And when you've written everything you can, look at it all and pull from it keywords that really nail the feeling "being artist" has for you. This may include both positive and negative words, and that's okay. Think of this part of the exercise as one of balance, and acceptance.
Consider this - even though we may call these elements "negative" and "positive", think of them in the sense of taking pictures. When you snap the picture, you capture the "negative" of the image on the film - and then in the darkroom you use the negative to get the "positive" image on paper. You cannot get the positive image in that process, without having captured the negative. It's the ying and yang of life! Balance.
The Art of the Empty Box
Now, grab your art supplies, and the empty box, and leaving the inside of the box empty (the emptiness inside the box represents infinite possibilities), collage all the outer sides of the box with images that relate to the keywords you've drawn from the exercise, as well as feelings and experiences that cannot be described by words.
When you've completed your box, set it aside for a couple of hours or a day. Pick it back up and look at the images. Notice how you've combined them, overlapped them. Consider the colors and materials you've used, and the feeling they elicit. How do the materials feel when you touch them? Are they silky smooth? Rough and scratchy? Varied?
Write down key words and phrases that come to mind, then use those words to help you craft a Vision Statement. When you're ready, use this statement form to guide you:
"I am an artist who _____________________________________." Or
"I am an artist whose work _____________________________________."
Here are some examples of Vision Statements created by others in the GX course:
"I am an artist whose evocative work explores the beauty, joy and wonder of the world." ~Sherrie (digital artist)
"I am an artist whose spirited work connects people to freedom and healing." ~Marilyn (visual artists and arts showroom consultant)
"I am an artist using my voice, in singing, writing and poetry, to illuminate the tragicomic nature of life."~Bob (poet, performance artist)
Print out your statement and put it in a couple of hard-to-miss places to remind you of what you're up to as an artist. Maybe add it to your box, and put the box someplace in the open to remind you as well. (I have my statement as my screensaver on my laptop).
If you do this exercise, let me know how it turns out. And, of course, you are welcome to write to me with any questions you have about this exercise, the Guerilla Exhibitor course, or Working Artists in general.
