Authentic Leadership & The Trueness of the Now :: Launch Your Creativity October 2011

Authentic Leadership & The Trueness of the Now
by Jenny Doh

OUR BEST SELVES
I want to congratulate all of us for being here, because it took a lot more effort than many people from the outside would ever realize for all of us to get into this room. It’s just a few hours that we are going to spend with one another, but in order for those few hours to be meaningful, in order for each of us to make our best impressions on one another, in order for us to make contacts that will blossom into relationships, there has been a lot of prep work to ready our best selves for this Launch Your Creativity event. And more than anyone else, Sharon Hughes has worked countless hours to tend to every detail, every aspect of this event to make it special, to make it ring true to her vision, and to make sure that each of us walk away feeling connected and valued. And so for that, I’d like to ask you to join me in giving a round of applause for Sharon Hughes.

WHAT PRECEDES SUCCESS
If you’re like me, after today is over, you’ll be back at home, tending to you kids and making sure that they are on track as they finish their homework and prepare for the exams that are ahead of them in the coming week. I’m thankful that even as 16 and 13 year olds, my kids are learning that in order to do well on a test, in order to get the most out of a teacher’s lesson, the student needs to enter the classroom well prepared. They are learning that no matter how naturally brilliant they may be, studying, preparing, and practicing are what precede success in the classroom.

Within the world of creativity that we all are a part of, we play assorted roles, according to the changing seasons of life that we find ourselves in. Whether we are a student, teacher, speaker, an event coordinator, an editor, an artist, a businesswoman … and as we juggle other private roles of mom, grandma, wife, sister, daughter, girlfriend … we have many obligations to manage so that when we are entering any given room, we are doing so, well prepared, and presenting our best selves.

SEARCH ENGINE OPTIMIZATION
Earlier this year I was at an art event and there was a person who came up to me and asked me what advice I could give her in terms of the best search engine optimization words for effective blogging (SEO words for short). When I told her that I didn’t know of any SEO words, she was in disbelief. She wanted to know how I could be leading a blog when I don’t embed my posts with any SEO words.

She’s a person, like many within our creative world, who wants to find ways for people to discover her blog, who wants to be a leader, and who wants to get noticed. And I don’t mean to trivialize her or her intent because I think it’s an intent we all share because who amongst us doesn’t want to get noticed and discovered? Who amongst us doesn’t want high traffic on our blogs? Who amongst us doesn’t want to have influence, to lead, and also to have our product or our services translate into sales, and for our work to be revered for the depth and quality that we know we are made of? All of us want that. 

ORGANIC BLOGGING
As some of you may already know, SEO words are words that are considered hot topic words that people within the field that you are trying to engage with, would potentially plug into a google search when they are searching for something. For example, if you are wanting to get noticed in the mixed media community, words like art journals, assemblage, altered art are the kind that SEO types would argue should be regularly used in blog posts so your posts come up in people’s searches. So given that the mixed media community is one that I consider to be part of my tribe, the fact that I would do a post about my bento box filled with crunchy and salted seaweed and perfectly steamed rice would cause some SEO experts to feel that I am not making the most out of my posts, and squandering my online opportunities.

But I disagree. I think blogs become special when posts are made with complete sincerity that is born out of the Trueness of the NOW, and without putting on any airs. It’s an organic, humble, authentic approach to sharing who you are, and it’s the only approach that I know and believe in.

THE VOTE
I want to tell you another story. Not too long ago, I was one of the recipients of an email that my friend sent out to all the friends on her email list asking everyone to click onto a link where we could vote for her husband’s software design as the best, amongst others that the design was competing with, at his place of work. Such an awkward situation, right? I mean, I wanted to support my friend and therefore by default, her husband, but I really was not qualified nor interested in software design and by casting a vote, it was like I would be part of this fake influence that would become factored into a company’s decision-making process as they invested in which software products to launch.

A variation of this phenomenon that hits close to home for many of us is when we are invited to either “like” a Facebook page or “follow” a Twitter account or “subscribe” to a Blog feed. Again, I think these invitations are made with harmless intent, but chances are that if I “like” a page or “follow” an account out of obligation versus true interest, true free will, I will never visit that site, and of course I won’t be genuinely engaged.

This does not mean that we ought not create Facebook pages, Twitter accounts, or other of the myriad channels available to market our work in the online world. Because in this day and age, these are highly effective tools that cannot be ignored if we are wanting to grow an audience.

It’s just that gaining followers or likers by rallying my husband’s co-workers or distant relatives or getting hits through SEO words that are not true to the Authenticity of the NOW can provide us with a false sense of success and distort the true reach and true influence that our efforts have. Are we really leading or influencing anyone when the ones who follow us or like us or subscribe to us never tune into what we do?

TRUE SELF
So let’s go back to the concept of preparing and practicing and readying our best selves. When you think about it, the concept of readying our best selves assumes that we know what’s at the core of our best selves, right? Knowing what’s at the core so that we can take that basic core and make it become the best.

In other words, who are you at the core?  What is it that you want to contribute? What is it you want to commit to doing?

This fundamental question might tempt us to prematurely jump to other questions like: Do you want to open a restaurant? Do you want to open a store? Do you want to run a blog and sell advertising? Do you want to write a book? Do you want to license you art?

WHAT DO YOU WANT TO DO?
But I think it’s even more basic and more specific than that ... like: Do you want to cook French cuisine? For how many people? Do you want to bake cupcakes? Do you want to design aprons? Do you want to make dolls? Do you want to create paintings? What is it that you want to do?

And after answering the more basic and specific question, the next question is why? Why do you want to make paintings? Is it because you saw your girlfriend sell a painting on etsy and you are envious of that? Or is it because you’ve had a longstanding passion for painting and you want to put your whole heart into it? Do you want to cook French cuisine because every time you prepare the French recipes for your dinner parties, your friends rave about how good it is? Or is it because you just rented Julie and Julia and you hope that by becoming a French chef, you can be rescued from your current job that you dread?

