New years Resolution

Yes its that time when we create all sorts of unrealistic expectations for ourselves only to end up frustrated less than a week into the new year. Can I really be that cynical about New Year's resolutions? Yes. My theme this year is that the devil is in the details. I'm going to think small in order to achieve big. For myself, I am going to exercise for at least a minute a day, I am going to exercise portion control while eating, I am going to keep up this blog at least once a week, I am going to practice free-writing for a minute a day, I am going to spend more quality time with my family, and I am going to think of at least one positive thing to say to each person I interact with. In general, instead of asking why, I will say, "Why not?" I will continue to promote creative thinking, and I will smile more often. There are probably some other things, but the list is already becoming a bit complicated. What are you going to do? Please share here. Happy New Year!

On the death of Pinter

Follow the link to view Pinter's 2005 Nobel Lecture

http://nobelprize.org/mediaplayer/index.php?id=620

In what ways are you manipulating the mirror in order to restore the dignity of man?

Ring the Bells

I think we can all find inspiration from the way Melissa Etheridge and Salman Ahmad used their art to call for peace. Follow this link to listen: http://ringthebells.ning.com/video/ring-the-bells

The question, what are you passionate about and how do you use your art to express that passion? In what ways can you direct your passion towards making the world a better place? The challenge, go out and do it!

Zhang Yimou

While I was happy to see Obama as Time's person of the year, I was even happier to see Zhang Yimou as one of the runners up.

http://www.time.com/time/specials/2008/personoftheyear/article/0,31682,1861543_1865103_1865107,00.html

While China has much to improve upon, we in the glass house of the United States have little room for casting stones. As in the efforts of Louis XIV to use the arts to reflect and extol the glory of France, China used the art of Zhang Yimou to assert its arrival as a leading player on the world stage. The theme of peaceful harmony was beautifully presented and was ironically juxtaposed with the image of Bush and Putin exchanging words in the midst of the tensions created by the military actions in Georgia. Yes art is political, but it can also transcend politics and help us on our personal journey to find peaceful harmony. Your challenge - take an image of turmoil, and use it in creating a stronger image that either achieves or guides us toward peaceful harmony.

Questions?

Follow link to hear Albee talk about what theatre should do.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XFp1m2MsCKg

Then reply.
What questions you are asking?

How are you asking them?

A possible change in attitude

To start an xmas haiku

Full of christmas cheer
Thwarted by corporate assholes
Fruitless quest for Wii

Although I can accomplish a certain amount from a bitter cynical perspective, I'm beginning to wonder if I would be better served by keeping a more positive attitude. In that case the above haiku would be changed to:

Full of Christmas cheer
Holiday quest continues
Soon we'll find a Wii

Creative Challenge #2

Try to remember a time when it felt as if you could accomplish anything. Don't get too caught up in the specific circumstances, although its okay to spend a little time on them. Focus on what it felt like in every fiber of your being. Once you've found it, use that power to create something.

Harold Hynick's Blog Experiment

I'm giving it a try.
Stop by.
Throw rotten fruit.
Or bake a pie.

Or you might leave a haiku such as:

Attempt at blogging
winter breeds night-time fancies
A frigid wind blows

I'm considering communicating exclusively in haiku for example I should say:

Considering shift
Communication changes
Nothing but haiku

Cleaning House

I was cleaning out one of my billions of jump drives, and ran across this quotation from Havel and thought I would share it.

"Only by looking outward, by caring for things that in terms of pure survival one needn’t bother with at all…only by throwing oneself over and over again into the tumult of this world, with the intention of making one’s voice count – only thus does one really become a person, a being capable of a miracle: the recreation of the world."– Vaclav Havel

As we enter into the holiday season full of rejoicing, reflection, revelry and regret, and enter into a new year of resolutions, change, and hope, I challenge you to ask the following questions:How can I throw myself into the tumult of the world? Am I making my voice count? In what ways can I recreate the world? Consider these questions, and then go out and take action!

Political Haiku

Rod Blagojevich
A Christmas Haiku for you
Coal in your stocking

Creative Challenge #1

Here's a creative challenge for anyone willing to accept. Take the image of the Bush-Babs kiss, and use it as inspiriation for a poem, play, painting, haiku, whatever. Just take the image and use it inspiration to create something.

The Economics Angle

The Economics Angle
For those unable to see the intrinsic value of arts education, here are a few economic arguments.

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Peter Sellars on Creativity

Peter Sellars on Creativity & the Voice
Follow this link to watch what Sellars has to say about harmony and finding your voice.

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The Simple Things

Its the simple things that remind you of what is truly important. Waking up, trying my wife's donut experiment, unpacking, organizing, a game with the family, a round of frisbee golf with my son, and a little end of semester grading . . . the economy? Not so important.

Check this group out.
http://improveverywhere.com/

This is what I had intended when I founded Random Acts of Theatre (RATS) at Dakota Wesleyan back in 2000-2001. Student interest led the group to more traditional short-form improvistaion. I constantly find myself stuck between where I think a project go, and allowing students to follow their own creative impulses. Do I stifle them if I try to guide too much, or do I short change them by not pushing them far enough outside of their comfort zones?

This is a vector image of me. I often assume this position when deep in thought, or when my mind is blank and I'm trying to stimulate thoughts. You might call this my Thought Squat, or you might not.