Razor's Edge for 3/26/10

Today's theme is Strength of Women/Strong Women.

Being strong is more than physical ability. It is more than being able to stand firm in the face of adversity. It is about being honest within yourself and in your encounters in the world. It is about being willing to be vulnerable sometimes and being willing to open to yourself and follow where your heart and soul lead you. It is about letting go of the societally imposed images that don't fit you, that restrict you, that smother you. About listening to your inner wisdom.

Women are still often not encouraged to go within; to listen to ourselves; to be taken seriously - especially if we cry or feel strongly or want too much. But we still do.

And "strong" does not look the same in all cultures and all countries. Strong for me may very well be different than strong for you.

Below are images of women in different states of strength. And a video of a dance performance, called "Wet Woman."

Take a minute or two to look at all of the still pictures. Then watch the video. When the video is done, look at the still pictures again; one to two minutes.

Set a timer for 8 minutes and ... write. Move. Draw. Build something.

If word prompts help, try this: "A strong woman..........."

Modern Dance - Wet Woman (full Ver) - Sylvie Guillem

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Razor's Edge: 3/19/10

Before you look at the prompts today, let your mind drift. Close your eyes if it helps, and let your mind drift to a place of calm, quiet, and reflection. After you have let go of the things that fill your mind or pull your attention away from your creativity, inhale deep and release it slowly and steadily.

Start the music video, keep your relaxed mind open, and take in the pictures. When you feel ready or when the song has ended, let your creativity flow. Put pen to paper or fingers to keys, pick up the brush/pen/pencil, put notes on the clefts, dance.

Create.

Go - for 8 minutes. Express what is inside of you and ready to come out.




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[music by Philip Glass]

Razor's Edge for 3/12/10

In honor of Oregon's Poetry Out Loud state championship competition, this week's theme is, you guessed it, poetry!

One of the poems on my list to interpret is "What Kind of Times are These" by Adrienne Rich. There are about 70 poems on our list that the students will be performing (with five or six being done twice). This is one that stands out for me and fitting as a prompt.

So -take a moment to center yourself. Or go for a walk or a bath or a bike ride and return. Then read the Adrienne Rich poem below. Next start the Ani DiFranco video, Evolve, and look at the picture.

Take 10 minutes to write. Or paint. Or move about. Or sculpt. Create what you see and feel in this week's trio.

What Kind of Times Are These

by Adrienne Rich

There's a place between two stands of trees where the grass grows uphill

and the old revolutionary road breaks off into shadows

near a meeting-house abandoned by the persecuted

who disappeared into those shadows.

I've walked there picking mushrooms at the edge of dread, but don't be fooled

this isn't a Russian poem, this is not somewhere else but here,

our country moving closer to its own truth and dread,

its own ways of making people disappear.

I won't tell you where the place is, the dark mesh of the woods

meeting the unmarked strip of light—

ghost-ridden crossroads, leafmold paradise:

I know already who wants to buy it, sell it, make it disappear.

And I won't tell you where it is, so why do I tell you

anything? Because you still listen, because in times like these

to have you listen at all, it's necessary

to talk about trees.

What do you know about this place. Who or what goes there? Why? Tell me a story of those who are in the place and what they do.

photograph of Cukang Taneuh

Razor's Edge for March 5th, 2010

Today's theme is TRUTH.

The thing about "truth" is that there is very little that can be said to be absolutely 100% true 100% of the time. I know there are those who would argue otherwise and I know there are those who can find things that are always "true." But an individual's truth is often relative. And the truth of a statement or an event or a look or an action depends on who experiences it and where and when.

Instructions:

Take a couple minutes to center yourself, breathe, relax. Closing your eyes is optional - only do it if it helps you enter the place where you are and be present with what you are about to create.

When you're ready, look at the set of prompts and let them guide you to your creation. As a suggestion, look at the painting, watch the music video (it is both sound and visual stimulus), and the read the word prompt.

Notice what bubbles up to the surface for you.

Then create: write, draw, dance, cook, plant a garden. Follow where your heart takes you.


the painting:

Truth Wanders Alone
by Andy Kehoe

the music video:

Cynthia Hopkins,
of Gloria Deluxe.

the words:
Put two characters in a restricted space. One is content to be where they are because that character understands the importance of this meeting. The only negative thing is that there is no food and that character hasn't eaten since morning. The other character is anxious to go home, but can't do it without the first character's assistance, due to a physical limitation.

What is their relationship? Where are they and why? How do they resolve the conflict and both feel satisfied? Show me a story.