I enjoy listening to the conversations of others.

The planets give way to 1001 stars,

alive and breathing in the atmosphere.

We must hope,

hope we must.

Answers to Questions from The Research Club

What does it really take to teach art, creativity and critical thinking?

It is important to me that we step away from being afraid of defining ourselves as artists, because someone or something in our lives has discouraged us to do so. Let us not be afraid to own something that is within us, or to be a part of something great.

In my little experience of teaching art, I have learned that it is important to go to the place first, find what the people in the place need and want, and then facilitate that course according to the need. The need might be that kids make a picture for their friend, or build their self-esteem by making objects, the need might also be a survival course for backpacking in the wild, or building a chicken coop- the possibilities are endless, but it is up to the teacher to help direct it.

In regards to Public Social University, we’ve found that doing events on different themes has been successful. I believe that the reason is because there is a desire to learn in our community. What we try to do with Public Social University, to me, is much like composing a musical piece, which brings a person from one realm of thought and possibility to the next. I enjoy organizing Public Social University events to start with addressing the theme or issue, to explore the issue, and to leave people with the tools to do something about it, in a hopeful way.

In regards to creativity, I don’t believe that creativity can be taught, though I do believe that we can challenge ourselves, and that everyone has an innate ability to be creative in that which interests them.

On critical thinking: it is important to think about place, about ourselves, our heritage, our surroundings, our medium, what is happening right now, how we are feeling, why we are making an object or designing an interactive project. Deciding what and why might help us to make the object or event better. To me, giving meaning to a work is valuable.

Making things is a tool for communication, it is also a way to have fun. It is important for me at times to think of art nonsensically; there is no reason for it. Period.

Are university courses worth the investment made by students, and what effect do they have on the greater world of art?

I don’t believe that in general university courses on art are worth the investment made by students, but I do believe that learning can help students to grow, change, make new connections and discover new things about themselves that would most definitely benefit them as artists. Though university is a business, teachers really do care and want to expose us to the art that’s out in the world. If a person is available to soak in all of the information that is taught in art school, then they will benefit, but it is not a necessity. It is up to a person whether or not the time and money spent on going to art school is “worth it.”

Are there better ways to foster creative communities and advance the arts?

I don’t know.

The arts will advance whether or not there are students taking art classes, and many art communities will exist whether or not an art school exists. I am not even sure what “advancing the arts” means. I personally think that they are always evolving.

Perhaps if we were to “advance the arts” in Portland, we as individuals should explore human life experiences, world knowledge, and of course I believe that being involved in free education and a stronger community network can help. There is a lot of bureaucracy in the art world. I would love to see that lesson a little. I once decided that I wanted to lead my social practice class in making a really long hopscotch, my intention at first was to build the hopscotch right in front of the art museum. Someone from the group was interning at the museum, and expressed that he did not want to build the hopscotch there because it might upset someone. Making public, socially engaged art should challenge the higher-ups in the art world, art is what you make of it, we should not put boundaries on ourselves to create. I have been thinking a lot lately about how it’s ok if something that I do upsets someone, that is the nature of controversy, and that is what often works to get your point across.

To Live In Love

I recently met with a friend, artist Ashley Neese, for tea. She talked about her work as a social artist and mentioned that she believes in love and that all of her projects are centered on the idea of love. When Rozzell Medina and I first started to know each other he gave me a book titled Love, by Leo Buscalgia. The book explores what love is within its 150 pages. It talks about being vulnerable, practicing non-judgment and being wholly human, forgiving and imperfect.

It is true for me, that if we live in love and express ourselves not out of fear or judgment- we can meet with amazing people, we can do amazing things with our time.

As a community organizer, I attend a lot of meetings. I meet with a lot of truly giving; inspiring and insightful people who are creating change in Portland. I am nervous when I call people, and I psych myself out sometimes when I leave the house to meet with folks with whom I admire. I am also nervous and shy when I speak publicly.

It helps me to work through the anxiety by living life compassionately and openly to the future. Money can happen, jobs and opportunities will present themselves; everything will flow and happen if we allow it space, time and energy.

I am organizing an event with Public Social University called, HOUSING part 1: Approaching Space and Place. While organizing, I have been doing a lot of thought about vacant land and buildings. I noticed that while buildings remain dark and unused, there are displaced people sleeping in ally ways nearby. I noticed a similar occurrence with food. I went dumpster diving and found bags and bags of perfectly good food, while there are many who are hungry in the world.

Then, I consider to myself, "I wonder what the world would be like if we consciously lived through love."

What could we accomplish in our life times?

We Can Learn Anything

I told a friend that I wanted to make a video of people tying their shoes. My friend told me that it was a bad idea, and he laughed at me. To deal with the discouragement I was feeling, I bought a video camera and taped my friends as they put their shoes back together.

Why Did You Leave Us Scamp's?

About a year and a half ago, I found myself making frequent trips to the DMV Express in the Lloyd Mall. As it turns out that particular DMV has strange hours and I would leave feeling distraught that I had ventured so far into a mall without much of a reward. Thankfully, around the corner from the DMV was Scamp's, where you could take cute small puppies out of their pin and play with them. I developed a particular liking to an adorable golden retriever, whom I couldn't afford let alone possess.

Rozzell Medina and I went to Scamp's one early afternoon to see what animals wanted to run free and tug at ropes when we found that Scamp's had closed down. We noticed that around the entrance were photos of pets bought at Scamp's. We decided, then, to make a small shrine for the pets. Although you can't read it, we also left a note asking Scamp's why they had left us. Also unavailable in the video is the sound of a woman approaching Scamp's and yelling, "Noooooo...", we cut the camera off a little too soon for her voice to be heard.

Nevada Sky, Mid June

Watch and listen carefully, the climax happens at 1 minute and 50 seconds.