Category Archives: creativity
Presenting an Artist’s Talk at Surrealism: Up Late @ QAG/GOMA
Image via Queensland Art Gallery/Gallery of Modern Art
I am an ARTISTE!!!!!!!!!
I have told myself since I was out of the birth canal, only now it’s official, yo! Namely cos I’ve been asked to give an industry talk at “Surrealism: Up Late” this Friday night at Queensland Art Gallery. I’m talking about innovation and why it’s important. Which has gotten me thinking lots of things about risk-taking, failure and extending oneself and why we need to do it. I’ll post my thoughts (and possibly some vid, if I can manage it!) from the talk early next week.
Naturally, while I’d like to THINK it’s all about me, in reality I’m only a snippet of a pretty rocking night of special events for Up Late:
6.00pm MUSIC DJ El Norto
6.00pm FILM Jean-Pierre Jeunet, Marc Caro Delicatessen 1991 (99 mins)
6.00pm FILM The Prisoner (TV series) (60 mins)
6.45pm TALK ‘The Innovators’ Curator’s perspective with David Burnett, Curator, International Art
7.00pm TALK ‘The Innovators’ Industry perspective with Jenny Wynter, comedian
8.00pm FILM Jean-Pierre Jeunet, Marc Caro The City of Lost Children 1995 (112 mins)
You can book tix here!
Top 7 Moments of the LA trip
Above: The Hollywood sign as viewed from the Second City headquarters. Comedic tears ensued.
Well, it’s done. WOW. The highlights, in no particular order:
1. Working with musical improv genius, Michael Pollock (pictured above). The two of us spent many, many hours one-on-one, making up so many improv songs that both of our minds began to fry AND I kid you not, I continue to be making up songs involuntarily in my brain before I even realise I am doing it. Does that even make sense? Possibly not. Point is, I learned so, so ridiculously much and as a bonus, Michael sent me home with reams of notes, exercises and ideas to continue on with back home here in Oz. Oh and he gave me piano lessons too, which I am ridiculously STOKED about.
This was always part of the plan (i.e. to help me develop my ability to accompany myself onstage for musical improv) but has the added benefit of making my playing sound so much better in general. It’s going to take time to develop these new habits, but if there’s one thing I’ve been particularly inspired by it’s how much can get done when you just put your butt to the seat and focus!
2.
2. Gary Austin, Gary Austin, Gary Austin. Helen Hunt thanked him in her Oscar speech and now I have absolutely no musings as to why. The man is beyond brilliant. Again, we had dozens of hours one-on-one working on my solo stuff, which is intense to say the least. (I must point out here that this trip we had the good sense to spread the hours out with built-in breaks, unlike my trip in 2006 when I tried to cram 6 hours a day of one-on-one coaching for a week straight and my brain almost fell out of my head.)
As an unexpected bonus, I presented a work-in-progress showing of my one-woman show (within which my solo improv work comes into play) to a number of Gary’s improv students and community. I’m so happy with its development; I’m going to be announcing a Brissie show shortly, then it’s off to the Melbourne Fringe. I have more exciting news coming on this (mainly involving plans for 2012) so. You know. Hold onto whatever you’re sitting on.
3. Seeing SHOWS!!!!!!!
I spent as many nights as I was able hunting down improv show upon improv show to check out, analyse, savour and be inspired by. There really are too many to mention, so let me just throw in the one I have great photos of (courtesy of Gary Austin, whose wonderful newsletter you can check out here: Gary Austin Workshops – AUGUST Newsletter)
- Back left clockwise: Helen Hunt, Kenna, Sandy and Ron, the latter three of which I had the great privilege of improvising with during my time in LA LA land!
4. Hanging out with my super-inspiring and ridiculously jawsome friend (we met as room-mates at last year’s Improv Masterclass Retreat in New York), Natasha Perez. She is a person who I know I will be friends with until the day I die. We dragged each other to shows, geeked out on all things music, improv and combinations thereof, and chatted into many of the wee hours about dreams, big and small. LOVE her.
