Friday Finds: Embracing Critics, Making Plans and Doing Nothing

Welcome to a brand new feature on The Bleeding Heart Art Space Blog. The goal? To curate a weekly collection of links about art, faith, hope and love. Each week I come across many ‘goodies’ and events that I’d love to share, but have had no proper venue for doing so. Consider this ‘grab bag’ approach a way of getting it all out there - taking the best and brightest and sharing it with you.

I hope you enjoy!

Embracing Your Critics: A Video That Will Inspire You to Tears from Brené Brown

Brené Brown is someone who studies love, vulnerability and community. She studies them. Scientifically. Her findings seem to lead us closer to the life we are invited to in Christ’s Kingdom, methinks.

This video is not a short watch, but it is worth every moment. I teared up. I got inspired. I wanted to put myself out there and risk my heart.

I discovered this video thanks to the fine folks at 99u.com, whose email newsletter comes highly recommended.

You can also find more videos from Brene Brown on The Work Of The People here (thanks to Nova on Facebook for the tip).

CS Lewis Thinks the Hobbit “May Well Prove a Classic”

I’m sure this is not news, but the second instalment of The Hobbit film comes out today. To celebrate, here is a reprint of a review the CS Lewis did of Tolkien’s book when it first came out. Thanks to Jordan Majeau for tipping me onto this one.

http://www.theparisreview.org/blog/2013/11/19/c-s-lewis-reviews-the-hobbit-1937/

Weekend Plans: Yule Ave

Yule Ave is a remarkable weekend of Christmas cheer on Alberta Ave. It’s free, and focussed on breaking through the commercial clutter of Christmas. Things kick off tonight with carolling at The Carrot, and a Christmas variety show called Yule Ave: A Blast, which The Bleeding Heart gets to be part of. We cannot wait, and we hope you’ll join us.

All the details can be found on the Yule Ave website at http://www.yuleave.ca.

SIDE NOTE: The Yule Ave website was built and is hosted by The Bleeding Heart Art Space as part of our sponsorship of this great event!

Summer Plans: Join Me at The Glen Workshop for Some Transformation

Sometimes when you hit that ‘buy now’ button your heart just flutters with giddy glee. This week I felt that excitement as I registered for The Glen Workshop West in Santa Fe, New Mexico. The Glen just recently announced their 2014 dates and plans and opened up for registrations.

I am especially excited for two reasons. First, this year marks Image Journal’s 25th Anniversary, and there are some surprises in store. Second, I’ll be taking songwriting for a week with Over The Rhine.

The Glen Workshop is a rare hybrid of arts conference, festival and workshop. The faculty are excellent and the time spent in community with creative Christ followers is second to none. For a glorious week, you are in the abundant centre, rather than on the thin margins. Food, lodging and all conference activities are included. It is SO worth it.

I think getting on that plane with me and heading down to Santa Fe for a week of art and faith is likely the best thing you could do this summer. But I may be biased.

Anyone care to join me?

http://glenworkshop.com

Or Maybe You Should Just Do Nothing

James Altucher’s post on when we’d be better off to 'do nothing’ is a breath of fresh air amidst  productivity pollution. Heading towards New Year’s resolutions, you may feel the pressure to do more and to be more. Before you make those lists, stop and read this.

Altucher’s post promises 5 Ways To Do Nothing And Become More Productive, but to me it’s more an invitation to let go of the need to prove yourself constantly. To simply be.

http://99u.com/articles/20576/5-ways-to-do-nothing-and-become-more-productive

To me, that sounds an awful lot like Paul's words here,

"The only accurate way to understand ourselves is by what God is and by what he does for us, not by what we are and what we do for him.” - Romans 12:3b, The Message

A good encouragement, and perhaps the best last words, as we head into the hectic holidays.

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Let us know if any of these finds are meaningful for you in the comments below.