INTENT
I think it’s important to answer specific questions to get to the root of what it is we want to do, and to understand the intent of why we want to do it. And let me tell you something you probably already know, which is that when the intent is misguided, the outcome will be troubled.

COMMITMENT=10,000 Hours +
And finally, once we understand what we want to do and find the good intent that backs up why we want to do it, we come to the point making a commitment. Are you willing to commit to what you want?

In this fast-paced world where gratification is instant and notes are considered long when it goes beyond 140 characters, it’s tempting to think that our dreams are only one text away from becoming fully realized.

But the truth of the matter is, it isn’t. Meet anyone who has achieved any type of success that you admire and they will tell you that it took a lot of work.

Many of you may have read Malcom Gladwell’s book titled The Outliers, where he presents findings that point to what he calls the 10,000 hours rule. Basically, as he examined and researched the highly successful in our world, he found that preceding the success was approximately 10,000 hours of quality, committed work. 10,000 hours. If we calculate that into a typical work week, that’s about 5 years. Not 5 hours. Not 5 days. Not 5 weeks or even 5 months. Five years of committed, focused, determined work to the specific art or the business or the craft or the study that we decide will be ours.

FOLLOW THE LEADER
When my kids were little, games and activities they enjoyed playing included Follow the Leader, Red Light Green Light, Mother May I, and Show and Tell. They are games that you and I also grew up with and will undoubtedly be played by future generations because they tap into our innate desire and thirst to lead, to have influence, and to have an audience.

Once we commit to what we want, I think there will eventually be room to fine-tune our reach through search engine optimization and a whole host of other marketing strategies. But before we fine-tune, we need to genuinely develop the core of who we are, the core of our intent, and the foundation of what we are offering as our product or service through long-term commitment.

There is nothing as fierce as encountering a person who has committed to work with relentlessness on their chosen craft. Because once this is done, whether you seek it or not, your reach, your influence, and your leadership will be authentic and sincere and so True to the NOW, and therefore profound and lasting.

Thank you very much for this opportunity to speak with you.

Per the invitation of Sharon Hughes, I had the honor of presenting this talk at the Launch Your Creativity event on October 1, 2011. Stay tuned to learn more about future events by Launch Your Creativity. Many thanks to all of the attendees, all of the other speakers, and everyone at Paris in a Cup Tea Salon & Cafe (119 S. Glassell St., Orange, CA 92866) for an inspiring event.

Frida & The Street

Frida & The Street
Inspired • Charlotte, North Carolina • May 14, 2011
by Jenny Doh

INTRIGUE OF LEARNING SOMETHING NEW
I am so honored to be here today to spend time with you, and with Donna, and all of the incredible art instructors. Donna and Bill: On behalf of every single person in this room tonight and every single person who has been in this room for the past four years, thank you very much for working so hard all year long to create this for us. It is no easy feat to coordinate events such as this with so many moving parts with poise, and class as you have done for us. Thank you.

I think gatherings of this nature are so interesting and so special because what draws us to these sorts of gatherings is multi-faceted. One of the primary facets is the intrigue of learning something new. We are here in large part because we want to learn the signature techniques offered by Tracie, Lolly, Suzi, Patricia, Becky, and Alisa. We want to learn the about the details, the tips, the tricks and the mechanics of how Suzie draws a face, how Alisa creates surface designs on canvas, how Tracie to upcycles what people may consider to be "trash" into incredible totes, how Patricia masterfully manipulates encaustic wax, how Lolly beautifully juxtaposes jute and felt, and how Becky works with assorted components to create one-of-a-kind jewelry.

INTRIGUE OF ORIGINS
But another reason we are here is that we are interested in the origins of how it all happened for these teachers. How did they come to start making art? Indeed, we are interested in their unique points of view, and how each of these artists are not only people who engage with the act of creating art, but that they are also actively engaged with their muses, their experiences, all the things in life that give them the inspiration to give birth to the creative ideas that each of them have.

We are interested in their art because we are interested in them. We are interested in their stories.

STORIES
As many of you know, part of what I do every single day is to facilitate the telling of people’s stories, as CRESCENDOh seeks to find and tell stories about the positive effects that art and the creative process play in our lives. I am a firm believer that when things feel dark and hopeless, we can find our way back into the light by going to the sewing machine, by picking up our paintbrushes, by picking up our knitting needles, by reaching for our art journals, and fusing pieces of plastic bags together.

This past year, we have helped more than 300 people tell their stories … some that document immense pain. Like this one told by Readers Share contributor, Debbie, who describes a childhood filled with the kind of abuse that no child should suffer, segueing into a young adult life of drugs and alcohol. She says:

I managed to graduate and get married to the man I have been married to for 39 years. I had to overcome drugs and alcohol. While raising three kids I always had art in my life. I took ceramics, toll painting, college art classes and I was always crafting and decorating. Then I discovered quilting and took lesson after lesson and discovered art quilts. [she also opened a little quilt store]. I got to meet so many talented people and learned so much. I got to hear what a great shop I had and even compliments on my quilts. It changed my life. I became confident and I had a great shop. I was a great organizer and marketer. I could pick color and decorate my shop and I took good care of my customers who knew I had so many talents.

She continues …

“The last two years have been a struggle for me. I am not sure where to go from here. I have taught some classes but it seems now I want to be more challenged. What is great is that the anger is gone. I can see color and beauty. I know now how important it is to rest and take care of myself. I do better work and more colorful work. Art is my safe place.

YOU ARE UNIQUE
One of the reasons I think telling stories is so important (even when they involve pain and failure) is that it is the first step in realizing one of life’s most important lessons, which is that … You. Are. Unique. You are unique because your story is unique. Your failures are unique. The pain you’ve gone through is unique. The way you’ve gotten back up from failure is unique. There is nobody else who has your exact story. Just like your thumbprint. Nobody else has it.

One of the things that I’ve re-learned this past year as we’ve archived so many amazing stories is that we love hearing stories. Every single week as new stories get loaded up, readers multiply, as more and more people hear about stories that are being told and they come to listen.

