‘Saltwater’ Launched – the first of its kind! @beachescouncil

In the beginning, physicist David Deutsch says the universe was pretty boring – lots of big things formed like stars and planets, and always it was those big things affecting small things. But then, the whole nature of the cosmos changed and big things came to be determined by small things, such as us humans and how our evolutionary progress takes gargantuan leaps forward from the smallest of ideas.

So it was last week when I proudly helped launch my ‘small’ idea about publishing a collaborative community anthology into the gargantuan ‘Art & Words Project’, featuring 24 local writers/poet and artists. Wow! I’ve never felt such warm vibes from a room. Writers and artists were overjoyed to meet each other for the first time, others had already met up during the project and were glad to be reunited, all the fabulous artworks were on display, and copies of the anthology almost sold out! It felt like a family coming together – igniting and strengthening connections, sharing interests, crossing the bounds of creative isolation to work together. What a night!

Mayor Michael Regan gave a wonderful speech about reaching out to the council with more ideas (I sure will!) and how much the council wanted to support the community’s creativity. It was so good to hear, because any one of us might have an innovative idea, and act on it, to benefit the greater many. Small things affecting big things!

I gave a speech too, about forging community connections and flexing superpowers. A lion may sneak into our village at night, I told everyone, and eat one of us for dinner; but the next time it comes prowling we’ll be ready, together – because humans excel at cooperation, collaboration, communication, even with strangers. Thanks to the Art & Words Project, these artists, poet and writers certainly flexed their collaborative superpowers! Once all the writers had written a short story or poem on the theme of ‘Saltwater’, and I’d edited them, artists dug deep until they felt a response to that story, and then created a work of art from it – using oils, pencil, ink, acrylic, copper etching, fabric, collage, photography, or even mixed media waste.

I also spoke about evolving concepts of creativity, because artistic expression needn’t be segregated by media. Artworks don’t have to speak without words. Writings don’t have to whisper blindly. That’s not how we experience life. Life, as well as our creative expressions of it, can be multi-dimensional, multi-layered, multi-form; it can overlap and entwine, evolve and stimulate, reflect and deepen to offer viewers a more immersive realistic dynamic experience. Different types of creators can collaborate together. The ‘Art & Words Project’ proved exactly that! Just as technology constantly evolves, so must culture and creativity.

Which is why I’d encourage everyone reading this to think outside of yesterday’s box – keep our culture and creativity evolving, keep suggesting, pitching. You never know when someone out there’s going to say ‘yes, actually that’s a good idea, let’s do it’. And don’t just think for yourself, do it for other creators, with other creators. Reach out. Think collaboration. Think connections. Think creatively. Think family.

And on that note I’d like to thank mine – for the long hours Mummy spends trying to change the creative world of our community, little by little. You’re too kind and patient for your own good. The iceberg of volunteer work can run deep into family time.

Thank you also to the Northern Beaches Council’s Library Services and Manly Art Gallery & Museum for believing and trusting in my vision – especially Megan Sadler and Katherine Roberts. Thank you to all the budget-makers, administrators, staff and councilors who supported the project, and Mayor Michael Regan for your enthusiastic speech. After the launch, I spoke with some staff from another local council, who were already thinking what more they could do. How wonderful! I gave them some ideas. Big things come from little things…

The original artworks and anthology will be on display and available for purchase around each of the Northern Beaches six libraries, as well as on the Manly Art Gallery & Museum 24hr digital screen, during the Manly Arts Festival – on now! Pop in and visit!