Sunday, December 25, 2005

ATC at MOMA

I took a trip to San Francisco this Christmas weekend and left one of my atc's with a Blessing Conspiracy label in the bathroom of the Museum of Modern Art women's bathroom. Just seemed so appropriate.

Sunday, December 18, 2005

New Place

In a tree branch at eye level.

Saturday, December 10, 2005

You Are Here

In the words of Woodrow Wilson, “You are here to enable the world to live more amply, with greater vision, and with a finer spirit of hope and achievement. You are here to enrich the world.”

Friday, December 09, 2005

New Place

Inside a shopping cart.

Thursday, December 08, 2005

A Gratitude Project

Check out this gratitude project...http://www.expressgratitude.com/. Very cool.

First Places & Second and Third Obstacles

First places: on a parking meter, on a shop stoop, on a trash can cover.

Second obstacle...being sick and stuck at home the last three days.

Third obstacle...making sure people don't see me. I don't want to draw attention to myself.

I got nervous, too. Insecurities popping up all over, but I fought them off!

Monday, December 05, 2005

The First Obstacle

I've already hit my first stumbling block...I forget I have my little packages in my purse for distribution. I need to find a way to remember until I make it a habit. They say it takes 21 days to establish a habit. Hopefully we'll see 21 postings of accomplished gifting from here on out. I am going to a holiday performance a couple of towns over in a few minutes. Hmmm...guess it is a rather appropriate venue for beginning this project.

Gratitude

I believe gratitude is integral to a joyful life. I imagine the Conspiracy of Blessings will include many words and actions of gratitude. Maybe I will leave a little package for my post man over the holidays. Or send one to an important member(s) of my community.

I feel this is an appropriate way to welcome gratitude into the conspiracy:

'Gifts of Life' by Majorie Montgomery.

I am glad I came into this world able to think and reason.

I am glad I came into this world able to feel sorrow and joy.

I am glad I came into this world able to respond to love and truth.

I am glad I came into this world able to feel and care for others.

I am glad I came into this world able to know my uniqueness.

I am glad I came into this world able to move toward completion.

Sunday, December 04, 2005

An Assignment

Your Assignment by Clarissa Pinkola Estes

I assign you to be a beautiful, good, kind, awakened, soulful person, a true work of art as we say, ser humano, a true human being. In a world filled with so much darkness, such a soul shines like gold; can be seen from a far distance; is dramatically different.

Want to help? Show your deepest most divine self to the world. There is nothing more rare, more strange, more needed. Why would you wait? Not worthy? Oh piffle. Not ready? Okay, so when? Next lifetime? Don't be silly with me about this. Inferiority complex?

...Anything you do from the soulful self will help lighten the burdens of the world. Anything. You have no idea what the smallest word, the tiniest generosity can cause to be set in motion.

Be outrageous in forgiving. Be dramatic in reconciling. Mistakes? Back up and make them as right as you can, then move on. Be off the charts in kindness. In whatever you are called to, strive to be devoted to it in all aspects large and small. Fall short? Try again. Mastery is made in increments, not in leaps. Be brave, be fierce, be visionary. Mend the parts of the world that are "within your reach." To strive to live this way is the most dramatic gift you can ever give to the world. Consider yourselves assigned.

First Gift: Beaded Snowflakes

These are examples of the beaded snowflakes that are my first gift, distributed over the next week. They fall perfectly into the nature of the season without any religious/spiritual/cultural implications.

I don't think it's a coincidence that I am beginning this project during the holiday season. I've always loved how my generosity is not questioned at this time of the year and I can spoil people rotten without any awkwardness.

I'm considering a variety of options for posting on this project. I'm sure I'll share the myriad of feelings and thoughts that arise as I progress. I might share the locations. I'm already considering what good locations would be since I want to be sure I'm not witnessed leaving the gift; I want to be sure I don't leave them outside where the elements can harm them; and I'm wondering if store shelves are a possibility. Would stores have a problem with me leaving a gift on their shelf? Would any business?

It's amazing how many questions are now coming to me as I consider the implications of this project on the community at large. What if someone doesn't like the gift? I would hope they would pass it on to someone who would. What if someone throws a gift away? At least I'll never know!

I'm also curious to know people's reactions when they find the gifts. Are they afraid to check it out? Do they think someone is playing a joke on them? Are their initial reactions cynical or optimistic? Is it a happy surprise? Did it brighten a difficult day? Do they think I'm a weirdo or are they intrigued?