Arty Tuesday: Indie Games and Feedback Loops

Art speaks. It's time to stop and listen in community. Arty Tuesday is a project where we post one, two or three pieces of art or media that have made an impact on our lives over the past week. We are moving past what we 'like' towards discernment. Really seeing. 

Share your pieces, then take a moment to comment on the sharing of others. Join the conversation!

Oh, and by the way, this week marks a milestone for Arty Tuesday - the feedback loop. This week I watched a film that was recommended a few weeks back in the comments. I love it when this sort of 'feedback loop' begins - when previous pieces resurface because someone else has gotten around to engaging with them. It is proof that my life (or at least my viewing) is a bit different because of my time spent with this community. Thank you.

Yule Ave a Blast!: Join Us on the Ave This Christmas

Working on Alberta Avenue with The Bleeding Heart Art Space I get to meet a lot of great people. I get to meet artists and people in love with their community and people with big dreams. Many of those people are making their dreams a reality. It’s an inspiring neighbourhood. Last year I got to meet Frank Zotter, an actor and Alberta Avenue enthusiast. I was introduced to Frank by Christy Morin, Executive Director of Arts On The Ave. Christy knew about a big, crazy dream Frank had (just one of many) and thought that The Bleeding Heart Art Space might want to get involved. As I listened to Frank’s dream, I knew she was right.

Frank loves Christmas. Frank wants to see the community come together for a Christmas that runs deeper than consumerism. An old fashioned, carolling door-to-door, hot apple-cider kind of Christmas that money cannot buy. Last year, for the first time, Frank pulled together a celebration called Yule Ave. Yule Ave is a little Christmas festival, and it culminates in an evening ‘Revue’ called ‘Yule Ave: A Blast!’.

This event looks at Christmas from all angles, spanning many holiday traditions. The Yule Ave: A Blast! Revue can range from deeply touching to hilariously irreverent. But Frank recognizes the wonder of the Christmas story, and he asked The Bleeding Heart to bring that story to the Revue last year. Through songs and spoken word, we got to shine a light on the Nativity story. It was a magical night.

This year The Bleeding Heart Art Space, and by extension the Urban Bridge Church community, has the opportunity to bring art, faith, hope and love to Yule Ave once again. We will fill fifteen minutes of the Yule Ave: A Blast! Revue with spoken word, an original song and a classic carol, all focussed on seeking out the Christmas star. My hope is that the Life Light will shine a little through our art. Myself, Andy Mulcair, Brook Biggin, Kristin Kajorinne, Eli Ritz and Jennifer Wilde will provide the music. We hope you will join us that evening.

The Yule Ave: A Blast! Revue begins Friday night, December 13 at 8:15 PM at The Alberta Avenue Community League (9210 118th Ave), and will be jam packed with music, theatre, poetry, laughs and warmth. There’s even free chili.

It might just be the most special evening you have this Christmas.

Arty Tuesday: Weibo's War and Monsters and Bison

It's Arty Tuesday - when we recognize that 'art speaks' and we stop to listen in community. Think back on the art and media you've experienced this week. What has left an impact? The goal is to start a conversation and explore those pieces together. As we do, we grow in our understanding and appreciation of them.

This week? Documentary Weibo's War, the Royal Bison Art & Craft Fair, and more. What will you bring to the table?

Are You a Consumer, Critic or Creator?

‘Criticize by creating’ - Michelangelo

My kids attend an arts core school. This means the arts are woven into all of their learning. It also means they are exposed to a lot of great work.

My kids know far more than I do about art history. My son has told me many stories about Chagal and Van Gogh. As they learn about these artists, they move beyond looking at and talking about their work. They actually create art in response to it.

The instruction, ‘paint like Van Gogh’ is not daunting to elementary school kids. It is liberating. The walls of my back stairwell are a testament to the creativity great works of art can inspire. There have been works in the style of Mondrian and Joan Mirò and Picasso and many others. Just looking at our ‘gallery' this morning I am reminded of the generative power of art.

