OS with ArtistsFurther to Anne's posting. . . but in a little different vein.
some years ago the Arts Councils of the USA had annual meetings to sharpen
their trade. These meeting were the usual talking head, special sessions, etc
-- and each year the people went home frustrated, bored and sometimes mad. On
the last meeting (this was a 5 year grant program from the Pew foundation),
somebody found Open Space. Pew almost had a fit because it sounded totally out
of control, and in fact they tried their very best to stop it. Failing that
they insisted that at least the program start with a panel of speakers.
Presumably they were "experts" b ut it was the usual -- however they did not
draw the usual response. Three quarters way through a large black man stood up
in the rear of the auditorium and said something to the effect -- I don't know
what Open Space is supposed to be -- but this is fuckin-A NOT open space. And
he left. The place was reduced ed to pandemonium -- and the sponsors quickly
turned to the facilitator (not me) and said Help!
The circle was formed, space opened, and 250 highly gifted artists (graphic,
plastic, musical, and whatever) -- went for it -- Enhancing the Arts in the
Communities: Issues and opportunities.
God knows how many sessions were proposed, but few were announced in the
"standard way." Dance sessions were "danced," music sessions were
Sung/drummed/played, etc.
And then the fun began!
The closing session (which I have only seen on a very bad video) was
incredible. 250 artists co-created, in the moment, an impromptu of major
proportions.
HO
Harrison Owen
7808 River Falls Dr.
Potomac, MD 20854
USA
301-365-2093
207-763-3261 (summer)
website www.openspaceworld.com
Personal Website www.ho-image.com
----- Original Message -----
From: anne stadler
To: osl...@listserv.boisestate.edu
Sent: Wednesday, August 23, 2006 4:25 PM
Subject: OS with Artists
First: if this comes to you twice on the OSListServe it is not because I
posted twice. It is something which happens elsewhere. So I am SORRY.
Re. OS and artists: I have often had circles in which artists participate.
They offer their work (be it musically, visually or whatever...) in the
marketplace, and sometimes as convenors. The crucial and only issue is "take
responsibility for what you love" and do it fluently as a gift to the
community, within the minimal formal context provided by the OS patterns. If
the artist is a convenor, he/she participates fluently as an equal of the
person responsible for OS facilitation, offering whatever comes, whenever it is
timely. And when convenors meet for attuning before the gathering, or during
it, he/she participates as an equal listener and voice.
For instance, visual artists offer marketplace sessions. Once we had a
gallery of sculptures people made during a marketplace session, which everyone
in the circle (of 500+ people) was invited to tour. (That was amazing: all the
sculptures were made from rolls of aluminum and found objects!)
In the closing circle, visual artists show their own interpretations of
energetic exchanges they are witnessing or whatever they are inspired to
create. Dancers dance their interpretations of our subject. (This happened
once in Dharmshala at an OS on the subject: "Creating Value out of Values". It
was awe-inspiring!)
People have read poems that came to them as we were together. Musicians have
sung songs, played instruments as they were guided.
Etc. etc. etc.
One of my most profound experiences was at Spirited Work. We arrived to find
that very large, tall sculptures had been erected on every post in the large
room in which we had our circle. There were eight of them. They were like
totems, made of found objects, and each had extraordinary power. It was as if
a group of archetypes had graced our space. All weekend we interacted with
them. Two small children who were part of our group periodically gave people
gifts of candies which came out of a hand-like space of one of them. On
Saturday night we always had a special celebration dinner, to which we invited
the artist (who was a neighbor). After supper he told us the story of his life
which had blossomed completely after he left everything he'd believed he needed
and simply trusted God to guide him. What a fantastic inspiration!! And it was
totally on the money, given the season and the method of OS!! Talk about
synchronicity!
All of us have the capacity to speak, listen, write, move our bodies, create
theater, draw, paint, create sculpture, make musical sounds. AND it is sublime
having all those gifts present and expressed in any space we inhabit in order
to gain maximum inspiration in my humble and enthusiastic opinion.
Blessings to all, Anne
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