I’m in contraction, lack of energy does often equate to lack of imagination, lack of ability to string words together. When I have shared very small, quiet stories with my writing group, the feedback has been encouraging.
I’m in awe of Sam Petersen, a visual artist and activist here in Melbourne whose recent sculptural work is the opposite of palatable…
Thank you for this framing on state of expansion/contraction, I'm finding that helpful to think through, and really glad you are coming to a place of being able to believe in your work more and break some (messed up) industry rules :)
You nailed it: the music industry doesn't consider us palatable because it can’t produce fast enough and/or for long enough. The system is hell-bent on treating artists as a commodity, and our bodies are in direct conflict with that. We can't be physically run into the ground as expected. Yet, free from the shackles of 9-to-5 mandates, it has such potential. The contractions and expansions that I myself consider a cycle akin to weather could uniquely accommodate our idiosyncratic periods of highs and lows, of expansion and contraction.
Thank you, as always, for sharing and pointing out the path. That expansion/contraction framing is lovely and simple and gently applicable to the ebbs and flows of symptoms and activities. I’m rooting into expansion in this cycle—and feeling all the tugs and pulls of contraction as I go. I wonder if artists feel this in a uniquely keen way.
I’m in contraction, lack of energy does often equate to lack of imagination, lack of ability to string words together. When I have shared very small, quiet stories with my writing group, the feedback has been encouraging.
I’m in awe of Sam Petersen, a visual artist and activist here in Melbourne whose recent sculptural work is the opposite of palatable…
https://www.instagram.com/reel/DTBVwtoDkpr/?igsh=Y2N1a3A4MHUyaTlh
Ooh I just saw the reel you linked to. LOVE IT! Thank you for sharing that. Love that you’re in a writing group and can share quiet stories 🌸🥰
Thank you for this framing on state of expansion/contraction, I'm finding that helpful to think through, and really glad you are coming to a place of being able to believe in your work more and break some (messed up) industry rules :)
Thank you so much! I’m glad you found it helpful 🌸
You nailed it: the music industry doesn't consider us palatable because it can’t produce fast enough and/or for long enough. The system is hell-bent on treating artists as a commodity, and our bodies are in direct conflict with that. We can't be physically run into the ground as expected. Yet, free from the shackles of 9-to-5 mandates, it has such potential. The contractions and expansions that I myself consider a cycle akin to weather could uniquely accommodate our idiosyncratic periods of highs and lows, of expansion and contraction.
Ahmen! 🌟
Thank you, as always, for sharing and pointing out the path. That expansion/contraction framing is lovely and simple and gently applicable to the ebbs and flows of symptoms and activities. I’m rooting into expansion in this cycle—and feeling all the tugs and pulls of contraction as I go. I wonder if artists feel this in a uniquely keen way.
You’re so welcome! I definitely think artists are more prone to feeling the ebbs and flows of contraction/expansion…