Laura Wolfe Coaching LLC

Supporting the Evolution of Careers, Leaders,

& Climate Consciousness

Shock and Disarm

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Jason HackenwerthHackenwerth at LASM spoke to this morning’s Creative Louisiana and I must say I am completely enchanted by his work and philosophy. He creates large-scale organic sculptures out of latex balloons. Really.

Best I can remember, (I wasn’t taking notes at first) he said it started in New York City with wearable balloon sculptures that he could walk around in to shock (or maybe he said scare, not sure) and disarm people on the street. He did this to get them out of their heads and out of their thoughts – to shut off that never-ending flow of thoughts going in our brains. Because art can engage people that way and also because artists have to do what’s never been done.

He likes to work in balloons because of their playful form. Play – that idea keeps coming up over and over for me.

Hackenwerth said his work is about movement because we have to stay moving. “Life is the dancer and we are the dance.” He talked about the quiet movement of seaweed in the water and how that movement responds like our inner being. Isn’t that a beautiful image?

A recent installation called Cloud Caves was made of a thin, soft plastic which when hit by blowing air, filled and moved. He said it appeared that it would struggle and fall down but it didn’t. Like the human spirit.

Jason’s latex balloon sculptures can be huge, made of thousands of balloons twisted together. They are amazing, stunning, and awesome. He asked us to imagine what we would be capable of if we all became linked as one.

In closing, he challenged us to stay true to our dream and work hard to make it happen because it will happen. It’s the way the universe works.

Also, he reminded the audience that artists alienate suffering for mankind so they need to be paid for their work. Yes yes yes.

Check back for an image in this post. He’s here in Baton Rouge to create something at the Louisiana Art and Science Musuem. Can’t wait to see what it will be.

Note on 10-10-14: Just spent the morning at the LASM where Jason is finishing the second of the sculptures he did here – see image above. I am even more crazy about his work after seeing it up close and personal.

What kind of art have you encountered lately that knocked your sox off? Share your thoughts in the comment section.

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My goal is to write 30 blog posts in 30 days the month of September.

#30in30

 

 

It’s Always Worked for Me

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walking2I’ve been a walker my whole life – walking to the Pak-a-Sak for a 10 cent Icee when I was a little kid, walking with my bestie discussing boys when I was in high school, walking in cities all over the world in my twenties, walking the hills in Athens and Atlanta, GA during grad school, and nowadays walking around my neighborhoods in Baton Rouge and New Orleans.

Walking is always my preference. A good walk clears my head and often I return to my desk with a problem solved or an idea for a new creation. And now there’s research supporting what I’ve always known – that walking enhances creativity. In a study conducted at Stanford, it was found that walking enhanced creativity based on two different measures.

The researchers, Oppezzo and Schwarz, put subjects in a variety of conditions including sitting, walking outdoors, and walking on a treadmill. Participants were then asked to generate novel ideas for using common objects or come up with a different but parallel metaphor to one given. The walkers performed significantly better than the sitters.

From a business standpoint, walking meetings should be an option whenever creative thinking is needed. And that’s pretty regularly in today’s business environment. Steve Jobs was known to have walking meetings as did Aristotle and Charles Dickens – all great thinkers.

In addition to boosting creativity, walking meetings also address health concerns related to sitting for too long. These are clearly illustrated in this attention-getting infographic. In her TED talk, Nilofer Merchant, calls sitting the smoking of our generation.

Definitely not good.

What do you think about walking and creativity? Share your thoughts in the comment section.

My goal is to write 30 blog posts in 30 days the month of September.

#30in30

 

 

Where’d You Go, Creative You?

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Oil pastelsMy book club recently read Where’d You Go Bernadette by Maria Semple and it was pretty hilarious. Bernadette is a woman who has lost her zest for life and become cynical, withdrawn, disinterested, and maybe a little bitter. The story is told through bits and pieces of evidence her daughter Bee collects in an attempt to find her mom after she disappears.

Without spoiling it, here’s my take on the story: When people stop creating whatever it is they were put on earth to create, it makes them go a little bonkers. I believe that the reason we are all here is to create a better world. Each of us is blessed with skills and talents to somehow make a difference with our lives (i.e., create difference).

Due to a series of events, some that Bernadette caused (both intentionally and unintentionally) and others that were not her fault, she stopped creating. And doing that led to the story that unfolds. My description here may make it sound like a heavy book, but that’s not the case. It is totally light and funny – and a quick read.

Becoming creatively plugged-up is far too common. People are busy with their overscheduled obligations, or stuck in unsatisfying jobs, or don’t have the money, or just can’t quite find the time to create, or ____ (fill in your own lame excuse). This book is the story of how not creating can result in some crazy consequences.

Two excellent resources for creative unplugging are The Artist’s Way by Julia Cameron and The War of Art by Steven Pressfield. I participated in an Artist’s Way group earlier this year at my public library. Going through the book as part of a group was a fantastic experience. It is Julia Cameron’s wish that her work and process be freely available and it is in many places. Check for one in your community if you are so inclined.

I also want to do a shout out here to Creative Louisiana – a local and very cool monthly gathering for creative types.

Creation takes so many forms – art, music, writing, gardening, cooking, building, designing, care giving, teaching, sewing, managing, acting, parenting, etc. Make sure to practice your chosen form of creativity regularly.

Would love to know what you think about this idea that we are in this world to create. Share your thoughts in the comment section.

My goal is to write 30 blog posts in 30 days the month of September.

#30in30

Fun, fun, fun

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baby kong floatAre you having some fun? Sadly, too many people just don’t have enough of it.

Can you think of something fun that you really love to do? Is there any way to work it into your schedule this week? Put fun on your to-do list. Make it a priority.

Spending several days in New Orleans during Mardi Gras got me thinking about the need for fun. NOLA during Carnival is a well-oiled fun machine and it’s wonderful how people spill out onto the streets to celebrate with friends, neighbors, and total strangers.

Everyone needs down time, especially those in high pressure jobs or really boring jobs and those whose work requires creativity and innovation.

Hey managers, are your people are having some fun? It doesn’t always have to be complicated. I wrote about making workplace fun happen in this earlier post.

One more thing about Mardi Gras – I love it for a lot of reasons but especially because it allows so many artists to showcase their spectacular talent and make a living doing what they love as float builders.

Would love to hear ways you incorporate fun into your workplace.