5. Eating healthily, inspired by the LA lifestyle. (Hello WholeFoods, I think I love you.)
6. Having the whole trip capped off with the poetry of this guy sitting opposite me in the departure lounge:
7. Buying my children’s love back.
This trip was made possible thanks to the Ian Potter Cultural Trust, a fantastic organisation that supports emerging artists to pursue professional development opportunities, usually overseas. More info: www.ianpotter.org.au
Why “365 Grateful” Might Not Work For Me
So I was reading with relish an article in the weekend’s paper about the woman behind “365 Grateful” – a rather spiffy idea whereby you photograph a moment each day in your life for which you are…da da da da…grateful.
Above is my first effort.
Now, I want to point out that I was grateful for this as my little dude put himself to sleep today.
Please ignore the facts that:
a) he put himself to bed on the tiled, hallway floor;
and
b) for some viewers it may bring to mind images/flash-forwards of my littlest being passed out in the gutter after a big night out of the playpen.
Anyhoo…
…I shall carry on.
A Productive Creative Habit I Shall Admire but Probably Never Do
I loveloveloveThe Creative Habit, a smart, inspiring and helpful book by New York based choregrapher Twyla Tharp, a ferociously driven and creative woman.
One of her tips, my favorite, is to “…create a cardboard box for every project you’re working on. That action concretizes your commitment to it…it ensures a physical reminder that you are working on something.”
From Broadside’s “Would You Rather Be Productive Or Creative?”
Hmmm. Just another brilliant idea that I’ll in all likelihood gush over for the amount of time it takes to type this, then move on with my life and wonder why it’s so chaotic…
Links of the Week (or WHAT?! You mean there’s more to cyberspace than ME?!)
1. Wintery photos. They take me back to Canada. Le sigh. (Quebecois “le” intended).
3. Living vicariously through other people’s lives on Broadway!
4. The wonderful peeps over at BrisStyle are giving away a couple of double passes to this week’s Gumball Theatre show!
5. An improv storytelling rockband? WHAAAAAAAAAATTTTTT?!!?!?!??! I think my head just fell off.
6. This entire site is just unbelievable. Just what I need -another freaking cyber-excuse to ignore the kids.
PS I want to have a joy tantrum.
If Success Falls in a Forest…
John Keats as portrayed in "Bright Star"
I finally got around to watching “Bright Star” this week and it got me thinking – I mean, aside from the tragedy of a great love cut short – about the nature of success.
What really hit me – especially after getting my John Keats-google on (and if you’ve perchance stumbled on here by googling that phrase then hello and I can’t quite decide if I love you or loathe you) – was the revelation that John Keats met his death believing himself a failure.
Not one of the most revered romantic poets in the entire history of mankind, but a FAILURE.
My hubby and I were afterwards discussing the notion of posthumous success, with me saying that it seems so bizarre that somebody so revered would never even be aware of the impact their life actually had on the world.
I rattled off some other names, Jeff Buckley and Eva Cassidy among them. “Yes,” said my hubby, “but even with those two, they at least experienced some success in their careers before they died. John Keats didn’t just find his success cut short, he actually thought he was completely unsuccessful.”
Is our success – overlooking for a moment what you even define that to be – only valid IF we are there to experience it? Or is it still “our” success if we don’t even know that it exists?
I’m so interested to hear other people’s thoughts on this.
One thing I know for sure though – if I find myself on my own death bed before I have achieved whatever it is I’ve set out for myself, I’m going to take great comfort in convincing myself that my Oscar will come posthumously.
Even if I have never acted in a film.
Links of the Week (or WHAT? You mean there’s more to cyberspace than ME?!??!!)
So…I’m a little self-promoted out at the moment. Thus let me turn your attention elsewhere!
But only for a moment.
You don’t want me shrivelling up in the corner, do you?
