Art & the global economy

I had the opportunity of going to MoMA yesterday evening. I was actually there for a lecture on economics! Hmmm… It was an opportunity to reflect upon “America and the New Global Economy” with the guest speaker Lawrence H. Summers. He navigated through the complex financial challenges we currently face. As former United States Secretary of the Treasury and current Harvard professor, he certainly has spent a lot of his life reflecting and predicting economic fluxes and solutions. He sees a window of opportunity ahead in which we will be able to reshape public policy to maintain flexibility and fiscal strength as we practice inclusive prosperity and create systems of government to manage our global economy.

Concurrently, it was inspiring to take the opportunity to visit “Design and the Elastic Mind” exhibit! This link provides a great opportunity to explore the plethora of exhibits. The flexible thinking that was mentioned in the economic lecture was reflected in the visual explorations that we were immersed in as soon as we walked through the intuitive doors! There is so much to search through, but it is amazing how intuitive our designing is becoming. One of my favorites is sketch furniture. A chair and table are sketched in 3D and then created by computer data and lasers.

Another way of expanding thinking is found in TextArc using visualization and mapping to visually analyze patterns and concepts in texts. try Visuwords yourself! For a simpler version that I have used for a while, try Visual Thesaurus.

These are just two amazing embodiments of the human imagination for your investigation at MoMA.

I find this exhibit to be a stimulating companion to the economic and political lecture summarized above. They both describe the need for the elastic thinking necessary for us to flourish together on a global level.

Taking time…

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Well it has been a day of playing with color, reading and making mini landscapes And it is all because my knee was in need of a rest. Sometimes when you slow down and focus on the now moment you can get more done and feel like you have all ofthe time in the world. I started reading a book called “finding sanctuary” by Abbot Christopher Jamison. the book inspires one to find spiritual space and peace in our everyday hectic and busy lives! Always interested in going beyond our day to day worries to the real reason of our existence, I search in books as well as in my artwork. Carpe diem!

Remembering one moment in time…

late afternoon company

It is early on a beautiful rainy day, dark and enveloping, chilly , yet I am fortunate enough to be able to wrap myself in warmth! I face the blank paper and draw out from my mind a memory of yesterday, a reflection on one small moment in time. Its importance lies in recognizing the dignity of each person and the need for allowing the spirit time and space for quietness. I am surprised at how much I actually recall! Remembering imagery and relationships between colors, shapes, lines and values seems to get better with consistent practice and and focused intention during each day. For instance, I “bookmark” key moments in my head as they happen and store them for future reference.

Back again, to paint and reflect!

window shadows  I have been painting … reading….meditating, and this is work in progress.Reading has included A New Earth by Eckhart Tolle, an interesting summary of new age philosophy.

Walking and yoga are helpful to center the mind and balance the body and spirit. I find it a good discipline to articulate in imagery and then to reflect in writing, here.

through the shadow window