Archive for March, 2012
Artwalk rEVOLVe Comes To The Old Rainier Brewery April 14 2012
Last year about this time, I was talking to a friend who lamented about the state of artwalks. He felt that they were hit-and-miss, lackluster outdoor art flings full of kitch-y commercial art objects for sale, and vendor booths with items stocked from your neighbor’s last garage sale. Having become a participant of the Old Rainier Brewery Artwalks, which run four to five times a year, I could have easily become defensive. However, I’ve perused a few artwalks in other neighborhoods and other states, and there is a ring of truth to his description. It begs the question of why anyone who is interested in art would wish to attend, let alone participate in, an artwalk. While I can’t speak for all of the artwalks (over 30+ and growing!) in Seattle, I can give you at least three reasons why Seattle peeps will want to come to the Old Rainier Brewery’s Artwalk “rEVOLVe” on April 14, 2012.
REASONS TO ATTEND REVOLVE AT THE OLD RAINIER BREWERY
Are you ready to try "Facial Karaoke" with Imei during the artwalk? [Yes, now have a kitty!
3150 Airport Way South, Seattle 98134
April 14, 2012 6-10 pm, with after-party by invitation
Reason 1: Music and Performance Art
Music and performance art practices go on in the Old Rainier Brewery pretty much seven days a week. It doesn’t take a brain surgeon to figure out why our artwalk boasts some pretty awesome music groups, dancers and troupe, fire dancers, and other circus-type acts in our building.
In the case of the Hips For Hire studio, Hejira World Band will be joining us once again from 7 -8 pm for concert. They’ll be giving away a few house concerts (remember to bring your business card!) during that hour, and if you can’t stay long, you can get your name in the bucket for the drawing. Hejira’s blend of world music with a jazzy feel makes our artwalkers happy!
Reason 2: Weather Resistant
Currently, I’m watching a rain and hail storm scrub my windows free of bird poo and dirt. But when other artwalks run their events, weather can be a real factor into the enjoyment of the actual function. People don’t generally want to freeze their fingers in snow and hail, or risk their paintings becoming wet from rain and snow. These worrisome factors do not affect this artwalk. Not only do we have convenient parking onsite, our artwalk is entirely housed within the building during the wet weather months. We have the ability to use more outdoor space during the summer months. Artists can be assured their art will be clean and dry.
Reason 3: Art by Artists for Everyone
One of the changes we made to the artwalk is to charge a registration fee for artists showing their work in the building. Running an artwalk is a big job, and advertising and organizing requires some money to offset costs for the posters, as well as maps for the artwalk itself. Since our building is huge and a bit confusing to first-timers, a map is absolutely necessary. But by charging a small fee to the artists who want to show, we get early commitments to show, the organizers get a chance to organize the art by floor and by host, and the public gets less kitch and more quality. While we might now have as many T-shirt vendors and metal toe-ring makers, what people do end up participating have thoughtfully constructed something for your artistic viewing pleasure.
It’s not very likely anything highly commercialized will be showing in our artwalk. Yet most of the artists are available to create on commission if you like their style and want something unique.
REVOLVE IN HIPS FOR HIRE STUDIO
For now, the artful presentations in the Hips For Hire studio are:
6-7p DJ attamc, and “Facial Karoke” with Imei
7-8p Hejira World Band (Don and Ashraf)
8-9p U-hoop and possibly another band
I don’t yet have anything planned for the final hour, except clean up and break down. That’s because it’s near my birthday, and I’ll be preparing to go to our after party, where three of us are having birthdays. I imagine there may be copious kitteh petting sessions, as some people have only met Ms. Lumi virtually. If you’d like to see what the fuss is about, check out my Pinterest page under “kittehs”.
Our faces use 43 muscles and access over 1000 expressions. Facial Karaoke is my unique presentation of recycling and borrowing expressions, allowing participants to explore feelings in a physical and visceral way without experiencing the actual situations that can produce them. This is a fun (and funny) way to learn expression, reading, and human connection that we all crave from the first moment our baby eyes open and see our first caregiver. All participation is voluntary. Facial Karaoke involves movement, observation, pauses, and inspiration from Butoh (modern dance from Japan). It is my attempt to help show you a little of my world as an artful psychotherapist, but with a humorous approach to educating others about emotions.
