Mind Blowing Experience

If we are fortunate... sometimes every once in a while... we are lucky enough to meet someone who is a kindred spirit. Immediately we connect with these others souls as if we have known one another for years and years. These spiritual brothers & sisters can understand us in a way that most people never will.

I have a unique perspective and way of relating with the outside world. I know this, have ALWAYS known this. Early on, I learned to submerge that part of myself and assimulate. In submerging this aspect of myself, I unfortunately closed the door to a vital, unique, creative spark. This can be devestating for someone who knows they NEED to be creative to be fulfilled. In order to cope, I obsessively read about others who were out there in the world daring to be different, daring to follow their dreams & creative urges. I lived vicariously through their accomplishments.

During the last few years I have begun to take more creative risks, lower my mask, step more fully into my own skin. Low and behold I became a more successful storyteller and multi-media artist. Doors are opening that I never knew existed. I am meeting some really cool, creative people and having a wonderful time, AND I am making money doing what I love to do the most!

So where am I going with this?

This past weekend I did eight shows for the grand opening of the Dallas Museum of Arts Center for Creative Connections. It was a big deal. I spent a lot of time doing my homework, learning about the featured art and connecting them with stories. My favorite works were two sculptures titled "Lick and Lather" by Janine Antoni. I had seen other work of hers on exhibit at the museum and found them intriging and fascinating. My daughter and I watched the PBS series ART:21 where she was featured as an emerging, significant artist of the 21 century. I read the chapter about her in the ART:21 vol. II book. I loved her work, understood it, appreciated it while also noting that she was "out there" and that mainstream folks are probably puzzled by much of her stuff.

So, when I found out that she was going to be flying in from New York to talk about her work on Sunday just one hour after I finished my programs, I was estactic. There was no way that I was going to miss her talk. Secretly, I hoped that I might meet her, but the chances were slim...I thought.

After my last set on Sunday, I was going back to the green room where I had left things. As I rounded the corner I found Janine Antoni sitting on the couch - 1 hour early! She was waiting with a museum representative to do her sound check. I was introduced to her and we talked for several minutes. It was like meeting an old friend. She was so nice. I sensed that I needed to move on so they could prepare, so I collected my stuff and left but not before telling her that I would be back to hear her talk about her work. I came back 15 minutes before her show and was sitting near the front watching the fancy folks (art collectors, curators, the DMA director and asst. director take their seats in the reserved sections). I noticed someone coming down the aisle to my left and saw that it was Janine. She looked over at me, smiled and then proceeded to come over to talk to me until right before her talk. She told me about her latest project. (It is really neat by the way!) She gave me her email so that I could send her some book recommendations and then got up to give a wonderful talk about her work. As she spoke about how she came up with her ideas, how she learned new skills to do them...etc, I realized just how much alike we were - it was startling - shocking really. I have chosen a more conservation, traditional form of expression to be sure, but maybe in another reality, I would have done differently.

So we have emailed each other. She too is fasinated by stories, both old myths and modern tales. Her piece titled "Moor" is a visual story uniting the belongings of people from all kinds of backgrounds into a rope. Their "stories" are woven together - united. She wrote many of the stories down and I hope to read them someday. If you would like to learn more about Janine and her work go here: http://www.pbs.org/art21/artists/antoni/

For a while now I have been trying to figure out how to combine my love of making things with storytelling in a personal, unique way. I want to explore my options and follow my intuition more. Janine inspired me to risk more, dream more, allow my ideas to be more fully realized.

Who knows where it will lead me.

Either way it will be an exciting journey.