No one likes to feel uncomfortable, however what we don’t realize is that feeling changes if we sit in it and not sooth the discomfort. Ultimately the change is better than the uncomfortable feeling. Without acceptance we stagnate and stay the same.

Accepting who we are is one of the most frightening experience of our lives. Our understanding is what we think and what others perceive. Standing in the purpose meant for us is more difficult than dreaming up our own. We will only be that if we experience life, not change it to meet our ideas.

Fear often affects the character of human beings. We can choose to experience this as a ride with constant starts and stops or a continuous forward motion coaster. Fear halts us when we deny it exists or over emphasize it. Simple honesty with ourselves about what is true and false will sustain our momentum.

With this perspective, a simple review of past actions will show amazing human demonstrations of faith, or courage, in each life, providing fuel to continue the journey.

Retreat in is the only direction when all the familiar signs are suddenly blank. Inward quickly turns up as what’s inside begins to stink. Interconnection, brand humanization and the social media corporatization are transforming our world. Connected to one and other yet disconnected from ourselves.

Spending so much time online and pushing information out can desensitize us from feeling what’s inside.

Spending more time where no one else will see enables us to listen not only to what we have to say, but also to allow our instinctive, unedited ideas out to play. Engaging our higher senses, pausing, reflecting, writing, reacting and sharing is a powerful process and places us all in a great human place.

For Grandma Lee

Egon Schiele

Keep moving forward. Easy enough to say and think but the action verb in this sentence is an impossibility to some under certain circumstances. Life happens while we are busy or not; true. Busy work does not equal living life. Doing does not equal you. Who you are is no what you do. Once we understand that we are amazing just because we continue to be, then we can move forward. The action no longer is impossible, it is the only possibility.

Plan something and show up no matter the outcome already formed in your mind. Shaking preconceived ideas about what is “right” can free us to discover more truth. Show up, keep an open mind, and don’t stop.

I was happy I showed up to interview Julia Schwatz in her studio this week. I was inspired by her process and turned on to Egon Schiele because of my visit.

He is correct, it is amazing. The 15M+ views confirms our point of view. I then say to them, “it’s a State Farm commercial;” they both retort “no it’s not!”

My heart is instantly warmed and a huge smile draws across my face like a Cheshire cat because I know that this is “supreme viral marketing.” Artist being paid for doing what they love and brands reaping the benefit. This article explain the arrangement.

Here’s how this viral marketing story plays out in my household. My husband and I are already State Farm customers, but we feel much “cooler” now that our 11-year-old son has shown us what State Farm is doing for the arts. We explained to our son that we are a part of this company that is doing this cool stuff. He now has a affinity for a company in an industry he never even noticed before, now when he starts to drive in four years, what insurance company do you think will come to mind for him? Our State Farm agent is a friend of ours, so we mentioned this experience with the video to him. He instantly looked proud, even motivated, and good about the company he owns and operates. How will that experience affect the way he goes out and does business? Is he going to use his experience with us to inspire his sales team?

It not only works for State Farm, but also to build awareness for the artist. I’d never heard of OK Go. We watched other videos with my son that night. My personal favorite is “WTF!” I ordered the CD that night.

The imagery in it literally makes one say WTF and the music is methodical. So imagine my astonishment when I visited a San Diego Art Insitute the following weekend and found this piece of art that completely mimicked the imagery and reinforced my experience with the two brands.

David Silverman

Art imitating art, supporting life. My life support. Paying attention in this way is a natural high for me; exciting and fun. I’m not disillusioned to believe that the average consumer thinks in this way and makes these kinds of connections. I am completely aware that my mind is wired at high frequencies. However, consumers behave in the same way whether they are aware of it or not and that is why viral marketing works!

Courtney Reid

In the beginning it’s picture perfect, great on paper, match made in heaven, dare say “soul mates.” Years stretch into decades, experience spans patience and the only souls that have worn are on the bottom of shoes. There are no perfect couples, only relationships; complex and evolving and as alive as each person within them.