MY CAUSE BENEFITS YOU: DESIGNING YOUR PRACTICE, A BOOK WRITING PROJECT
As usual, parts of the artwalk will be on broadcast on Ustream.tv. Any donations to my studio’s artwalk presentation will benefit my book-writing project, Designing Your Practice: An Artist’s Approach, which is currently on Kickstarter. Professional book publishing (as opposed to a simple eBook) is a longer and more expensive publishing process, but one that is necessary for me to present a professional book able to hold up to scrutiny in the medical, mental health, and education fields. This book is about why and how re-infusing our daily practices with artful thinking is meant to change the way we do business, relate, and compassionately treat one another. There will be more information provided soon about my book writing process.
For the first time since I came to live and work from the Old Rainier Brewery, I’m using the artwalk as a way to present to the community my own shameless self-promotion. This time, the cause benefits you, because this book is being written for you — that is, artists, business people, educators, activists, free thinkers, professionals. I’m writing something that I believe will transform the way people think about ways of being and living, doing business, and helping others. I know that ultimately the book’s presence will be the present I give back to the world. While it may not directly feed a malnourished child in Africa, it indirectly teaches each person a response to their artistic and creative self that can easily lead someone to change their best practices to accommodate thoughtful giving to feed the world’s malnourished children.
If you haven’t seen my Kickstarter campaign video about the book, here it is:
By April 7, my campaign on Kickstarter will either be funded or canned forever. But the book writing project must continue, and I must get this book published. Whether it’s one dollar in a tin can at a time, or a generous angel investment (or something in between), I’ll continue to write and get this baby published.
Come one, and come all to rEVOLVe, or watch it on Ustream.tv/channdel/hips-for-hire-with-imei
Getting It Right
Getting It Right
B. Imei Hsu, RN, LMHC, Artist
While I write my book, Designing Your Practice, I am already thinking of my book signing launch party. The moment you invite the public to view your baby is a very special moment. No matter how artistic you are, there are elements to presentation you need to consider before you put it out there. While most of us do not have the capital of a large department store, I’d like to highlight my experience with the Nordstrom Rack’s recent opening in downtown Seattle as an example of a company who is “getting it right” when it comes to presenting something in which they take great pride.
Outside the new Nordstrom Rack
I peeked into the windows of the closed Nordstrom Rack store, right past the sign that indicated that the store was closed for a private event. Nordstrom Rack’s advertisement to the blogging community indicated that they wanted each of us to feel welcome, but not to share this event beyond our close friends and influencers. Why? Because this was an exclusive event they wanted just for us: the very first people people in the public to see their store and shop their merch. The store was not officially open, and they wanted us to know that their staff was there for us.
Tip #1: make your guests feel known by name, welcomed, and exclusive.
The manager of the store, Peter McMahon (@Seattle_Rack on Twitter) was there to greet every guest. He stopped and looked me in the eye, shook my hand, and looked at my name tag while pronouncing my name. I know that seems simple, right? But you have no idea how many places I go to — even doctor’s offices, where the receptionist, medical aid, and other workers do not even bother to acknowledge who I am.
Tip #2: for crying out loud, address people by name.
As I descended the escalator, I heard applause. Uh-oh, there is a gauntlet of clapping staff members wearing green staff shirts that identify them clearly as staff, and trays and trays of white wine and vodka limonadas. Oooh-la la, I have to have one of those [erm, maybe two, since I'm taking light rail home]. Instead of thinking, “This is over-the-top,” I realized the staff were being primed for what they will be doing from this time forward: happy that you are a customer. Happy that you might come to their store and have a good experience, find what you like, and purchase something.
Years ago, my grandmother came to visit from Taiwan. Her clothing did not look expensive to others, but she was a wealthy woman who asked me to take her shopping at an exclusive women’s shop in Bellevue, WA. The staff did not pay attention to her because she didn’t speak English, and she didn’t look rich. I had to catch the attention of one of the assistants by whispering, “My grandmother has $10K in her purse. Would you care to wait on her?”