YOU ARE NOT ALONE
And why do we listen? Why do we love stories? I think it’s because as unique as our stories may be, by telling them, we realize that there are common threads that unite us. And we learn the second very important life lesson which is that: You are not alone. You and me … we all know pain. We all know joy. We all know injustice. We all know failure. We all know disease. We all know love. We all know. And we are all in it together.

FRIDA KAHLO
Let me switch gears to talk a bit about Frida Kahlo.

When art critics examine the work of Frida Kahlo, there are some who argue that her works don’t reflect the type of technical skills that would ever classify her as a master artist … that though her paintings reflect a degree of true skill, that that skill, when compared to masters like DeVinci, and Michaelangelo, fall short.

But the interesting thing about art is that the value that it can garner is not solely reliant on the techniques alone. The value that it garners is how the story that it tells compels us and moves us. That is the magic of art … where techniques are coupled with stories, to create true and lasting value. Because when I look at her works, I feel her pain because I’ve learned of her story and I weep for the pain that she experienced … as a young woman whose plans to become a medical doctor became usurped when she was involved with a tragic bus accident, and she suffered constant physical pain as a resulte of that accident, and who suffered emotional pain through the tangled relationship with her beloved Diego Rivera. Her stories that get told through her works is largely why her art will have lasting value.

SAN FRANCISCO
Let’s talk about San Francisco. I love going to San Francisco. A few years ago, I found myself on the streets of San Francisco, enjoying the weather, and people-watching. During this walk, I came upon a man who had a small table filled with his spoon art jewelry. Beautiful works. Not completely new … spoon art jewelry has been around for a while now … but his pieces were very well executed.

We connected. We talked. And I learned a little bit about his life on the streets. How he hustles to find spoons and how he stays up late sawing and bending, and how he explained that the hardest part, after carefully pouring the resin is having the patience to let it dry. And also how he finds a lot of elements for his work by looking through other people’s discards. Other people’s trash. He definitely had a street look to him. Kinda grungy. Very smart. And very funny. And in those few moments, I got to know him and I got to hear his part of his interesting story.

And that’s why the pendant I bought from him has lasting value for me. Technically, there are probably many better spoon pendants out there. But to me, it’s not just a spoon with a picture of Frida and resin poured into it. It’s a piece that I can imagine was created by his tired hands, after a long day of looking through bins of discards, after working the street life, smoking his cigarettes, and making it happen, and tap tap tapping his fingers with impatience while waiting for the pesky resin to dry.

I own the jewelry, and with it, I root for him. I cheer him on.

And look at what that little piece of art is allowing us to do here today as I tell you the story … as the connections and the reality of how we are all in this together, becomes resoundingly clear.

And that’s the other reason it’s important to tell stories. Telling our stories, sharing with each other, explaining how I made something or how you made something … it brings us together. Whether you live on the streets, or in a high rise, or on a farm, or a gated community, or in a trailer … hear me on this … we are not alone.

PARENTING
If you are a parent, you know the angst of raising kids. You want them to get the right education. You want them to be schooled properly in the fundamentals of writing, math, science. That’s a large part of parenting. But as you know the other part of parenting is to be there for them when they to through hardships … the pain that we all know so well, as we hug them and say to them “I know. It’ll be OK.” And if you’re like me, you pray that they will find a way to not just be able to learn by rote and live by rote, but to use their life experiences … including the painful parts, so that they can learn to couple that with the technical skills that they have gained, and to put out passionately into the world, their unique thumbprint.

INSPIRED
We’ve been here together for several days … and yes, we have learned new techniques … but look around, there’s something else that has happened … an intersection where the technique being taught has interfaced with our own unique points of view, and unique thumbprints. At the end of all the classes we’ve taken, the work we have made reflects each one of our unique thumbprints … And the thing is … my thumbprint is different than yours, and is different than yours, and is different than yours. That’s because we each have unique preferences for how we make the stroke, how we stitch the line, how we shade in the eyes. Our preferences cause the final end product to contain the techniques that we practice and learn together, but result in a uniqueness that reflects each of our thumbprints.

And collectively, if we can imagine all of what we have made this week lined up side by side, these objects would testify to the truth that we all know … which is that we are each unique, and together that we are not alone.

Thank you very much.

I was honored to deliver this keynote speech tonight at Donna Downey's Inspired event. What a night. Thank you, Donna. Thank you, Bill. Onward we go. 

Silver Bella 2010 :: Closing Remarks

MOVING PARTS: Event planning, as Teresa knows so well by now, is something that has many, many moving parts that need to be managed with meticulous detail. And if planning this event were the only thing going on in Teresa's life, that would be one thing. But of course that is rarely ever the case when any of us tackle organizing an event, big or small. In the midst of planning this, the 5th Annual Silver Bella, Teresa has also continued keeping her home, being there for her husband, being there for her friends, and being there for her children.

COMMON SCENES: And for all of us to get here, to Omaha, we all had to manage so much, right? We had to finish all of our work, send off those last few emails, instruct our beloveds about casseroles in the freezer, schedule future blog posts, remind our kids about their games, their practices, their homework, and remind them of where the spray bottle is, in case they need to use it for those unexpected accidents that our furry critters will undoubtedly continue to make during our absence. These are some of the life scenes that are common to so many of us. 

MORE THAN PARTS: But we did it. We managed to find a way to manage by proxy, all of the demands of everyday, at least for a few days, so that we can join Teresa here, at Silver Bella. And as lovely as all the moving parts have become executed by Teresa and her team, of course the reason we are here is about much mroe than those individual parts. We're not here just for the centerpieces or just for the workshops, or just for the goody bags, or just for the meals and treats. Because as important as those individual parts are in the scheme of events, they remain hollow if they cannot be experienced in a special and meaningful way.

Over the past several days, I've observed and participated in the scenes that we've all been in ... scenes where instructors dispense patience and listening ears as students have needed extra help with a technique. Scenes of camaraderie and good will as students have loaned each other supplies and materials, and helped one another with the projects being taught. Scenes of "you go girl" as we've brought to show off our most prized creations at Bella Market. Scenes of hugs given as we reach out for support about some of the not-so-shiny happenings in our lives.

