Community Art Leaders - 7/17/24

 Reflection

Today we played a new warm-up game designed for calming and listening. The group sits in a circle. One person sits blind-folded in the middle seated on a chair. A 'treasure' is placed under the chair (can be any item of symbolic value; I used a little box full of agate crystals). On my command - with a silent point - one by one they silently try to steal the treasure. The person in the middle has to try to listen for any sound or movement and catch the person by pointing in their direction. I love this game, and they always have fun. 

It went well. The last time we played it, they wanted to make a lot of side noises. This morning I decided to ask the group to play by the rules, to not make side noises. I came up with the idea to say we'd tried it the other way before, reflected on it, so we know how that went. I knew they'd get more out of it in playing the game where everyone has a fair chance. So I proposed everyone take a chance to discover something new through this way. See what you notice.

During our debrief I heard things like, 'it was the same, but it wasn't because the silence made it harder to move without getting caught. It made it more challenging'. Turns out, challenging is interesting! Some said it was more fun. Others agreed it was more enjoyable and people played better, meaning they had to give more of their effort. What I discovered is - and I think this is a valuable lesson for the group - when we give our best effort at something we reap the reward afterwards for purely that!

By making things easier for others - ie laughing too much, being too loud, being disorderly, we don't get that chance to put our sincere effort into something. It takes focus and concentration. There's a reward for that when we have a goal in mind and we set out to do something. Even if we have a setback, the desire remains and we relish the chance to try again. It's like climbing a mountain. We relish the journey, but as soon as that's over we want a chance to climb another one. I'm appreciative of their effort and willingness to try something new like that. 

They enjoyed the film, Rockford Taking Flight. I use my films as a learning tool to help share my philosophy and method. That was a great segway into the value of trying something new together, because that project was all new to the community, and new to me. I was an outsider to the community and was afraid I wouldn't be accepted. We had a great discussion afterwards about what role they thought - if any - keeping an open mind had to the success of the overall mural project. All agreed it did - because it gave the community a chance to feel comfortable sharing their different perspectives. I told them they'll find times in life where they are going to be confronted with giving their most sincerest of efforts and face rejection. Are they going to be able to adapt and innovate to succeed?

Other things they said they appreciated about the film - the little boy happily dancing with a paintbrush; the woman who didn't have words to describe what she felt when she saw the mural on the building; it was moving; inspiring to them. They were surprised at the final scale of it when they saw all the panels on the outside of the gym. (I know - it was crazy to me every time I see that up there like that! It's HUGE!) And the drone shot helps you see the rest of the city beyond the roof-line that - really impactful and powerful.

So today was a very productive day. This summer I spent a lot more time with them on capturing facial expressions, starting with drawing and sketching. Today I gave them more time to practice and they each made progress painting their individual expressions. I really feel like we accomplished a lot. We do a reflection at the end of every day to share how we're feeling in that moment - I heard 'accomplished, proud, relaxed, calm'. Sure, its a lot to sit for the whole day - our sessions are six hours - but today, hearing this reflection reminded me why I do this - 'It's exhausting like a real job but better - because I actually care'.

I feel the same way. I am with those students all day, in their auras, focusing, concentrating on the moment and making decisions about where we need to go next. It's a lot of mental focus but I have been trained for this. This is what I live for. At the end of the day over the last two days I have felt such openness in my heart; it feel like my heart's expanding. Such joy, such reward to see them grow. All doubt in my mind has been cleared, it seems.

From difficulty getting the group to feel integrated the second week to a better, more cohesive unit - I feel we got there. With only three days left in the four-week program. It was worth it. Everybody is performing better, feels more invested. I feel like I lived up to what I'm about and what this program is about. Another successful for the program! The fact they showed up everyday, the fact they challenged themselves to try the exercises, to work together, to stay till completion - that's the real success. Can we come together? Can we create a sense of community amongst ourselves? What if I put this question to them?

I thought we were making a mural for a community. Turns out, this program is very much about creating a sense of community for ourselves. Sometimes its a struggle. Especially when we've never known anything like this before. How do we even know it's something we're missing? I've been there, I've been through it, so I know what it feels like. There's more trust, there's an openness, a willingness to try, to fulfill our roles. To take responsibility for our choices and the impact they have on others. That's the goal.