Musings
below are some of my ramblings // fragments // thoughts on creation // craft // process
I believe an experimental approach to learning that is rooted in craft is one of the most viable pathways toward building a more community-oriented future. Craft is a transformative learning process, where the maker must respond, adapt, and analyze during the act of creation. Through exercising this combination of cognitive and physical abilities, craft functions as a cultural tool, in which individuals gain agency in their communities.
How might we perceive, comprehend, appreciate, and ultimately interrelate with the world and each other
if everything were considered sacred?
what if nothing was?
what if we viewed the whole world as sculpture?
I have an interest in materials that stems from both an artistic and a scientific place, which has been the driving force for my exploration into multiple forms of craft. I have seen the ways in which my degree in biochemistry has been incredibly useful in my artistic practice. Material exploration of any medium interests me for the intimacy and intentionality it imbues the act of creation with.
Experimenting and pushing the boundary of materials, ultimately encourages my work to be an active dialogue via response to form and material.
When experimenting in craft, I simultaneously approach it playfully and from a scientific perspective. I document the process through short notes, voice memos, photographs, and process videos so I am able to flow and act from a place of curiosity and intuition. I then return to them to write and catalogue detailed notes, so that my findings can inspire my future work. An experimental approach frees my work from being bound to a particular medium. Instead, what emerges is work that is informed by its own creation.
the act of creation as ritual
In my own personal art practice, I view the act of creation (whether that be craft, music, or dance) as ritual. In its base definition, ritual is a sequence of actions, gestures, words and/or objects performed in a prescribed way. Craft, music, and dance are hands-on and participatory in nature, and by being intentional in the act of creating, we become connected to the present moment. Ritual is found in the sheet music of the song, in the words of the caller of the contra dance, in the act of rolling coils of clay for hand-building a flower pot, in the kneading of dough for the day’s bread. The rituals inherent in craft, music, and dance create a place of familiarity, permitting us to feel more comfortable to take risks. Getting out of our comfort zone leads us on the path towards true growth. When people take risks together they feel empowered and connected to one another, creating a sense of community. Furthermore, when these rituals of creation are performed with others, it offers common ground to meet on, bridging gaps that may have prior led to hesitation to interact, judgment, or disconnection.
Even when practicing craft, music, or dance fully alone, I believe creating still connects us to one another and builds community. Ritual moves us from self to a vessel for the act of creation. Creating imbues us with skills that improve our agency and confidence. Ritual, by means of creation, simultaneously grounds us in our bodies, while taking us outside of ourselves, in the egoic sense. By fostering a dialogue with our internal self, we begin an intuitive and embodied way of learning. This positive self growth allows us to form more honest connections to others and deepens our capacity to show up for our community.
By viewing the act of creation as a ritual, it endows the maker with intentionality and invests in their community. Ritual allows for us to transcend and feel connected to a wider circle, giving us the power to welcome others in. At its core, the ritual I perform while creating is one of being intentionally joyful, regardless of the challenges that may arise or the outcome of the end product I make.