The individual scenes of Silver Bella become special because all of us together, as we bring our sincere hearts and good intentions to the table and to our roommates and to our classmates, we transcend being more than just individuals on islands. We become integrated, we become friends, we become a creative community.

WE ARE NOT ALONE: It never ceases to amaze me that in this fast-paced world, there are many people who look forever puzzled when I emphasize the word "community." These individuals scratch their heads and ask me, "What's the big deal about community? What's so important about that?"

The answer of course is that when we are in a community, we know that ultimately, we are not alone. It's within a community that we learn that regardless of our shiny personas, regardless of our seemingly perfect lives and perfect blogs, and our mountain of Facebook friends and mountain of Twitter followers, that none of use are immune from some painful scenes that befall all of our lives ... sometimes when we least expect it. Some of us are living through those scenes at this very minute, wishing that there would somehow be a way to push a FAST FORWARD button so the scenes would finally end ... scenes that involve depression, unemployment, divorce, empty nests, accidents, illness ... I can't help but think of scenes that have recently been described by some of our Guest Curators on our CRESCENDOh site. Please allow me to share some excerpts with you now.

First from Lisa Loria ... she says:

“At 28, I was lost, staring at the face of a woman in the mirror who I no longer knew. Who was I? I wasn’t ‘Lisa the woman’ or ‘Lisa the artist’ or ‘Lisa anything.’ My marriage was a wreck, my husband emotionally, verbally, and occasionally physically abused me … what had happened to me? Where was the girl who wanted to travel the world? She was beaten down, afraid, and felt as if she had no value. My counselor encouraged me to write and start creating again. So I carved a little niche for myself in the garage. Here I would sneak away in the evening after the children were asleep to just be alone with my music, my thoughts, and to create. Eventually, art gave me the freedom to leave an unhappy life. Art is not just how I make my living, it is how I have made my life.”

Next we hear from Pam Warden who explains that her husband is dying form chronic rejection of a transplanted lung. Their daughter and son have recently been diagnosed with multiple sclerosis. And in spite of these painful scenes, Pam concludes her story by saying to us this:

“In spite of any challenges you may face, I’m here to tell you that you can do it. You can create. You can make art for a living or just for fun. You can join classes in your area or you can join them online. If you can’t afford classes, there are many wonderful free tutorials you can find by Googling what interests you most. You just have to take the first step, putting one foot in front of the other.”

When I learn of these types of tough life scenes, it always makes me well up with tears. And in many ways, all of us in this room, as we embrace creativity in our own lives, we are electing to find the light in spite of scenes that are difficult and unique to each of us … we are deciding that we are going to reach for the paint.  Reach for the soldering iron. Reach for the vintage wallpaper, and we’re going to make something lovely. We are going to know that even though there are some not-so-pleasant scenes, we are capable of creating beauty, we are capable of making something that makes our hearts sing.

THE PROCESS: And when we reflect on the years that have passed, as we reflect on our art, our craft, we may not remember every single thing we ever made. But we will most likely remember the process and we will most likely still feel the sense of community. And when we look back on Silver Bella 2010, I know for sure that even if what we made was imperfect, we will remember and treasure the process involved … of how we laughed, how we hugged, how we cried, and how we cheered each other on.

HEAD SCRATCHERS: Those who scratch their heads about community also tend to scratch their heads about this whole process of creativity. And usually, these head-scratchers will say anything from slightly to moderately to excessively offensive things to us like:

• Why do you bother making that when you can buy it for less?
• Don’t you have better things to do?
• How long did it take you to make that?
• You have too much time on your hands.
• Do you really need more paper?
• What are you going to do with that?

SCIENTIFIC RESEARCH: What these head-scratchers don’t realize is a truth that Lisa Loria, Pam Warden, you, and I know so well, which is that creativity helps us get through life. More and more, scientific researchers are realizing this truth time and time again.

Dr. Kelly Lambert, Chair of the Department of Psychology for Virginia’s Randolph Macon College has conducted research to conclude that when we engage in hands-on projects, our mental, emotional, and physical states improve. Lambert’s research involves the study of data from MRI scans and parts of the brain called the nucleus accumbens, the limbic system, the striatum, and the prefrontal cortex.

Long story short is that when we participate in hands-on work … say, like knitting a scarf, our brain’s executive-thinking centers get busy planning, and then our brain’s happy anticipation zones begin to bustle with activity … and they talk back to the executive top brain centers, which reach out to other parts that make us dive our hands into greater productivity. In short, Lambert says “It’s like taking mental-health vitamins, building up resilience … our ability to bounce back from hardship by reminding our brains that we can have some impact on this world around us.”

To me, it’s not about whether my knitted scarf belongs in a museum, or my stamped cards belong in a magazine or book. It’s the process of creating that helps me get through all of life’s scenes. It’s the process of pushing aside worry and putting ink on my rubber stamp and putting that stamp onto paper that makes me know that though the final product isn’t always perfect, the process makes me happy.

CHILDREN: Those who know me know that I love hanging with my children who are now 15 and 12. The three of us were together a few months ago wearing our 3-D glasses to watch Toy Story 3. For most of the movie, we were laughing and chuckling at all the crazy scenes that Woody, Buzz Lightyear, Mr. Potatoehead, and all the other characters found themselves in.

Toward the end of the movie, I found myself holding back tears … wishing that rather than having Andy all grown up and headed for college, that he could remain a kid forever, and for all of his toys to enjoy their lives with Andy forever.

When I look at how quickly my own kids have grown, I find myself wishing that I could push a STOP button … so that this very scene of love and laughter is where we could remain forever. But of course that is not possible. Because really and truly, the only thing constant in life is change.

As we learn of stories like the ones by Lisa and Pam and countless others, we realize this truth about change. In one scene, we are young. In the next, we are all grown up. In one scene, we are at the pinnacle of health. In the next, we are fighting disease. The scenes we are in today won’t stay static. They will change.

