Flickr: Making Photos Social

When I first discovered Flickr, I was just looking for a site where I could upload batches of my photos and be able to easily share them with friends, family, and colleagues. Flickr served this objective quite well for me and I was very pleased.  Flickr claims to be “the best on-line photo management system and and sharing application in the world”, with two objectives: helping people share their photos, videos, and pictures with those who are important in their lives, and providing new ways for users to do and manage this.

I have started to learn that Flickr is much more than just these two purposes and a site on-line where I can upload and share lots of photos.  It’s also a collabortive community where images bring people together. People with similiar interests are able to connect through photo sharing, discussion, leaving comments, and much more.  To learn more about Flickr, watch this short tutorial about on-line photo sharing:

I am still slowly discovering everything Flickr has to offer, building my photo sets, and checking out all the amazing images and photographs posted from other users, as well as the thousands of Flickr groups you can join.  It is amazing what Flickr has to offer and its community of photographers, artists, and creatives!

I invite you to take some time and check out what Flickr is all about!   If you need help getting started, one of my favorite photostreams is from Cleveland photographer and poet, Don Iannone who posts beautiful photos everyday.   

Here’s to our paths crossing on Flickr and to happy photo sharing!

Detached Devotion

Detachment Altered Book- Be Free / January 2009

This week I started working on the pages in my mini altered book on detachment.  I only have a few pages of the book completed so far and have posted the book’s progress within this writing- enjoy!  Stayed tuned for more pages as the book develops! I hope to finish it soon.

So what does detachment mean anyway and why is it important to be mindful of practicing this virtue?  I believe detachment is a state of inner calmness and strength that peacefully co-exists with focused intentions. Especially during times of chaos or uncertainty, detachment allows us to cope with these obstacles, carry on,  stay passionate, and view what is out of our control as lessons of opportunity.  Detachment reminds us not to be tied to the results and to exercise freedom in letting go without being apathetic, regressing backwards, passing the buck, or giving up.

In the Handbook of Creativity by Robert  Sternberg, he describes another type of detachment called “detached devotion” and its impact on creative functioning.  Detached devotion results when there is a combination of intense passion, commitment, and interest alongside a deep practice of detachment. Detached devotion is fostered by a bigger purpose other than ourselves, our ego, and our own agenda. It’s about working on the task at hand and taking action on the work rather than trying to control or micromanage the work. Sternberg’s writing cites beliefs that creativity and motivation can ultimately be enhanced when individuals commit to tasks rooted in detached devotion and stay present in the work.

Of course, all this detachment talk is definitely easier said than done. I have found that detachment itself takes a lot of work. Here are some tips that have been helpful for me to remember and practice, practice, practice to stay on the path of detachment:

• Separate yourself from responsibilities and tasks that really belong to someone else to do;
• Let others make their own decisions, mistakes, and choices;
• Be mindful of trying to “fix things” through feeling obligated or the need to rescue;
• Be aware of hidden possibilities by letting go of how “things should be”;
• Invest yourself in projects that YOU are passionate about;
• Voice your truth without worrying about what others think or who is listening

Detachment Altered Book- Calm Me / January 2009

And most importantly, similar to how I engage in art making to focus on living with intention, doing my own art and engaging in the creative process also helps me increase my awareness about  the laws of detachment. And so my altered book continues…..

The Creative Leader & Creating an Environment for Innovation

 

rev o’ lution for leadership

Here are my first of many thoughts surrounding the topic of leadership and creativity. As I wrote in my rev o’ lution posting a few weeks ago, good leadership is something I want to see, be, and understand more this year.  

The article Leadership As Creativity: Finding the Opportunity Hidden Within Decision Making and Dialogue, published by The National Endowment for the Arts was a good read to get me thinking about the qualities of creative leadership and its impact on success, achievement, and motivating others. Author John M. McCann references the work of Malcolm Knowles and his book The Adult Learner, A Neglected Species where eight beliefs about The Creative Leader are identified:

1. The Creative Leader has a positive belief system and outlook about the ability of others to get the job done and step up to the challenge.  

2. The Creative Leader understands the relationship between acknowledging that people are stakeholders and how this effectively influences their level of commitment and dedication to the work that needs to be done.

3. The Creative Leader creates a vision and expectation for success that others will contribute and rise up to.

4. The Creative Leader understands and values the unique contributions of the individual and recognizes that when people are able to work in an environment that empowers their strengths, ideas, skills, and knowledge, they will thrive and create great things.

5. The Creative Leader embraces creativity in others through cultivating, celebrating, and validating its use.  Also important is leading by example and showing others that the power of creativity is essential to surviving change.  

6. The Creative Leader is aware of the power of change and skillful in its management to create new opportunities and possibilities rooted in innovation.

7. The Creative Leader highlights and rewards gratification that encourages success, achievement, responsiblity, and integrity from within.

8. The Creative Leader promotes others to be self-directing and driven.

As I was reflecting on the list, each of the eight qualities towards creative leadership has important value to me.  Many of the examples I can recall when I was empowered by a Creative Leader in my own life applying these principles. Creative leadership has encouraged and taught me to do new and growth producing experiences, have belief and trust in my ideas, direction, and decisions- even in times when I did not even see this yet myself or know what exactly to do.    