Great art does something. It leads to action, and often to more great art. It makes our world a bigger, more beautiful place.

Moving us beyond feeling, art can lead us toward three actions. In response to a work of creation, we can consume, we can criticize or we can create something ourselves.

What does a work of art do to you? How do you respond to worthy work?

Are you a consumer? Are you a critic? Are you a creator?

Which response excites you most? Which word elicits a little leap from your soul? Which response will lead us to a better world?

A World of Consumers

Consumption is not a wrong response to art. There are times when we just need to ‘veg’ – to relax and laugh or cry or feel inspired. But consumption tends to leave us where we started, rather than lift us up and out. Consumption of art and media is okay, and perhaps the necessary entry point, but it is not generative. It does not make the world a greater place.

In a consumer culture, the creative impulse must be shaken awake. With our art, as with everything else, we have all too often become mere consumers.

Think of your plans for this evening. Errands done and kids in bed, will you consume, or create? Most of us are happy to be fed the creativity of others, plunked down in front of our TVs. But there was a time, I am told, when we would gather around the family piano and sing the evening away. It’s hard to imagine a time or place where creativity was as prevalent as consumption.

My wife and I are attempting to add an art making night to our rotation of evening activities. It is hard, and has not become a habit yet. Like anything worthwhile, there seems to be an invisible wall of resistance to scale. But the few nights we have sat across the table from each other, working away on our own little projects, have felt so good. Creation does some deeper work in us that consumption cannot reach.

Reading good books could be seen as mere consumption, but I don’t think so. I think the very magic of books is their ability to awaken our own image-making powers and invite our minds to fill in the details. Books calls us into creation as we read. This is why reading a book is less rewarding after seeing the movie. My Frodo is now Peter Jackson’s Frodo. My Aslan now sounds like Liam Neeson.

Of course, any work in any media can lead us to an imaginative space, but the more we are handed, the less spacious the work becomes. The less room we have to create ourselves. To move from consumers to creators takes an act of will.

Unfortunately, we all too often turn our will in another direction, towards finding faults. Everyone is a critic.

A World of Critics

Just like consumption, criticism is far from evil. It is necessary. Critique has its place. It helps others enter into an artwork and at its best it helps artists become stronger.

Excellent criticism is itself creative work, but all too often our criticisms degenerate into shallow and cynical attacks. A quick skim of YouTube video comments will reveal the worst of these. I find little value there.

Michaelango famously invited us to, ‘criticize by creating'. How I would love to see that advice followed.

You do not like the art? Create a better alternative.

You do not like the world? Create a better alternative.

The Bleeding Heart Art Space is not a refuge for cynics and the disenfranchised. At least not a place where we can stay in those shadows safely. This Space is for hope, and hope births the creation of the New. We are not content to pick at what is wrong with everyone else. We are those who create, and risk our hearts in the process.

There are many who can see the problems. There are few who can offer solutions.

A World of Creators

The third response, to create something new, is most exciting to me. It is the only generative response. It is the response that enlarges our world.

create-in-response-2

The Bleeding Heart Manifesto encourages us to ‘create in response to creation’. There is a recognition here that our greatest works are only a ripple from the deep-end-cannonball of God’s creation. To create is to be 'made in the image of God’.

This creative impulse is my favourite reaction to art. I get so inspired by the artist’s gift that I immediately want to create something. My own gift is fanned into flame. As author Lewis Hyde puts it, the gift keeps moving.

As a songwriter, this happens with great music. When I was fifteen, Hayden’s Everything I Long For drove me to record hours of music on a tape-deck four-track recorder in my bedroom, especially when I found out that Hayden recorded that album in a similar way. Last year, when I heard the song Lost In the Light by Bahamas, I finally broke down and bought a Danelectro guitar. I just had to make that sound. Watching the guitar documentary This Might Get Loud, I actually had to stop three quarters through to go and plug my amplifier in and make some noise. My consumption was actually interrupted by creativity. Some impulse was rising up in me – some primal dance to the beat of a great work. Toes tapping, I had to respond.