BETTER EQUIPPED: But the good news about those of us who no longer scratch our heads about the power of creativity and the power of community is that we are equipped better than most, to weather all of it.

The fact that you are finding ways to prioritize handwork and creativity in your lives is important. It matters. And I applaud you for being able to do so. Because the head scratchers in our lives will constantly challenge our creative pursuits by saying slightly to moderately to highly offensive things like … “What exactly is a silver bellilla anyway?”

For me, I’ve come to the point in my life where rather than rebutting with a sly comeback or pulling out data about scientific research, I invite them to pick up a paintbrush with me, or to accompany me to the yarn shop, or to help me rubber stamp place cards for the table.

And as soon as they do, and I see their faces light up, I know that maybe I’ve done more than just crafted with them. I’ve helped them realize a deep and significant truth … which is that: we all hurt. And if we are willing to open our hearts and hands, and say yes to the process, and say yes to the community, we will not need a fast forward button or a stop button … we will be able to live through each scene because no matter what scene we may be in we will always know that we are capable of creating beauty, and we are not alone.

Thank you very much.

{Per the invitation of Teresa McFayden, it was my honor and privilege to provide these closing remarks on November 13, 2010, for Silver Bella 2010.}

PAY IT FORWARD & ENJOY THE PROCESS

CRESCENDOh was founded on a dream that had been percolating for several years. It is a dream that seeks to shout from the mountain top about how art can bring about the best in us. That art can help us cope, art can empower us to make a positive difference in the world ...

... the piece that Danita made says, "Art Saves. OK, now what?" And it's a piece that challenges us to start thinking about ways in which we can pay it forward. For us, "pay it forward" for our team, it is about using our creativity and our imagination and compassion to make a positive difference in the world. The difference can be as simple as smiling to our neighbor. Or it can be as complex as starting an organization that helps battered women. Or helps the people of Haiti. Or ... fill in the blank. But I do believe that for the world to become better, we will need to deploy not only our technical expertise and financial expertise, but really, our creative expertise and our imaginations, in small and large ways, to become better.

... the second piece that is in your goody bag is a postcard that features an original assemblage work by the late Janice Lowry. Janice Lowry was a mixed-media artist who created an amazing body of paintings, assemblages, and mixed-media art journals within her lifetime. It's a body of work that will, I believe, go down in history to mark Janice Lowry as one of the greatest American artists of our time.

Last year, days before she passed, as she fought and lost the battle with liver cancer, I had the opportunity  to ask her what message is it that she would like for the art community to hear from her and she said, "Jenny, tell them to always keep working and to enjoy the process." And so that's what it says on this card.

So I would say that I want to invite everyone in this room and beyond to heed Janice's call. To keep working, to keep creating, to keep building, to keep sharing your stories. Because in my opinion, stories are what build communities. And as we learn through these stories and through this community, we are in it together. And most of all as we are working, I hope we will elect to be kind, to be generous, and to be forgiving. And also as Janice said, to have fun and enjoy the process ...

{This is an excerpt of the remarks I had the privilege of giving at the CRESCENDOh launch party on May 21, 2010. Photo #1 courtesy of Lola Morales.}

 

TO TWILIGHT

Dear Readers,

Though I've never read Stephenie Meyer's book, Twilight, nor its three related sequels, my daughter, Monica, has. She's also seen the movie and is excitedly awaiting the pending release of the second movie. She's hooked. And she's in good company, as evidenced by 70 million copies that Stephenie's books have sold worldwide ... so far.

 

Recently, I watched Stephenie's intriguing interivew with Oprah Winfrey where she explained how the plot of Twilight was born. One morning, she awoke after having had an unusually vivid dream about a vampire boy and his "girl-next-door" love interest. The dream had been so lucid and so fascinating to Stephenie that she started writing it down. 

When Oprah asked Stephenie whether her process of writing the dream down was with the intent of turning it into a book, Stephenie explained that she had had no interest in publishing it. Her singular intent of writing was to document and therefore never forget this once-in-a-lifetime dream.

Another interesting point that Stephenie made was about her childhood. Growing up, she had a father who would read books to her. Not children's storybooks, but significant works of literature — like Pride and Prejudice and Gone With the Wind. And when her father would put the book down in the middle of the story to go to sleep, Stephenie found herself the next day flipping to where her father had left off so that she could finish reading the story. Much like her singular desire to capture the dream that would become Twilight, she was, during childhood, a girl with an intense determination to get to the bottom of stories.

Regardless of our respective fields, I'm sure that when we listen to Stephenie's story, we also long for the same type of experience — where an extraordinary dream could come to us so that we could turn it into a worldwide phenomenon. But I can't help but wonder ... is it the dream that comes first, or the preparation that comes through years of discipline and focus, that gets us ready to transform the dream into something spectacular? What if Stephenie had never been a reader of books? What if she had only been a skimmer? What if she had only been interested in get-rich-fast schemes? Would she have ever reached Twilight?

I doubt it.

I think the most important point about Stephenie's story is that she had lived a lifetime as an authentic and sincere lover of stories ... a "black belt reader," as Oprah described. Unbeknownst to her, Stephenie had prepared herself for the coming of the dream by reading, thinking, and getting ready to unleash her creativity. 

How about us? What is the "dream" that we seek in our quest to succeed? A shiny new blog? The latest and greatest line of paints and mediums? Enrollment in the newest online workshops? And if the dream we seek arrives, will we be able to meet it with the kind of authentic preparation that Stephenie had built throughout her lifetime as a reader and student of literature?

It's a new year. It's a new decade. Let us make a commitment to investing ourselves in the hard work of readying ourselves for a dream that may already be here — just waiting for our disciplined selves to take it all the way ...