1. Just another amazeballs craft project I’m highly unlikely to ever actually do. But damn it looks cool.
2. Another very cool interview from the fab Do What You Love blog, featuring gorgeous woman and artist Juliette Crane. I first met her via the e-course I did earlier this year and we occasionally chat online. LOVE her stuff!
3. Perhaps a virtual assistant is in order?
4. I love Rachel Hills. There, I said it. For many reasons, not least of which is posts like this.
5. An interview with myself. By myself. You see? Avoiding self-promotion is a ticking timebomb over here, people!!!
*Image courtesy of kowitz
Is There Ever a Right Time To Give Up On A Dream?
Frankie in NYC 2010
I was just reading this post and then this one and it really inspired me to write what’s been swirling through my own mind of late.
I remember a couple of years ago at a party, a friend of mine – a performer – was telling everybody about her recent decision to enrol in a nursing degree.
“But why?” said one chick (a 19-year old actor).
“Because,” said my friend, “I’m 31 and I have a mortgage to pay and I’m sick and tired of not having any money.”
The chick looked genuinely mortified. “But you can’t give up on your dreams! Never!”
“Honey,” said my friend, “I used to think that too.”
Now I have pretty much prided myself on the fact that I have never let go of my dreams, even when the surprise of parenthood greeted me at the age of 22. Indeed, perhaps it was BECAUSE my darling kidlets came into my life so young that I clung so stubbornly to the idea that I could still do it all. After all, I hadn’t even begun to carve out my life yet (in my mind, at least). I would not be defeated! I would do it all! With determination and a nappy bag, nothing could get in my way!
And indeed, I’ve had the great privilege – with the support of an incredible hubby, family and friends, I must add – to embark on some pretty mad adventures of the ‘my greatest dreams’ kind in this little life thus far.
But lately…I dunno whether it’s just fatigue, discouragement, or what, but I’ve just been questioning how far I’m willing to go on this performing crusade, before I call it a day.
I mean, don’t get me wrong, I will always be performing in some capacity until the day I die. That’s how much I love it. I’m not talking about giving that up. What I’m talking about is the possibility of giving up the pursuit of it as a professional, well-paying career.
The thing is, I really do believe that even my wildest imaginings are all possible.
But sometimes it just feels so freaking hard.
I know, I know, so is anything worthwhile, right? But with the kids now – especially as they’ve gotten older and more settled into their life with school, friends and all the rest – pursuing my own self-involved ambitions in the mix just sometimes feels like it’s a bit much. Not to mention the financial aspect…oh dear heavens.
The irony of all this of course, is that in reality 2011 is shaping up to be completely freaking amazing. Lots of performing opportunities including the possibility of Edinburgh Fringe – agh! So you know, it almost seems kinda crazy for me to even be entertaining these thoughts of whether it’s just too damn hard, when I have so much right on the doorstep.
Anyhoo, perhaps these will just remain what they are at present: musings.
Perhaps not.
Either way, thanks for listening. And what do you think?
xxx
5 Things I Love About Having My Own Office
1. It feels like a breath of awesome every time I walk in there, namely cos I know what I’m there for. To write. And cartoon. And occasionally procrastinate. But not often. (I don’t have enough time to).
2. I can decorate it with the security of knowing that no Rice Bubbles will coat the walls anytime soon. Unless of course, I want them to.
3. I can see the Story Bridge from my window. It’s an especially ripper view if I stand on my tiptoes and squint a bit.
4. I can somehow better appreciate the kids and the supreme sweetness they bring into my world, when I have a bit of distance from which to view it. Bit like the Story Bridge in that regard, really.
5. I can plaster it with stuff that makes me chuckle, like this. Frankie and I had our picture drawn in NYC and for the remainder of the trip, the resulting specimen cracked us right up. Namely cos a) it looks nothing like us; b) it looks nothing like us; and c) it looks nothing like us. Needless to say, I LOVE IT.
Three things in life are certain: death, taxes and rejection.
It’s all good. Just a bit disappointed, is all. Details to follow.
x
(PS. Oh, and NO we weren’t rejected as foster carers!!! Hehe).
