The Eye of the Hurricane
Coming from the tropical island of Puerto Rico talking about hurricanes is pretty common. Most recently with hurricanes reaching New York and New England in the past few years seems like a commonality here too. While we don’t get hurricanes during this season, Christmas time feels like a hurricane but not of wind and rain, but of people. Just sit back in the eye of the hurricane and observe. Look around you. Look at yourself. Are you falling in the same madness of the world during the holidays?
During this time people run around like crazy trying to fulfill the self-imposed demands of the season. People put too much emphasis in ‘getting stuff’ for the season and very little emphasis in enjoying the season. This time is for much more than buying stuff. Yes, giving is important. It feels great to give. Stressing and running over other people to get that ephemeral object, and falling in debt (less than ephemeral) to satisfy false expectations is of little sense and value.
If you are giving, give from the heart and within your means. Spend quality time with the people you care about. Call those who are far. Send a text message, a card, FaceTime with them. Let them know you are thinking about them.
It seems like everyone in the art world knows if you are successful or not in. Interestingly, there is no specific measure of success. Everyone measures success by comparing someone with someone else. Artists are trying to compare themselves with other artists to determine if they are successful or not. People who claim they can help you be successful are comparing one artist with another, or with some quantitative formula they invented for their own entertainment. There are so many books about how to succeed in the art world seems like we will never read a fraction of them. Measuring success in the art world sounds like people trying to figure out how much of a sinner they are by comparing with the sins of others.
I didn’t want to get involve in the ‘business’ side of art because I didn’t want to stop loving what I do. While I’m definitely prefer to be sculpting all day everyday, I realized that the business side of art is very important, because it allows me to continue creating. I love to network and meet new people, and I also love to teach. As my wife says, “If you were making art alone, you wouldn’t have the chance to meet so many people, you wouldn’t be making all these connections, and you wouldn’t be teaching”. I can do all the other things without neglecting my studio time.
“Muzungu! Muzungu!” It was the sound of many little voices coming out of the woods as our bus stumbled through the dirt road in the middle of a village in Rakai, Uganda. We just crossed the Equator line from Kampala to Rakai. We were expected for lunch as the village kids piled up to see the visitors. They call us “muzungu” which means “white person or from european decent”. I had a hard time trying to explain that my european decent is only a third or me. The other two-thirds are Taino indian and African. The kids in Kampala quickly changed my name to “Munakatemba” or “the funny guy with the jokes”. Someday I’ll post about my stand-up comedy days.
Rakai is a district in Central Uganda better known for the place where the first HIV/Aids case in Uganda was recorded. They know what tragedy is. A lot of kids here lost their parents due to HIV, malaria, and urban armies. They often lack the bare necessities of life. However, because of not having they don’t live the stress of having as we often do. They live that day. After chores they just play, take naps, and wait for food to be ready when there is anything to eat. If not they are looking in the woods for whatever they can find but even their hunger and desperation turns into playtime. They run around laughing, dancing, and singing. They are also very friendly and curious.
Upon our arrival we sat in a designated area while the kids sang songs and the ladies kneeled to introduce themselves and welcome us. At lunch time we went into the house as it is tradition while all the kids sat outside. As soon as I finished my food I went outside to sit with the kids. It was fun to see them trying to figure out how I make sounds blowing air into my hands. I saw a few of the older kids hiding in a corner trying to do the same. The little ones would just imitate the sounds. It was great. They were laughing for so long. After a few more stops it was time to leave and return to Kampala. I’ll share some of that sometime soon.
While most people know me as an artist, I am also an instructional designer. In my research I contend that in order to provide effective learning solutions it is necessary to perform a learners analysis beyond the knowledge pre-assessment alone. Yes, understanding what people know before entering a specific learning endeavor is very important, but most important is to know the aptitudes and attitudes towards the new experience.
Missing The Point
I enjoy watching archaeology shows specially those of ancient Egypt. Even more so when Dr. Zahi Hawass is in the show. He is a world-renowned Egyptian archaeologist . In one of the shows he is sitting in front of a recently discover tomb waiting for the workers to open it up. It is a very important moment. Next to him there is a young intern. She spent the time talking about her husband and how he was not happy with her being there. Dr. Hawass was getting very annoyed by her constant nagging. He explained that they were at the verge of a great archaeological moment. They were witnessing the opening of a tomb that was sealed for thousands of years. He advised her to enjoy the experience and ponder in the discovery. She just kept talking about her husband. She was missing the point even when she was right in front of it.
Once the tomb was opened they discovered a mummy inside. That just added more excitement to the discovery and Dr. Hawass was thrilled. As they uncovered the mummy with extreme care, the intern just kept nagging about her husband. By that point Dr. Hawass was so annoyed by the intern that he said, “I would be more than glad to mummify you just as this mummy if you don’t stop talking about your husband”. It was hilarious.
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