To twilight,

Jenny

{This letter from The Editor-in-Chief was published in the Jan/Feb 2010 issue of Somerset Studio.}

EDITOR'S LETTER • SOM1109 • OPEN DOORS

Dear Readers,

Danita lives in Juarez. It's a place that exists within the state of Chihuahua, México — a town where most families live within not-so-colorful surroundings as they seek ways throughout the year to count blessings, and to keep alive their hopes for the future. I'm not surprised that Danita describes the Advent calendar that she presents on page 14 as a "Calendar of Gratitude." Because she is an artist who knows that we have choices. We can choose to gripe about what we don't have, or we can choose to count the blessings that we do have. We can choose to bemoan the past, or we can choose to have hope for the future.

One of the most special holiday rituals practiced within Mexican culture is called Las Posadas (Spanish for "the inns"). It's a time when loved ones gather together to re-enact the long road that Mary and Joseph traveled that fateful night long ago, in search of a door that would open and lead to the lodging that they desperately needed. During Las Posadas, the indiviuals who play the roles of Mary and Joseph go from door to door, only to be turned away by those who play the roles of assorted innkeepers. At the end of Las Posadas, Mary and Joeph finally arrive at a door that opens. It is at this point of this grand ritual when all the attendees start celebrating with food, music, and festivities.

On page 42, Rebecca Sower shares a stunning piece of artwork that incorporates a thoughtful line of text that says, "Be an opener of doors." When I saw this piece, it reminded me of Las Posadas. It also reminded me of Les Misérables — the musical based on Victor Hugo's novel. In the musical rendition, there is an early scene when a wrongly imprisoned Jean Valjean escapes jail and finds a door opened for him by Bishop Myriel. As Jean Valjean tries to leave in the middle of the night after stealing the Bishop's precious silverware, he is caught by authorities. At what seems like his impending doom, Bishop Myriel tells the authorities that the silver had been his gift to Jean Valjean, and that in fact Jean Valjean forgot to take the most important gift of all: two silver candlesticks, which he hands over to him in front of the authorities. For me, this is one of the most powerful scenes of benevolence in all of literature ... a scene that brings me to tears every time I think of it.

Those who are familiar with Les Misérables know that Jean Valjean uses the silver to gain momentum to build an honorable life, where he works to "pay forward" the kindness that had been given to him by Bishop Myriel. A success story indeed.

Prior to my career in publishing when I was a social worker, I also had success stories. But I also had stories of failure. And after seven years of being a social worker, I realized that doors can become opened equally to everyone ... and while some will choose to walk through them and gain traction to build better lives, others will not. It is a hard lesson to learn ... one that I have continued learning (sometimes very painfully) in my role as editor.

So what are we do to then? Keep doors shut? Turn lights off? Keep Mary and Joseph out? Say "no" to Jean Valjean? To what end? 

This holiday season, I realize more than ever, the preciousness of life. And I resolve to join Rebecca, Danita, Bishop Myriel, and the countless others in the world who choose time and time again — even at the risk of being hurt and disappointed — to be an opener of doors and believer of hope.

Yes, it's tricky to open our doors, open our selves. But in the long run, I believe it's far riskier to keep them closed and chance living an existence where joyful stories of success are absent.

With hope,

Jenny

[This Letter from the Editor-in-Chief was published in the November/December 2009 issue of Somerset Studio.]

FAREWELL LETTER TO ARTISTS

Dear Artists,

We love stories, don’t we? We love telling them, and we love hearing them. For the past six years, I’ve had the honor and privilege of helping facilitate the telling of your stories. These stories have largely focused on the instructional details of your most treasured creations. And when I think of the trust that you have given me by allowing me to handle your art, edit your words, and oversee the way in which your items are photographed and laid out, I am overcome with emotion and am forever grateful and indebted to you for your unwavering confidence and support.

As your Editor-in-Chief, I have also had the opportunity to share with you some of my stories. You have allowed me to recall stories from my childhood, stories that I continue to collect through motherhood, and stories that we learn through films, books, music, historical events, and current events. Through these stories, we have struggled with tough topics like originality in art, the pros and cons of technology, the concept of always becoming, and the value of embracing curiosity and courage — even if such an embrace leads us to inevitable change. Change can be scary.

But the resounding story that I’ve been able to hear, tell, and live throughout my life is that no matter how scary, no matter how tough, and no matter how dark things get, we can find the light through art. Because art saves. Art is what saved me as a young girl who held onto her yarn and knitting needles on the plane that took her from Korea to the United States. Art is what saved me when my Andrew was a baby and my Monica a toddler … as I learned to wash away the pressures of motherhood through the creation of a rubber stamped card, or a pieced quilt square.

Over the years, readers have showered me with stories of their own, to prove to me that indeed, art saves. In sickness, heartbreak, unemployment, divorce, and more … in the depths of life’s despair, readers have expressed gratitude for how they were saved from their worst nightmares by discovering art.

Many of you know that prior to my work in publishing, I was a social worker. I worked for seven years within child protective services where I interfaced with some of the most intense and radically devastating life stories.

For quite some time, it has been my dream to create a new venture that could harness the strengths of our art community to help expose the truth about the power of art. After six years as your editor, I have realized that now is the time for me to embrace this change and start this new venture.

In March of 2010, I will be launching CRESCENDOh.com — an Online Media Center with a mission to inspire creative passion, authentic community, and focused compassion. This launch is made possible with the support of an amazing new team that has convened — educators, business leaders, artists, writers, Web leaders, and more — all who support and believe in CRESCENDOh’s mission. It will be one of several key components that make up CRESCENDOh, LLC.

CRESCENDOh.com will be a place to have fun, learn about inspiring projects, shop for unique gifts, check out what’s totally hot, and most importantly, to read and share stories about how art saves. With your support, I will continue to help facilitate the telling of your stories, shine light on your creations, and in the process, help raise awareness of the world around us.

One thing I know to be true about life is that with everything, there is always a beginning, middle, and an end. And I believe it is important to do our best within all parts. I think doing our best at the end is especially difficult but very important, because how you handle things at the end will provide the foundation upon which you build your next new beginning.

