Taking on the challenge to help tell the story of the Greensboro School of Creativity

If a picture is worth a thousand words, but that thousand words is meant to factor into the story of a complex tapestry woven of vibrant personalities and passions and inspirations, what then? Well, first of all, one picture just won't do. If your goal is to tell that story online, then you've got an even bigger challenge. Capture the audience quickly, make it dynamic and cover as many bases as you possibly can. No pressure there!

Since collaborating on the website for the Greensboro School of Creativity then making myself at home in my beloved (**though terribly underused,) studio there, I've gotten to know some enthusiastic, warm, enormously talented people. Whenever I'm in "our" building at 900 Sixteenth Street, I run into a steady stream of fascinating artists and wellness professionals. Invariably I come away teeming with new ideas and smiling over something new I've learned. Even when I wasn't really there looking for inspiration... or new lessons, either! (Though let's be clear: fresh inspiration and increased knowledge do help make the world go round.)

For months, there's been this ongoing quandary over how exactly to capture the attention of new website visitors and give them an accurate glimpse into what this remarkable community is all about. The diversity and richness can just be so much to take in...

Maybe we've finally found the answer. Over the last few weeks, a spark grew into a glimmer that turned into this little obsession of mine. Many later nights even than usual, and last Wednesday evening I revealed one version of this video montage to a small group of people. The response was finer than I'd imagined. And so I was asked to unveil it the next night, (or a derivative version, several editing rounds later,) to a larger room filled with many of those very passionate, inspirational people whose stories we'd been trying to tell. I've been making these for personal use for a while - don't even think that your mom or dad won't always, always welcome something like this as their Mother's Day and Father's Day gift, particularly when it features the cherubs they so love - but I'd never attempted to do this for a public audience. Creating something of this magnitude meant to represent an entire community had transported me to a different playing-field altogether. And although I still have a lot to learn, and a long way to go - OH the people I missed and the segments I want to revise: my inner critic stands up and waves her hand frantically, trying to get my inner writer's attention but look how we're just going to ignore her here! Because you know what? If you can have this much fun and learn new lessons and even scratch the surface in the story of a place as complex as this, and still feel inspired for the next round when you put this version to bed? Then I think you've got something to be proud of. And I am! I'm so fortunate to be able to do the kind of work I do, and this was the perfect reminder.

So yea - this is one of the many things I've been up to these days. I look forward to refining my skills and making even more in future! (Actually, there are two others in the works for other projects on which I'm collaborating!) Now. Go check out the Greensboro School of Creativity! There's:

• Another session of Creativity Circle on Friday,
• A reception for a new gallery exhibit, "Change of Season," opening later that evening,
• An upcoming Art of WellBeing Expo on November 12,
• And a delightful array of classes, workshops, presentations and screenings in the areas of general creativity, film & video arts, literary arts, performing arts, spirituality & wellness, and visual arts. Truly something for everyone...

**And the reason it's terribly underused is the flip side of that complex coin of all that inspiration and learning. I have an awful lot of work on my plate these days. Going to "my studio" to work is often a little bit of a joke. Because putting me in a space filled with all that creative energy is pretty much a sure fire guarantee that I might just end up playing instead of working. And these days, the pendelum has to swing pretty far in the other direction. But no worries... I'll find my balance again one day! And then more play dates for me. You know where I'll be...