I may well feel this way at the Royal Bison Craft & Art Fair this weekend, where local creatives are experimenting. Some piece will set off sparks for my own experimentation when I get home. Last time this happened I ended up buying a screen printing kit. Perhaps great art is dangerous for my wallet.

Great creations are hospitable. They do not put up walls to remind us how inferior we are to their makers. They invite us in to play.

There is something in creativity that takes us back to the deep childhood well of possibility. There was a time we would see something great and think to ourselves, however foolishly, “I can do that!” Now, most times, we don’t even have the luxury of squashing those thoughts under the weight of fear and disillusionment. They simply do not come to mind.

But sometimes, when I see a painting or hear a song or read a poem, I still believe in myself. I find permission somewhere to go and make something new.

Creation itself works this way. Genesis tells of a Creator so potent that light and life dripped from his tongue. He simply spoke and the world could not help but explode into being. He speaks still, I believe. And soon in that speaking He invites us to speak as well–to harmonize with his creation melody. To name the animals.

The creative spirit is contagious. It is generous. It begets and begets. A stranger to scarcity, creativity is abundant.

But creativity is hard. Creativity is incredibly vulnerable. It leaves us open to our consumers and our critics. Criticism and consumption are the easier responses. They are most certainly safer.

In a world where problems and faults are clear, my prayer is for creative solutions. My prayer is for a new world – a 'Kingdom come’ of faith, hope and love.

The Creator is singing that new world into being. Let us move beyond mere consumption and criticism to take our rightful place as co-creators.

Let us make something new!

Arty Tuesday: Dressing Up and Fighting Monsters

Art speaks. Let’s stop and listen in community. This week we're chatting about Max's monsters, Arcade Fire's dress code, and whatever you bring to the table ...

Take a moment in the comments below to share up to three art experiences that made an impact on you this past week. Go beyond ‘it was good’ and think about art, film, music, books and more that have left you thinking, wrestling, smiling, etc.

Thinking Back on #JusticeYEG: The Gallery

A call for submissions is always a terrifying leap into the unknown. Especially when the deadline fast approaches. Especially when the theme is difficult or narrow. How would artists respond to issues of justice – especially local justice. What type of work would emerge? Would it be strong work? Would submissions function well as art, inviting us into a hospitable conversation and wrestling, or would they be too didactic and ‘preachy’? With #JusticeYEG: The Gallery I felt afraid for all of those reasons, plus the fact that we, Bleeding Heart Art Space, were pairing up with a brand new event, #JusticeYEG, and we could predict little about who would attend and how it would all turn out.

My fears, as usual, were a waste of energy. #JusticeYEG: The Gallery brought together excellent work from 8 artists. Thanks to the Bleeding Heart Arts Lead, Grace Law, the show was a stellar success. Special walls were brought in to hang the work, and three musicians (Darren Day, Venessa B and Passburg) provided ambiance for our Friday night opening. With well over a hundred conference attendees, the Gallery got a good viewing. In the future, I’d love to see the Gallery space open to the public, so that even more people can experience the work. We’ll see what we can do.

Before I get to the work itself, I have to mention this one little thing, because it makes me giddy. We had real-deal vinyl letters for our Gallery signage! This was a first for The Bleeding Heart, and it made me feel all grown up. It's amazing how little things make a big difference. Thanks again to Grace Law for arranging this – it added an extra level of professionalism to already great work.

Now, about that work.

As you entered the gallery, you were greeted by black and white portraits of Edmonton’s homeless community. These were taken by Pieter de Vos, over a 10 year period in the mid 90’s to mid-2000’s. As photographs, they are excellent pieces. As storytelling, they make strong connections to our own lives. It is obvious de Vos got to know his subjects and was able to present them not as some stereotype of ’street people’, but as people with human, touching stories. No sentimentality here, just instants pulled from lifetimes of lived story, stirring curiosity about who these people were, and are, and how we may be like them.