I will be working until the end of January to complete shepherding the final issues of my beloved publications and to support the details that are included in a transition plan. During this time, I will guide and support my team so that they continue with the excellent work within all facets of the publishing division as new leadership blossoms. There is no staff smarter, more dedicated, more courageous, or more classy than the one that I have had the honor of building, training, and leading. We will always be Team 22936 — the amazing professional cohort that focused on a shared vision and performed miracles every day to make it happen. I am so proud of them. I will miss them.

From the bottom of my heart, I thank you for having been with me, and I hope that you will come along with me to CRESCENDOh, as we work together to cast the brightest light on creative passion, authentic community, and focused compassion.

Let us begin,

Jenny Doh, Editor-in-Chief & Director of Publishing

DEDICATION: JANICE LOWRY

I dedicate the past six years of this incredible journey to the loving memory of my dear friend and mentor, Janice Lowry, who I am certain is guiding and protecting me today. Janice was a woman who was saved through art, and whose art saved many and will save countless others for generations to come. As I embark on this new beginning to complete what I know to be my destiny, I will hold close to my heart, the last words that Janice offered me, which is to “keep working and enjoy the process.” 

 MUSICAL INSPIRATION FOR THE COURAGE TO PURSUE MY NEXT BEGINNING

Running to Stand Still as performed by U2

 

STAY TUNED

Slowly, deliberately, and thoroughly, I will be sharing on this blog, the details of what CRESCENDOh is all about, and how you can be part of it. Stay with me …

 Jenny Doh

Founder & President

CRESCENDOh, LLC

PO Box 11726

Santa Ana, CA 92711-1726

jenny@crescendoh.com

facebook.com/jennydoh

twitter.com/jennydoh

youtube.com/user/jennycrescendoh

 

AUTHENTIC BLOGGING

No matter how sloppy my house might be at any given moment in time, my family and I know how to get it tidied up when we know that company's coming. And though company might say "you have such a lovely home," I know deep inside that they say what they say because I haven't let them open my drawers or closets. But that's OK because what rests in such places isn't meant for public viewing. One of the criticisms out there of artful bloggers is that what we show on our blogs isn't "real." That what is authentic is actually kept hidden in the dark and deep recesses of our minds ... recesses that are kept under wraps ... as only the pretty and tidied up parts of our everyday lives are what get posted by artful bloggers.

To which I say, "So what?!"

So what if artful bloggers elect to present our best face, our most evolved musings, our most elevated images? After all, just like when company comes over, it is a persona we are presenting of the best of who we are, the best of who aspire to be. The commitment I made when I launched my blog was that at least for the first year, I would post every single day. And that I wouldn't crab, bitch, moan, or damage others in the process. That I'd share who I am, who I am becoming, and to do so with class, style, intelligence, positivity, and yes ... authenticity.

Because you know what? Though who I am exists within those drawers and closets, who I am also exists in the bright sunny room that is styled and gussied up for the perfect image to be used for the perfect post. There are some who would also argue that artful blogs with a focus on the positive are too distilled and sugar-coated to inspire anything meaningful or thought-provoking. 

To which I say, "Are you kidding me?!"

Every day, we have the challenge of coping with completely uninspired scenes found in life ... attitudes of self-entitlement, envy-driven criticisms, corruption, and downright evil. Before you know it, the negativity of the world can swallow you up and completely strip you of hope, optimism, and the will to move forward and affect positive change. Can a post about pretty chandelier crystals with a fortune from a fortune cookie — or a post about my latest knitting or crocheting project — inspire hope for those in the throes of depression?

Yes.

Can a post about peanut butter sandwiches and a makeshift gun from Mother's white pumps inspire thoughtful dialogue about the effects of "nature versus nurture" in terms of raising boys and girls?

Yes. 

Can a post about passages from a book by economist Dan Ariely inspire nutritional and physical discipline?

Yes. 

Aside from provoking thought and inspiring hope, I love that my blog affords me the opportunity to play, prance, and provide respite from the weight of the world by pointing to things that are ... for lack of a better term ... HOT!

And if you click onto the "That's HOT" category on my blog, chances are that you'll find many posts about my shoes. I have a thing for shoes. One could argue that it's a weakness. Another could argue that it's an addiction.

Whatever.

Regardless of what it may be considered, it is an attraction that I have decided to wholeheartedly embrace. Life's too short to deny such a simple and sexy pleasure.

So that's who I am ... at least that's who I am allowing you to see. If you want to see the other darker parts, I'll need to have a pretty reputable referral to see you and you'd better have "LCSW" or "PhD" inscribed after your name. It is because I know that you're coming over every day to say hello that I resolve to keep things tidied up, put my best shoe forward, and create a space where imaginations are ignited, curiosity is quenched, and style is revered. It is where even the smallest of notes can be heard and nurtured ... because even the smallest notes can gradually increase in volume and capture an audience of like-minded people who will gather to applaud the beautiful and authentic crescendoh.

[This article was published in the Spring 2009 issue of Artful Blogging magazine.]

EDITOR'S LETTER • SOM0909 • FOCUSED ON THE MOON

Dear Readers,

On September 12, 1962, President John F. Kennedy delivered an amazing speech regarding his audacious plan to ensure that our nation would be the first to have a man on the moon by the end of that decade. Undoubtedly, he had to manage the voices of many who were critical of his plan — causing him to imbed into his speech, an answer to the question of "Why?" by saying:

We set sail on this new sea because there is new knowledge to be gained ... But why, some say, the moon? Why choose this as our goal? And they may well ask why climb the highest mountain? ... We choose to go to the moon. We choose to go to the moon in this decade and do the other things ... not because they are easy, but because they are hard, because that goal will serve to organize and measure the best of our energies and skills, because that challenge is one that we are willing to accept, one we are unwilling to postpone ...

This passage has always inspired me because it hits the nail on the head in regards to why we humans freely choose to embark on that which is difficult. We do so not just because we want to do things that are hard. Rather, we do so because when we set a vision for greatness, those who are most focused and most committed to the vision know that it will hapen only when we dare to embark on related tasks that seem impossible to most — especially our critics. For Kennedy, getting to the moon was one such task that he knew would mark a new day of global leadership for space exploration ... the beautiful, mysterious moon.