The Nordstrom Rack is like any other business. While they specialize in value-priced clothing for those watching their budgets, they aren’t turning away women who look like my grandmother. I know, because they didn’t judge me, and I am certainly no fashionista wearing couture and flashing money. [BTW, my grandmother bought $5000 worth of clothing that day. Cash.]
Tip #3: respect everyone who looks at your business, your art, your products, and thank everyone equally, even if they don’t buy anything. You never know the outcome until you get to the cash register.
Before I descended down the escalator, I was handed a thin and seemingly light swag bag. They didn’t tell me what was in the bag, but I found out later how each bag contained a gift certificate for $50.00. How nice! While there was no expectation that you had to spend it then, they hoped each blogger would tweet using their hashtag, share with their friends what they bought, and say something kind. If you did so, you were entered to win an item. Press was invited to capture those moments, and a DJ stood at attention to pump out some tunes.
Tip #4: give something people like to get something you will like.
I ended up asking the Nordstrom Rack Twitter representative why I was invited to this event, since I know Seattle is bursting with Social Media people who have larger followings than I do. She said that while they targeted Twitter users with followings higher than 800 (which would qualify someone like me), they also looked for community members who others looked to for advice. She looked at my Twitter handle and said, “Oh, you’re the bellydancer.”
I smiled. Someone did their homework.
Tip #5: it’s not the number of followers someone has, or a popularity contest. It is your power to influence, to persuade, or project a positive impact that others find valuable. Invite those people to your events.
They did their part: they wanted me to shop, and they gave me a gift certificate. I did my part: I was the shopper, and I bought items I wished to show others.
Tip #6: know the purpose of your artful event. You have a role, and your guest has a role. Respect the roles. In fact, have fun with them.
Watermelon BCBG jacket and a ring
I am very sorry to report that @Superbetch did not like the raincoat I purchased for the transitional days between Winter and Spring (where it rains and rains, but it’s not cold enough to wear the heavy black rain coat). But he did like the ring I bought, pictured here. I love both items, and I think I’ll get some major use out of the coat. If I get tired of the color, I’ll tell Superbetch I had it professionally tye-dyed. [Ha ha].
My book launch, your artful events, and both of our presentations of what we love and what we do must have the same sense of preparation, care, excitement, smart presentation, and giving as any other business. While we may not have the same budget to give everyone a couple of glasses of wine and seemingly endless appetizers, giving away signed CD’s and books, sharing links for free podcasts, and showing how guests can win free items are helpful in getting your art into the hands of those who not only appreciate your work but tell others about it too.
Here’s to getting it right! [Good job, Nordstrom Rack!]BTW, they gave each guest a bunch of tulips in a variety of colors. I got a bunch to match my new watermelon-colored raincoat. Nice touch to remember them by: simple beauty at an affordable price.
Now, tell us what you think. Do you think art openings need to have the same attention to detail in being “consumer oriented” as other business openings? What transferrable concepts do you see that will help you the next time you throw a house concert, a locals show, or a dance performance to a new audience?
Editor’s Note: I am NOT picking on @Superbetch. He and I both know that I love everything black, and every once and awhile I have to be spontaneous and purchase something that is not black, grey, white, or chartreuse. It’s Springtime, darling [Mwah].
Dance Everything
After coming back from Santa Fe and the Creativity and Madness Conference for artists and medical professionals, my brain has been sensitized to presentations of all kinds. I don’t know it that means I’m going to become a Toastmaster’s girl anytime soon, but I can better appreciate a good presentation when I see one. The inflection of voice, the timing in the delivery of a joke, and the simple explanation of a complex matter have a shiny-new beauty to me. My time at the conference made me wonder if I ought to consider creating a multi-faceted presentation on dance, along with its implications in mental health and well-being. What if you could dance what it looked like to be unwell? What if you could demonstrate, through dance, what it meant to be in healing relationship? What if you could dance - everything?
Perhaps, we can.
Think about what artists could do, in conjunction with helping professionals, to educate people on mental health and wellness. We could take complex issues, such as depression, and help people see that those who are sensitive to feelings of sadness and despair are more than a chemical imbalance with feet.
Next: My Kickstarter campaign for my book (Fall 2012). And yes, Part II of How To Write A Song [the simple way].
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