The more people I talk to, it seems like this time of year is filled with change and transformation for just about everyone.
Whether it be the weather and leaves changing with the seasons, a new school year starting (/now in full swing), embarking on a new venture/project, a big move, actualizing an idea, taking on a new identity, or trying to accomplish an already set goal.
I think it’s safe to say the race for the end of the year has officially begun.
For me personally, this time of year is especially special (and nostalgic).
Yesterday (10/20) marks the One Year Anniversary of the first Art show I put on via aCreators’Collection (The Art Project/Collective I founded). A dream I had envisioned doing for almost 3 years prior. Way back to when I was still working a 9-5 job in Madison, WI. (A lot’s changed since then….)
On October 20th, 2018, we brought 18 Artists together of all varieties (Performance, Visual, and Literature) and put on a 4 hour event, that led to an 8 hour event, and became a truly memorable night. Which became the start of a lifelong journey.
The journey of seeing my dreams, visions, and ideas come into this world. Of Actualization. As I believe there is no better feeling than when you can do that.
The 10/20 Event doesn’t just mark the start of a new chapter for me in life, but more like the start of a whole new book entirely.
After that event, we went to put on another 13 shows in just 10 weeks, in 7+ venues, with over 60 different Artists of various mediums. And those were just the public events. Which doesn’t include the various video shoots, jam sessions, dinner parties, shows, etc. that our little Art community put together. And that’s just the work done through aCreators’Collection. Which doesn’t include the personal work (and journey) I’ve done as a result from putting on that event (and project). Such as performing, acting, recording, putting on workshops, creating this “business”, etc., etc.
But, as I said, it took me over 3 years to put on that show. And while a ton of external work from a number of people went into putting on that amazing event (and all the others after). I can easily say (without any doubt) that most of the work I had to do was internal and personal. The hard work of letting myself be the person that I wanted to be; the person that I always was.
Seeing your visions and ideas through is a road filled with fear, doubt, and shame all along the way to the light at the “end” (*at this point I don’t believe it ever “ends”). It can be a real pain in the ass, and really difficult. Everyone I listen to, speak with, and work with (from amateur to professional) speaks on the difficulty of that process.
So don’t be discouraged or ashamed if you find yourself hitting roadblocks and struggle points along the way.
Keep moving, pushing, and striving. As it’s oh so worth it.
So once again, “Thank You!!!” to all the people that continue to actively put their ideas out into this world. You’re more amazing than you even know.
And if you find yourself hitting those internal roadblocks, Feel free to check out the “Artist & Creative Appreciation & Celebration” special.
And while it was an Idea I had, and worked so hard for it to actualize. There is no doubt that it took an extreme amount of work and help from a lot of really amazing people. From finding a venue that let us put on the event from free. To finding Artists that were willing to participate in a brand new show idea (which was honestly, and beautifully, one of the easier tasks). To hanging up (and displaying) 24 pieces of Art ranging in price from less than $50 all the way to over $3,000 from 9 visual artists. To running rehearsals in my apartment for 7 musical acts (in just a week), and all the other countless little (and not so little) tasks that went into that night.
But I got to watch a Dream and Idea of mine come to life. A feeling so amazing that I didn’t even fully comprehend until maybe now (and maybe I still don’t even understand that feeling). But that feeling was so amazing, we went on to put on 13 more shows in just 10 weeks. Which was the first domino in my need for seeing my dreams and visions into this world. As I believe there is no better feeling.
But seeing your visions and ideas through is a road filled with fear, doubt, and shame all along the way to the light at the end. As I said, it took me over 3 years to put on that show. And while a ton of external work from a number of people went in to putting on an amazing show (and all the others after). I can easily (without any doubt) say that most of the work that was internal and personal.
When I first had the idea in WI as a 22 year old kid. I was someone who had put aside his Artistic and Creative dreams and ideas for years. Had traded it all in for a college degree and a comfortable job. Until that lifestyle ate me alive for the whole 1.5 years I made it in that world. The idea that I had was an opportunity for something more, something real, something that was me.
When I first had the idea, I thought that just because I had the idea that I was ready for the idea. That the idea was just going to manifest itself in front of me and that I was everything I needed for that idea to be in the world.
3 years, 2 cross country moves, countless jobs, internships, volunteer work, partnerships, late nights, tears later. I was finally to put that idea out. And the best part about that night and that idea, is that despite all that came from night. That idea. I still only view that night as a beginning. The start of a chapter. The beginning of a new life and journey. Because that’s exactly what it was.
It can be a real pain in the ass, and really difficult. Everyone I listen to, speak with, and work with (from amateur to professional) speaks on the difficulty of that process.
So don’t be discouraged or ashamed. Keep moving, pushing, and striving. It’s oh so worth it.
Once again, Thank You to all the people that continue to actively put their ideas out into this world. You’re more amazing than you even know.
From “Creative Quick Takes” circa 2019