    It is the moon that always casts its protective illumination over my children, Monica and Andrew, this time of year ... a time when they don costumes and trek out into the neighborhood to go trick-or-treating. Admittedly, now that Monica and Andrew are adolescents, they much prefer staying home to hand out the treats rather than going out asking for them.

    One of the best Halloween experiences we ever had was when Andrew was not yet 3 and Monica was almost 5. Andrew's costume was all set because handed down to him was an awesome homemade bumblee costume created by my friend, Cynthia.

    Monica on the other hand had her heart set on being Dorothy from The Wizard of Oz. And when I learned of her desire, I decided to embark on the challenge of sewing her costume from scratch. It was not easy. The pattern had many challenges which required lots of work — much more than I anticipated.

    At the time, there were some critics in my life wondering why I was "wasting" my energy sewing from scratch when I could easily buy a Dorothy costume from the store. But when October 31st arrived, the answer was clear: Monica was the best-looking Dorothy in the whole neighborhood. (And Andrew was the most adorable bumblebee on the planet.)

    When we embark on creating something from scratch, we do so not because it is easy. We do so because though it may be hard, we know it is what will mark a new day of achievement, a new day of gaining knowledge, a new day of knowing that when we stay focused and committed, anything is possible.

    I remember the walk back home that Halloween night, after we were all done trick-or-treating. My husband, Gerardo, was pulling our happy but exhausted Dorothy and bumblebee in our little red wagon as I followed from a few steps behind. And I'll never forget the moon casting its light ever so brightly to illuminate the path that would lead us back home.

    Let us continue to aim for the moon ... not because it is easy, but because it is hard. And because it is possible.

As always,

Jenny Doh

Editor-in-Chief & Director of Publishing

[This letter was published in the September/October 2009 issue of Somerset Studio.]

HAPPY TRAILS TO OUR BELOVED JANICE LOWRY

THE KIND OF PERSON SHE WAS: This past April, I received the news that Janice was sick. I called her right back but she wasn't there to answer the phone. When she called me back, I wasn't there to answer my phone. So she left me a voice mail. When I listened to it, I was so struck by how upbeat and positive Janice was in the face of such devastating news ... how come, I wondered, does she not sound sad and distraught? But the thing is, Janice was not that kind of person. The Janice I knew never allowed herself to wallow in self-pity or focus on the negative. Quite frankly, she was much too focused on creating and moving forward, as she kept her eye on the big picture of life, and the big picture of the mark she intended to make on the world, to ever allow gloom and doom to waste precious time.

SOMERSET STUDIO: Almost six years ago, I started working as the new kid on the block for Somerset Studio magazine. It was a very scary time because I knew that in order to be successful, I needed significant pillars within the art community to stand up with me. So with humility of heart, I reached out to those pillars, which included Janice Lowry. And the wonderful gift she gave me was that pretty much immediately after we started talking, she made a choice. The choice wasn't ever discussed, the choice was simply exemplified. The choice was to steadily and consistently offer up her incredible work ... as she entrusted me with her most prized creations so that they could be shared with readers across the globe.

ALWAYS OPEN: If I needed garments, she opened up her closet for me. If I needed journals or collages or assemblages, she opened up her studio for me. If I needed new ideas, she would open up herself and create new works to be considered. Whenever I was in need, Janice gently guided me, mentored me, and always encouraged me. And when she learned that my daughter, Monica, was interested in assemblage work, she invited Monica, me, and my little Andrew to spend a day with her in the studio to learn and play. Monica, Andrew and I will never forget the fun we had with her that day ... as we made assemblages, painted faces, and rummaged through all the cool things that she had collected during her travels with her beloved Jon.

BLOCKING: One winter, after we had worked very hard on a project together, she dropped by my house unannounced to present me with an assemblage. It was titled Blocking, with a figure in the center with arms up, in a protective stance. She explained that Blocking was inspired by her mother who used to do a fair amount of it, when assorted dangers surrounded her. I will treasure this assemblage for the rest of my life because I know it was Janice's way of letting me know that sometimes you have to block, in order to protect and preserve the most important thing of all, which is the right that each and everyone of us have, to fulfill a destiny of creating our own unique marks on this world.

THE BRUSHES: In June, I was able to visit Janice in her studio. During this visit, I delivered countless paintbrushes that had been embellished and adorned with messages of love from the art community. Janice was her usual upbeat self, and so very delighted to receive such a grand gesture from her colleagues. I am thankful to Lynne Perrella and Michlle Ward for their help in coordinating this effort with the paintbrushes — so that we could express to Janice just how much her work has positively influenced and inspired the art community, and how she has been a role model to all of us to focus on the big picture of creating and making our marks.

SEPTEMBER 4TH: On September 4th, I was able to visit with Janice in her home, just days before she passed. As we visited, I still couldn't believe how in the face of death, in the face of being ravaged by cancer, that Janice still remained focused on the big picture and would not wallow in self-pity.

I asked her what message I could convey back to the art community and she said simply, "Tell them to keep working and to enjoy the process." We were able to say "I love you" to one another, and as I walked out, I was able to say good-bye, and that I would miss her greatly. Which I do.

MOVING FORWARD: I am thankful to Janice for teaching me the power of YES, the power of staying focused on the big picture, the power of knowing when to block, and the power of working hard and always enjoying the process. These are the lessons I intend to continue instilling in my children, and these are the lessons that I am certain that our art community will strive to focus on as we all grieve the passing of Janice, as we continue to miss her terribly, and as we all learn to move forward.

[Per the request and invitation of Janice and Jon, it was my honor and privilege to deliver this eulogy at Janice's memorial service today held at the beautiful Episcopal Church of the Messiah in Santa Ana, California. I am grateful that present to support this message today were my family members, and members of the art community — Pam Garrison, Amy Hanna, Cynthia Shaffer, Johanna Love, Christen Olivarez, Jennifer Jackson, and Amanda Crabtree. I am blessed to have these incredible people in my life.]