Catch it by the tail

Hello 2012. This year I started a masters program. I'm still not sure if that means if I am mastering something or if I am getting mastered! The program is an MA in Arts Management. I am taking 12 graduate credits and, while time consuming, every single class is stimulating and fascinating.

As I yearn for time to create I thought maybe my work for class, my reading, writing, and discussions, could fill this desire. Well, that sure didn't work. Ideas rush through looking for the old enthusiasm and action but find a stale academic instead. While a break from making is hard, I know that the things I am learning will only spur on even better creating later on.

In the mean time I am meeting wonderful artists and art-instigators. These inspirations are pushing me to work harder and dig deeper into this subject of what it means to be an Arts Manager and how to do it well.

The following TED talk is from Elizabeth Gilbert who wrote Eat, Pray, Love. While I didn't enjoy that book in particular, Gilbert, an artist of words and story, does an incredible job of describing the creative process and giving a better view of the artist. (Thanks to WB for alerting me to this video!)

If you are an artist, this will show you some balance...something we all need. If you are not an artist, this talk can help you understand the arts without feeling ignorant of the technicals. Enjoy!