Last night, bringing this project into manifestation through this blog was an impulse. Now that I have had time to ponder it, I'm recognizing the enormous opportunities here, especially for my own growth. I suffer from extreme insecurity when it comes to my intuitive pushes to create and/or share myself. I have all sorts of creative ideas all the time but rarely follow through because I think I'll fail, or people will think I'm lame, or whatever. I hold myself back in extreme ways. This project is challenging me to make myself vulnerable to the world at large, which is both frightening and exciting. I could fall on my face here, or this could become another community built brick by creative brick in this little corner of cyberspace.

I know this for sure, I feel good about following through this time. I'm nervous as all heck, but I am also very happy.

Thank you for listening!

Saturday, December 03, 2005

Did you find one?

I'm anxious to start this project today while my kids and I are about town, before I have a chance to get some pictures up of the first gifts going out. So if you find something this weekend and would like to let me know, comment to this post or email blessingconspiracy@hotmail.com.

Why and My Thoughts About Art

Because humanity needs a new mythology of generosity to counteract our current glorification of greed. Because humanity needs to remember its creativity to counteract its commidification.

I am certain many of you will wonder why I would choose to make and distribute my art in this particular way. Some of you may question if many of my projects are "art" at all, at least in the consumerized concept of art our culture has today.

I believe my life is a work of art. Every moment that I choose to authentically express myself I am living art. Whether I create a simple beaded snowflake ornament or sculpt a completely original piece out of clay, I am expressing my authentic self at that moment. I believe we are all creative beings, but most of us don't know it or have been talked out of it. One of my hopes with this project is to inspire others to living their lives as a work of art...or at least question if they need to make room for more creativity in their lives.

I consider myself an artist, but I don't seek to make a living from my art. I also have no interest in attempting to become a part of the "art world." At least not now. I make things because it feels good to do so, no matter how simple or complex the project. Sometimes I have something significant to say with my work, but more often I just want to play and make pretty things (pretty to me anyway). I don't want to worry about selling my work, marketing, and all the associated issues. Right now, I have precious little free time, I want to spend it doing what I love.

I am obsessed with creating. Nothing gives me greater joy outside of my relationships with the amazing people I am blessed to have in my life...my two children, my husband, and my beautiful community of friends....except maybe the few opportunities I have to create *with* them. Right now, I have a pile of completed art and craft projects that have no homes. I create more than my home can hold, and more than my friends' homes can hold. I already overwhelm the people I care for with my creative gifts. I need some place for all these beautiful little pieces of me to go, so I am choosing to send them out into the world at large to find their homes by drawing the attention of someone in particular through the synchronicity of the time and place they are gifted.

I believe strongly in sychronicity and the sacred undercurrents of life. I am trusting that each piece of my art will be found by the person in my community who needs it most at that moment.

PS -- April 22, 2006

The nature of the project has changed. I haven't been gifting randomly around my community nearly as much as I've been sending out blessing packages to people who email me and request them for themselves or loved ones. It's been fabulous having an idea of where my gifts are going and knowing that they are touching the lives of people who need a little hope, beauty, and/or inspiration in their hearts.

Introduction to A Conspiracy of Blessings

A Conspiracy of Blessings is a public art project inspired by Rob Brezny's book Pronoia: How the Whole World is Conspiring to Shower You with Blessings. If you don't know who Rob Brezny is, please take a few minutes to check out his site and the 10% of the book he makes available there. He is one of the most creative and uplifting voices in America right now.

This project is based on the concept of gifting my community with random acts of kindness and creativity. My personal bliss is based in creativity and generosity. If I ever become financially abundant in such a way that I could do what I want with my time, I would spend my life making beautiful things and giving them away. For now, I will use what little abundance I have left from my day job after meeting my family's needs to fund the project.

The project will begin this week--maybe today--as I leave small wrapped packages with beaded snowflake ornaments in random places in Eureka, California (restaurant tables, newspaper boxes, public bathrooms, etc.). These packages will include a label with a link to this blog so that the recipient can come here and learn about this project, as well as leave a comment about their gift if they so choose. I may post images of some of the art I distribute, that seems the best way to make a place for recipient comments. I will also distribute small collections of my art pieces to local community agencies like the women's shelter or rescue mission. I believe EVERYONE needs a little beauty and generosity in their lives.

I have no investment in what becomes of my art once it leaves my hands, although I hope it it at least makes people feel good in some way. My desire is to send an energy of peace and kindness into my community. Whatever happens to each piece of art, I know in my heart the energy of my act is leaving a ripple effect of love in my community.

I also hope to inspire other conspirators around the country, who will either deliver my art or their own to their communities.