Joseph Campbell stated that “(art) is a presentation of forms, images, or ideas in such a way that they will communicate, not primarily a thought or even a feeling, but an impact.” What qualities do art, architecture, literature, performance, dance and music have which create this impact-this “aha moment” allowing us to see from a fresh perspective? This impact is liminal space where participants cross the threshold beyond which creative expression is experienced as a powerful and mystical source of meaning.I am wondering if any of you have experienced this “liminal space" with one of the arts or in your own life?” Does it sound too abstract? This was the theme of my residency at Goddard and I am curious as to what you think.
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Hello everyone~
I have just emerged from an intensive week at Goddard. The theme of the residency was “liminal space,” a word I had never heard of but have now had time to digest. The Vermont landscape was a magical wonderland of glistening, snowy trees and mountains which possessed and indescribable silence that awakened the soul. This makes up for the accommodations and food, which are less than ideal. Tina and I made the most of it and escaped for brief interludes into Montpellier and Plainfield for some rations. We enjoyed our cafeteria time with good friends and stimulating conversation. All in all, the residency went smoothly but Tina and I felt a growing anxiousness to leave and felt “done” by Thursday. I don’t know if it was the imagination of NYC calling us or the amount of work that lay ahead making us anxious to leave, but we both felt a great release as we waved goodbye to Goddard and said hello to New York. More to come…Laura
"liminal space where participants cross the threshold beyond which creative expression is experienced as a powerful and mystical source of meaning."
In writing this is referred to as so many different things. One of the ones I like is flow. Flow is that place where you are not even aware of your surroundings and all that you can think, hear, smell, taste and experience is what you are writing on the page. It is this experience in this place that keeps me coming back to writing. It is the same place we go...sort of, when we are SO into a book that you forget all sense of time, place and space as you are, literally, the book!
Ultimately this is where you feel a great sense of pleasure and purpose. And if you have not ever been there then it is almost impossible to describe. It is when we are the closest, I believe, to the energy of the soul of the universe. It is as though everything in the universe and within you are working together to create. It is magic!
My fear is that our children have less and less opportunities to even discover this pleasure-filled space, thus making reading and writing and the arts one more thing to "get done" to "check off their list" before going on to the next thing! I could really get going here...but I won't.
Did I read this in the way you intended? Either way, this is what spoke to me.
A great thing to think of when the tundra of this season seems to be weighing on me so heavily it is suffocating!! I yearn for spring and new life!!
I hope everyone is well...Tomasen
Tomasen~
I loved your description of "liminal space" or "flow"-
"It is when we are the closest, I believe, to the energy of the soul of the universe. It is as though everything in the universe and within you are working together to create. It is magic!"
I have had this experience with drawing and painting but not as often as I would like and have often wondered how you get to that place. In reading Eckhart Tolle's book, "The New Earth" I have been thinking about how he talks about how our egos try to define us and bring attachment to things that are really are not who we are at the core. Putting it in this context made me think about how attached I am to many things in my life~even artwork that I don't even really like. It made me wonder if it is the ego that blocks us from getting to that place of flow.
I think that you brought up a good point with our children today and how many aren't allowed the opportunity to get to this place. Tina and I have had many conversations on this topic and questions about this. In fact much of her work is about her questioning things like standardized testing and what is lost when children aren't allowed to play and be creative. I believe it is something that needs to be talked about.
I wondered if any of you have made any observations regarding this. Is it seen as something necessary? How do we foster this in both children and ourselves?
I honestly think about this all the time and have come to terms of it by hoping that they will get there "in spite of us" and what is happening in education.
I think different people get there in different ways and to truly make meaning out of one's life, one has to eventually get there? I don't know. Perhaps it is just a defense mechanism for me to always want to believe in the best! To believe that the minds and energy and creativity of our kids will prevail, no matter how much we try to do the opposite! I have even had fantasies about how the lack of opportunities will make them rise up and revolt!! Ahhh...
It is snowing here again. All I can think about is going someplace warm. Probably because everyone I know is leaving or trying to leave to go south today as it is the first day of vacation. I have the whole week off and well...I just wish I was going someplace warm!
Oh well....
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