Next was another series of photographs, these part of a larger project called Life Squared that we will be working with next spring. Life Squared pairs seven local photographers with seven parolees, trying to reintegrate into society after a prison sentence. In #JusticeYEG we focussed in on one of these parolees, with beautiful photographs showing that his life is much more than his past. The show can be seen in a special preview this weekend at the Red Ribbon Building. There will also be a discussion panel featuring some of the participants. More info can be found at lifesquared.ca.

On the next wall we encountered another story. Leonard (Lenoose) Martial lived on the street for three decades, and documented life on Edmonton’s streets through a series of photos and short writings. Each pairing of image and text lets us enter that world in a personal, candid way. For our gallery, we had to narrow many pieces down to just nine. An image of a cat emerging from a door sticks out in my mind. In the text, Lenoose reflects how that cat gave him something – someone – to care for. We get the sense that caring for someone else was part of his healing and eventual exit from street life. It’s a powerful image and powerful thought that transcends the street and makes a home in our own lives. You can read a photo-essay from Alberta Views on Lenoose’s work here, on the Boyle Street Community Services website.

Paintings followed the photographs, the first being a painting of the oil sands, in aerial view, by Julie Drew. Next to that was a photograph of multiple crosses by Andrew Bolton, layered dark and deep, washed in the black-earth tones of crude oil. It was interesting to watch these two images speak to one another in the space.

On the next panel was a massive painting of a homeless person, ‘harvesting’ bottles, by Michael Brown. Paired with that image was another painting by Julie Drew, much smaller, of a literal harvest of wheat. A subtext, about our role in harvesting a new kingdom filled with justice, built strong connection between the paintings.

Outside the walls remained two sculptural pieces. At the back was a colourful character, called ’The Wanderer' by Richard ‘Rico’ Reyes, hanging near the wall. This piece offered another reflection on homelessness and its restlessness. At the front was a massive podium by Adam Tenove. Atop a platform covered in what I can only call ‘church carpet’, stood a podium constructed roughly and covered, or fenced off, in metal mesh with barbed wire. At the rear, viewers were invited to step up behind the podium, where a book was permanently carved into its shelf. The corner teased us to ’turn the page’, which was, of course, impossible. The podium is open to many interpretations, but I left with a sense of the rigidity of our Christian positions, and the disconnect between our shouting at others about salvation, and our lack of action in social justice. We often preach from a book, perhaps a Bible, stuck on one page. I think we each have our own favourite pages that ’stick’, blinding us to a fuller understanding of the world, or even our own faith. The fact that the podium was covered in wire surely says something about how our words, delivered from a higher-than-thou position, are often unwelcome.

All in all, the gallery made an impact on me, and my hope is that it got others thinking too. If you have thoughts on any of the pieces, please comment below.

At Bleeding Heart we encourage work that invites us to ‘Stop and listen. Engage. Wrestle.” Work exactly like the pieces presented at #JusticeYEG this past weekend.

Thank you to Grace Law for curating the exhibit, to all of the volunteers who helped bring it to life and for the artists who opened their hearts and made themselves vulnerable in sharing their work with us. Thanks as well to Aaron Vanimere for taking these excellent photos of the exhibit space.

And now on to the next show ...

[gallery ids="376,377,381,378,379,380,382,383,384,385"]

Dear Edmonton, We Need to Talk

Dear Edmonton, On June 14 myself and some citizens, hopefully quite a few, are going to tell you how we feel about you. We’re going to send you a message through original songs, visual art, spoken word, poetry and performance. We may even create some short films and write some letters.

