It's hard not to get sucked in.
Sucked into negativity. Facebook. House of Cards.
There are things that are contagious. They pull you further into a new space and you start to get lost, not know where it all began.
I could say that it's negative, but I'm not going to go there. Because I think one could really look at the positive aspects of getting sucked in.
I read Harold and the Purple Crayon, with my 4 year old last night, and it is such a joyful voyage of creativity... the boy gets lost as he creates a world with only his crayon. I get this. I've been there
And in my own practice, I've gotten sucked into the following:
Piece In Process, by Heidi Jeub, 2014
1. MY STUDIO
Of course this seems typical of the artist, but hard for me sometimes. The reality is that I work 3 types of jobs to make it all work, I'm going from one thing to another. But those rare moments, when I have a full weekend to just go to the studio early in the morning, and work throughout the day without having to go do this or that, are the best days ever. The music is one, the breeze is flowing, and all communications with the world is off (usually).
Turbines in Iowa, January 2014
2. THE ROAD
meaning... my head. I don't always have time to get lost in my head. Talking to myself. Stuff like that. But when I'm heading to a residency in greater Minnesota, school in Minneapolis, or my sisters' resort in Bemidji, that is my opportunity to get lost in my head. The only torturous thing about it, is that I can't document it. It's almost like a conversation between me, the landscape and the music I listen to. This winter, I was struggling with "too much too fast," needing time away. I purposely took a road trip to Missouri, where the drive through the frigid north, to a fairly "fall like" southern Missouri was a perfect way to clear the clutter. When asked why I went, I didn't have much of an answer (of course, I was seeing friends, but only to do homework when they were busy with work or family.) It was the drive that I needed more than anything. The idea to travel to see great things is not what I'm about at this time (I would expect that to get addicting!) I see great things. Even in Iowa.
Visual Journal, In Progress, 2014
3. RESEARCH
Okay, now I'm back in school, where I study subjects of my choosing, with a wealth of resources at the university that is amazing! Now I get why we pay so much for education! But I get lost in the research, realizing that I have so much to learn!
4. PEOPLE
I have fascinating people in my life. The conversations, the ideas, the sincerity, the laughter... are definitely worth getting lost in. Luckily, those in my life provide me with a positive outlook (most of the time) on the issues we face as artists, parents, and community.
Getting sucked into happiness isn't a bad thing, and I'm not saying I'm happy all the time. But I realized today, that when I saw my family laugh this weekend, or my son giggle at Harold and his crayon, I decided that if I'm going to get sucked in at all, I best be good stuff.