IN THE PINK
A Celebration of Women’s
Strength, Beauty, and Healing
Artwork of Family, Friends and Survivors
of the Breast Cancer Experience

Opening Reception: Wednesday, September 29, 2010, 5:30 – 7:30 pm

Show runs: September 29 – October 23, 2010
Hygienic Art Annex Space
13 Golden Street
New London, CT

A call to artists to participate in a show of works that express the breast cancer experience and the healing process from the point of view of survivors or that of friends and family.
We welcome all to this celebration to begin Breast Cancer Awareness Month and enjoy the Hygienic Art Galleries and Art Park.

I was shattered. The editor had sliced and diced my copy into something unrecognizable. The article was to be an important piece for me. Of course, I know editors have a job to do, but the heartbreak came because I had not been consulted nor was the copy returned to me for correction prior to my seeing it in its published form. The real horror was that the editor had carved out chunks of text so that even the quotes from my interviewees were incomplete and connections between sentences were oddly missing. There were entire paragraphs that didn’t make sense. Yet, there it was in all its misery, published, engraved in stone . . . with my name attached to it.

Love. It’s what makes your heart sing. It’s rapturous moments of complete joy where everything seems perfect and the stars are all aligned. If we are creatives, we yearn to design, write, draw or paint with love too . . . but in the course of our days, the creative juju can get lost. We run our businesses, find ourselves more involved with paperwork, administrative tasks and a never-ending stream of meetings. We forget what it’s like to be deeply involved in the process of creation just for the love of it.

Sharing design love is the mission of founder, Troy Monroe, who along with founding members Rich Hollant, Constanza Gowen-Segovia and Brian Grabell created Design is Love.  With a gorgeous site design and welcoming language, Design is Love invites you to help share and shape a unique creative community with heart. But DIL isn’t just a meeting place for designers. If you are a non-profit, Design is Love can help you too by matching your needs and goals with a creative who believes in what you do.

There is an awful lot of talk about design for good.  As designers and creatives we can volunteer our services to any number of worthy causes with the hope of making our world a better place. There are notable organizations such as Design for Democracy, Arts Advocacy, The Living Principles, Design Ignites Change and so many others.  Additionally, much has been written and discussed about the unique thought processes of designers and artists, and how creatives can bring renewed and out-of-the-box problem solving to a number of issues for both private and public concerns. This is all good and true. I support Design for Good . . . but somewhere I think we are missing a link. Somewhere along the line, we have forgotten and neglected the essential elements within ourselves that are required before we can truly give to others. Stress has left it’s mark on all of us.

For as long as I can remember I’ve been a list maker.  Journals, agendas, Moleskines and Ecosystems rule my day, my week and my month.  I love everything about these little books … the paper, the covers and all the assorted tools, pens and pencils that go into creating the dairies of my life.

My “To-Do” list has been an important part of keeping me organized and on track but several months ago I looked at my list and it was just sad, “There’s no way I’ll finish all this.” The truly self defeating part of the whole thing was that I knew once I checked off one task it would only be replaced by two or three more.  This method was flawed and completely unsatisfactory.  So how does one change this seemingly fruitless situation?

Life can be harsh and sometimes the struggle seems not worth the effort, but then there are people who remind us that it is.

Some months ago I attended a social media breakfast in Branford, Connecticut.  It was a rainy morning, a very early morning, and I arrived to the event a bit late.  Feeling awkward (I hate being late), I entered the front of the filled conference room and not knowing where to go, I spotted WTNH News Anchor Ann Nyberg waving me down and motioning for me to come sit with her.  Ann and I had never met before except for exchanges on Facebook and Twitter. As I adjusted myself at the table, Ann put her hand on my shoulder and said “Can I get you a cup of coffee?”  (Ann Nyberg is going to get ME a cup of coffee?) I was taken aback because for some reason random acts of kindness always surprise me.

Last week, I met with Peter Good of Cummings & Good for an interview regarding AIGA CT.  It was the second time I would interview Peter for INK publications.  Good is a rock star of graphic design and recently was recognized as the first AIGA fellow from Connecticut.  He’s created logos for The Hartford Whalers, Wadsworth Atheneum and Special Olympics. The poster design coming from C&G crosses the line between art and design.  As I entered the design firm, Peter immediately comes to greet me, grabs my hand and provides me with a big hug.  He expresses his pleasure in being able to meet again and once again I’m taken aback with the kindness and warmth of someone who has accomplished amazing and worthy lifetime achievements.

It is not often that we have the opportunity to meet such sincere and gracious people and when we do those encounters make a lasting impression.  Our streets are filled with road rage.  Big business and corporations take advantage of their standings and sometimes it seems that everywhere we look people are just waiting to be rude. I don’t write here about Ann and Peter because of their stature. I write about them because they have accomplished so much and they give so much back. It comes to them naturally.

All it really takes, for me, is a reassuring hand on my shoulder or a welcoming embrace.  I suspect the same is true for most people… little random acts of kindness go a long way in healing someone’s day. So the next time I see you coming in out of the rain, looking a little awkward, I’m going to offer you a cup of coffee or maybe a hug. Until then, here’s some flowers for you.

Hi, Everybody. I thought I’d update you on how it’s going with the TV blackout here at my house.  Many of you wished me well with this experiment, so I’m happy to inform you that, in fact, it’s going pretty good.  Nights like tonight are especially wonderful. Instead of watching TV (or even being online), my entire family is home (for once) and reading. This new type of behavior happens quite often. Except for the gentle clacking of my laptop keyboard and the sound of pages turning…it is silent in my house.  No music (usually three different types coming from 3 different rooms…at the same time).  No bombs blowing up.  No yelling.  No TV noise. It’s silent. It is bliss.

After the TV blackout, I went and explored some Internet options, just in case. Hulu has good content and it’s free. ABC offers several of their series online as full episodes. Netfix is an organization that has its act together. Also, Netfix is about nine dollars per month as opposed to the ninety dollars I was paying for my TV provider.  The additional beauty of it is that it’s all on demand. It’s here when, and if, we want it.

Even with these online options…we’re reading.  Or we’re writing or we’re talking.  We don’t need TV, don’t really miss it, and I think we’re better for it.  There are a lot more options now.

Signing off,
/L.

I recently rediscovered my local library. I can’t imagine why it escaped me the last 5 years, but it’s a wonderful environment in which to work.  My library was recently remodeled and now comes equip with sloping ceilings, exposed beams and floor to ceiling windows.  I have a favorite spot.  It’s tucked in back with a comfortable chair next to a window that receives sunshine all afternoon. It’s quiet, of course.  While working at the library, I find I can complete entire thoughts, work through solutions, plan, organize and get work done in a peaceful setting.  I’m incredibly productive there and I come home feeling happy and refreshed.  The library makes me feel like I’m hiding out.