I’ve also witnessed and experienced the opposite by working in systems or with individuals in positions of leadership that attempted to exercise control, isolation, micromanagement, and  ultimately kill the collaboration and fullfillment that comes with the process of developing new ideas.  These experiences have been valuable lessons in helping to identify what I truly need and want in good leadership, and to understand more about what is destructive and damaging towards fostering dedication, participation, and postitive morale in others.

The Center for Creative Leadership (CCL) and their podcast, Creating an Environment for Innovation, sites three steps that can impact the successful creative growth within organizations:

The Elements of Destruction are Present at Creation- Creative leadership knows how to take appropriate action and is aware of possible inherit destructiveness that can threaten the innovation of the organization.

Soft Values Drive the Organization- CCL describes this as “how the game is played”. Valuing and cultivating qualities such as passion, dedication, and spirit is what fuels the organization’s energy and direction.

Trust is the Means and Love is the Unspoken Word- A foundation of trust and compassion are essential to helping the organization face and deal with conflict and problem- if left unchecked this can weaken and slow down the organization’s ability to move forward with new ideas and goals.  What is CCL’s idea of love in the workplace? “Love means caring for others, being concerned about their personal and professional well-being and placing a high value on their interests. It means listening and trying to understand their concerns. It means respecting their intelligence and giving credit to their ideas. Loving the people within the organization gives innovation its best shot. “

Enough said. At least for now…

Postcard Confessions::The World of PostSecret

“There are two kinds of secrets: those we keep from others and the ones we hide from ourselves.” – Frank Warren

The collaborative art project PostSecret has always been of great interest to me.  Founder Frank Warren began this project a few years ago in Washington D.C. by sending out 3000 self addressed postcards through leaving them at bus stops, inside books, and other random places. He invited people to return the 4 x 6 postcard anonymously with a secret that was true and had never been told before. 100 postcards came in to the 13345 Copper Ridge Road Germantown, Maryland 20874 address and what started as an experiment is now PostSecret. 

First the postcards were showcased as an exhibit, then the project continued on-line where new postcards were, and continue to be, uploaded every Sunday.  PostSecret’s success was truly born on Blogger and a great testament of the tremendous power the Internet can have on connection and self-expression.  PostSecret has now developed into a community, books, a college tour, into music videos, and has been exhibited at the American Visionary Art Museum. The project has a very strong following of supporters and individuals who continue to send in their secrets (1000 every week), as well as the people who want to see them.  

The video above, the many other PostSecret montages on YouTube, as well as postcards on www.postsecret.com and PostSecret books, often reveal painful, hurtful, sad experiences, in addition to statements and memories that can be inspiring and uplifting.  Other secrets are playful, silly, and funny.  Some messages are rooted in regret, apology, mistrust, and courage.  Others express emotions that range from despair, shame, and anger to love, joy, and hope. 

I am drawn to the imagery and artful quality that many individuals use to communicate their confession on the 4 x 6 space.  Collage, photographs, drawings, found and special objects…text that is typed, stamped, handwritten…some images are simple, some raw, in black & white, or vibrant, rich colors.  I am constantly in awe of the powerful expression from within that emerges when given the permission and safety to make what is inside, outside.  This power has not gone unnoticed- Warren has been recognized by the National Mental Health Association for helping bring awareness to mental health issues and many proceeds from PostSecret’s efforts benefit The National Hopeline Network and help fund their suicide prevention Hopeline: 1-800-SUICIDE.  

Another intriguing aspect of this project is technology’s creativity to connect us together and empower our communication of hidden thoughts and experiences, but yet there is still an element of isolation, disconnection, and perhaps a lack of refuge or trust in our daily lives and real life relationships.

When interviewed by Guy Kawasaki for his blog, How to Change the World, Warren was asked:  “What have you learned from all this?”  His answer was very simple:  “We all carry a secret that would break your heart if you knew what it was. And if we could remember that there might be more understanding and peace in the world.”

The 2009 PostSecret Tour started this past week and will be coming to colleges across the US and Canada.  Check out to see if PostSecret will be coming to a campus near you soon.

Creating and Living with Intention

I recently read this post about Living Willfully in 2009 by Karin Marcus, where she invites readers to consider making intentions for 2009.  I enjoyed her article because the practice of making intentions is something I have engaged in for many years, usually manifesting through my art.  

I usually start by creating a visual representation of a desired idea,  purpose, action or goal. Then I focus on making this intention develop and happen through commitment and focus.  I also believe in the law of attraction- i.e. when you put your ideas and desires out there,  that opportunities, people, and situations will present themselves to help make your intention happen and become a reality.

This has happened many times in my life– especially related to my professional life.  Whether I was experiencing changes related to employment, career goals I was aspiring towards or trying to develop more opportunities to share my love of art therapy….creating intentions has been really helpful for inviting new possibilities, energy, and a hopeful outlook in my life.

Below is a visioning collage I did five years ago (2004) and looking at it now, it is amazing how much my life, work, and many of the wishes, hopes, dreams I had for myself have developed.  This collage was very much rooted in: “Don’t sit down and wait for the opportunities to come, you have to get up and make them“.  The last five years I have been working hard, reaching out, taking risks, and taking action- on many different fronts and in ways I would have never imagined.  This image documents and acknowledges how much I have grown and the progress I have made.  What was driving me then, helped me to become the person I am now and where I am going in 2009. 

Visioning Collage / 5 Years Ago

It makes me wonder how my intentions for 2009 will impact the next five years… hmmm…