You're very important to me, so I want to warn you now that it might not all be pretty and praise. I for one am going to take a long hard look at our relationship and let you know, really and truly, what you mean to me. We've been together so long, Edmonton, I think it's about time we talked.

We're going to share all of this with you at an event called Bridge Songs: Dear Edmonton,. All those who have known you are invited to take part in this day of live music, spoken word and art across mediums. We're going to make an album, too. You can keep that and I hope you'll like it because it's going to be all about you. All of this will happen in one of your best neighbourhoods; Alberta Avenue.

You may be wondering how this is going to happen. Well Edmonton, Bleeding Heart Art Space is inviting your artists to explore their relationship with their city. We're asking artists, 'How does the city shape your work?' and  'How does your work shape the city?'

We're starting with a basic question;

“If you could write a letter to your city, what would you say?”

I imagine the answers to that question could come in a million different forms, as uniquely creative as your kaleidoscope of artists. It is those creative answers I am hoping to show you on June 14 at Bridge Songs: Dear Edmonton,.

We’re looking for work that addresses the importance of place, and explores artists' relationships with you, Edmonton, our unique northern city. We'll think about some of the names you've been given, like 'City of Champions' or 'Festival City'.

You know I love you, Edmonton, but sometimes I wonder if there are easier places to make art. Can art thrive in a blue collar town? Are you really the best place to make a life as an artist, or, perhaps, a better place to start and move on to somewhere bigger and brighter. I know it must hurt you when that happens, but you've gotta understand the reasons.

And then there are your winters, which we are just entering again now. How can I create while I have to hibernate? Some days all the cold and dark gets depressing. I know it's not your fault, but still.

It's not all bad, of course. I'm still here, right? I love the river valley and the festivals and my own neighbourhood and the special feeling of hope and promise that just doesn't seem to leave your streets. I love how your beauty changes with each season, always unassuming, but always breathtaking in sacred, small ways.

I'm hoping we can explore all of this and more. I'm hoping that other artists help me see who you are in new ways, with new eyes. I'm hoping to become a prouder Edmontonian than I am today. I think you deserve all of that.

So consider this your formal invitation, Edmonton. Please come, see and hear what we have to show you on June 14. We've got a lot of work to do in the meantime, so no peeking.

With all my bleeding heart,

Dave Von Bieker

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Submit Your Work

So, artists, I hope this letter has got you thinking and dreaming and scheming. I cannot wait to see what you come up with.

We're looking for songs for our album and performance, visual art of all types for our gallery, dramatic pieces, short film, writing and more for our evening performance. We want to see a great variety of mediums and explorations of the theme, Dear Edmonton,. You have until March 14 (February 14 for songs).

You can download the official Call for Submissions here

Edmonton is listening …

Remember The Number 14

Last week, on November 14, we leaked this theme to subscribers of our email newsletter. What? You’re not on the list? Let’s fix that right away. You can subscribe at the bottom of this post, after the comments.

All submissions for Bridge Songs: Dear Edmonton, must be received by midnight on March 14 (February 14 for songs).

The event itself will take place Saturday, June 14, 2014.

I hope all of these fourteens make things a little easier to remember. And no, there is no secret significance – although if you have any theories I’d love to hear them.

If you have any questions about the theme or the event, please post them in the comments below and myself or someone else from Bleeding Heart Art Space will do our best to respond.

Arty Tuesday: #JusticeYEG and More

Art speaks. Let’s stop and listen in community. This week brought #JusticeYEG: The Gallery, along with some powerful art and media moments in your world I'm sure.

Take a moment in the comments below to share up to three art experiences that made an impact on you this past week. Go beyond ‘it was good’ and think about art, film, music, books and more that have left you thinking, wrestling, smiling, etc.

Arty Tuesday

Art speaks. Let's stop and listen in community. Take a moment in the comments below to share up to three art experiences that made an impact on you this past week. Go beyond 'it was good' and think about art, film, music, books and more that have left you thinking, wrestling, smiling, etc.