The Right of Writing - Give Me back my Mo-Jo

No time to blog and keep up to date with social media - too busy with classes and the upcoming exhibition at eye4art - very exciting. The classes are feeding me as much as the participants and close bonds are being formed - many of which I feel will linger for years to come. AND I've forgotten to photograph sessions - o my...here is a golden 'oldy'from the last book making class.  This was a Babel collaboration (on-going) between 6 of us in three hours. We then took the chapbooks home to finish. Learning to work collaboratively is a new thing for a lot of artists/writers - especially ON TOP OF!

BUT it has engendered much creativity in its wake. These are two books from the last course - Trish and Merryl - others of us are still busy with homework! Another course started on Tuesday at 2 at Eye4Art - wonderful...but I forgot to take photographs... I will hold another Introductory class from the MoJo Studio on Tuesday 4th June. Classes will be held every two weeks.  Remember, all materials are supplied. Another book making class starts at the end of the month - looking forward to seeing 'Oldies', now well into their third Module. When I expanded the photograph Trish shared, I saw all the family she had made as trunks/pillars in her garden - beautiful.  Merryl has forged ahead, well ahead of me! Her Logogram book, Visual Poetry Book and Asemic Book are all finished and sewn into their pockets onto the large holding accordion spine - fabulous Merryl!  More books to come when everyone finishes their homework!

The Medici effect  refers to a phenomenon that occurs when creative, talented, and productive people from different fields come together and are able to collaborate to create something innovative and new. Frans Johansson coined the phrase in a book by the same name. During this course, we move from a  discussion  of a simple diagram to layer the art work done during the previous class. I use this idea for course participants to use their own strengths and abilities from different areas/ disciplines  in their lives to form innovative intersections which will help them achieve their goals. The diagrammatic artwork obviously becomes more complex, the more the ideas are unpacked. Risk areas are discussed, as is overstepping in certain strengths. Such 'overstepping' means the intersection is passed and the innovation is lost as the strength is not reigned in.  It’s a methodology which can work when tackling ANY goal, no matter how small...

It's REALLY hard to believe that it's the new year... I don't quite seem to have finished the last one 😲! I am really looking forward to working with everyone again, and hope to introduce more participants to this course. Reminder: The entire course is 6 modules which combine art, creative writing, narrative therapy and art therapy to enhance/access and reformulate in some instances creative thinking. Classes January 26th   Mojo 2 - last class of Module 1 January 29th   Mojo 4 - beginning of Module 1 February 6th   Mojo 3 - Start of Module 3 (proposed date) February 16th Mojo 1 - Class 2 of Module 1 New Classes February 5th  Mojo 5 - Classes start - Introductory Class in Glen Anil - 9.30 The programme is as follows:   Introductory Class 1 Self Portrait - of another sort What   is a self-portrait? What is its function/How does it function?   Module 1 The Right of Writing 4/5 Sessions) W...

Ok - not EXACTLY - I didn't have the discomfort of flying there, but teaching at Studio 33 on Tuesday was simply gorgeous. Our hostess, Catherine Stempowski is the most gracious lady with FINE, fine art abilities. The studio dog, Ochre is a rescue dog. She was so relaxed, so in tune with her environment. After the workshop, participants were reminded that this course is about combining many disciplines into one process to access creativity.  In order to begin this journey we examine ourselves - our own version of the 'self portrait'. Writing is ultimately the subject matter. Writing as reflection, as poetry as asemic as aesthetic as logographic as landscape of the mind.  I hope I did not leave anyone out! Sitting in this environment of peace and creativity brought out for me, once again, the reason why creativity is our greatest gift, given by the Creator of all.