A relationship can not define us anymore than any other aspect of what we believe is true about our lives. We can only be guided by something greater than ourselves.

We are born into relationships but adopt many more significant to our lives. What we come to realize is that these matches are made for express purposes and we must set our expectations accordingly. We can not expect one match to be a maid to our every need in life, after all that is why we have many kinds of relationships.

People are human, at different stages of consciousness. No two can possibly sync up all the time. The one relationship that must be in line is the one with our self and our higher power; all others will follow suit.

Courtney Reid is one of my favorite artist who “grew up watching paint get pushed around,” she’s represented by Airom Bleicher. The name of this piece is “7.” For me, it symbolizes a couple on two different levels of consciousness but very closely bound together. I’ve decided the woman on the right is in an inventive, contemplative, spiritual and enigmatic state; as the numbered title suggests. The man is looking to her for guidance. The third and palpable character in the image is their muted relationship.

Special thanks to @2morrowknight aka Sean Gardner for featuring me as a guest post on his blog, you rock my friend!

Innocently enough we gently tugging at the surface brush, until the realization washes over us that we are deep within our subconscious yanking at the vine attached roots. We are suddenly on what seems a mining expedition, an excavation project that burrows years, even decades.

Trolley

We visit versions and subversion of ourselves, some scared, others hiding, most of them long forgotten. We remember they are still parts of us and need tending. Just because they are grown over doesn’t mean they’ve grown up with us.

After we clear and tend the soil of our history we can replant a simple and useful garden that is free to grow and flourish or wither and die; all we need is to pay close attention.

I picked up this piece of art at the Los Angeles « Renegade Craft Fair sponsored by Etsy. Trolley draws her inspiration from vintage fashion and pop artist Andy Warhol. The image of Bianca Jagger immediately drew me in and is symbolic because she is well known for her days at Studio 54 however, she is now a social and human rights advocate involved in causes all over the world. An amazing woman who has not let her history dictate her present.

The Renegde Craft Fair is on its way to San Franscico, I highly recommend!

After taking in the complete sensory experience, one could almost close your eyes and be serenaded by the rest of the musical line up of the evening which included The Year Zero and Familiar Trees.

Stephen Anderson

March keeps her curating close to home, including her partner’s work, Stephen Anderson and others who show with her at the Museum of Neon Art. The work together on the wall exists and mingle like a community.

David Brakow

Perhaps my most adored piece in the show was the vibrating man sculpture made of many miniatures childhood toys. I engaged a conversation about whether this was “creepy” or not and for me, it was comforting because the toys brought back fond memories of goody bags from birthday parties long gone. Of course, it depends which decade you call your childhood.

March’s beloved Cabinet piece was a part of this show with an added neon element which complemented the theme, however, I dare say, the Suitcase stole this one. Kyle Chew’s understated blue Suitcase sat unassuming on the floor, until it began to move and literally interact with the audience around it.

March succeeds in engaging her audience and leaving us sated.

“TURNED ON” – A Survey Of Kinetic & Light Based Art will be on display from now until July 23, 2010 @ Bleicher/Golightly.

Kyle Chew

Kathryn Keys - Daddy's Girl

There’s a time when working through childhood issues and living our lives seems mutually exclusive; that time is called adolescence. It’s in our adult life that we realize we can no longer run from the children within us because it’s precisely these little people that are holding us back from the dream of what we want to be when we “grow up.”

When we wake up from the illusion that we can no longer live in the fantasy that we are pretending is our life, and begin to accept our reality, life gets a little easier, less intense and we can begin to breath again.

Come work out some of your childhood issues with me and Kathryn Keys at the UNURBAN now through August 8, 2010. The closing reception promises to be a blast so we hope you will join us August 7th, 6 – 9PM.

Sit and think, it shall be done.