ideas from various subjects in the school system and the study of art as separate entities. My thoughts are in the direction of bewilderment.
Joan Kuenz
The other aspect in education that tends to be separated out into its own box is looking or exploring  human values   My ideal educational environment would be where values, an art as communication method would be an integral part of any educational environment. In order for students and teachers to feel passionate about their endeavors, I think it is essential to be whole individuals in this pursuit. After all we are all teachers and students.

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	It can be very inspiring when someone shows you the money! I just finished spending 7 months getting paid to be an artist, creating the illustrations for a spiritual fable called "Rainbow of Hope" which will be published this summer. This was easily the most inspiring project I've had in quite some time. Now that the work is finished I am naturally wondering "what's next"?
Gary Politzer
There is a sense of loss and emptiness, maybe like when a child leaves home. The progress of this work into the world is quite likely to open new doors, but meanwhile there is a pause where everything that led up to this moment is being reflected upon.   Naturally, in choosing a new direction or project, I want to feel inspired. I took a break after finishing the illustrations, staying at a friends house in South California investigating a possible job down there. When I returned, my country in-law unit seemed too small, and too isolated and I felt I just couldn't be stuffed back into this container. I wanted a new adventure and a big one. One morning, in the shower, it hit me like a bolt of lightning: I would travel to Hiroshima with my new portfolio. I had a strong intuition that the International Peace Festival in August would be the perfect place to meet my new destiny. How inspiring, at age 53, to reject the security of a good job and follow a wild-ass vision to the other side of the globe.

 

Mark Peterson

Sharing Your Art  

During the meeting, we have a short period of time for each person to share some creative project they are working on and talk about how inspiration, or lack there of, played a role in it's creation.

Judith showed a beautiful quilt she's been working on in a quilting class.		Gary showed and read the book titled, "Rainbow of Hope" he had illustrated. 50% of the ideas for illustrations came easily, while he had to work hard on the other 50%		Nina read 3 poems she wrote. Nina finds inspiration in events that she attends.

 

Second Activity; Collage

Joan facilitated an activity where we had 20 minutes to express some idea about inspiration with collage, drawing, etc. We then showed the work and talked about it.