Working with visual artists at an Open Space

Mon Aug 21 14:04:54 PDT 2006

hi all,

not as simple as both addendums, i think...

the facilitator comes in with no knowledge of the real work of the
organization, makes a short opening invitation and explanation of the
process, and then is *poof* mostly gone from view.  when he/she does
show up, it's usually only to ask the group to tell itself what is
happening.

the artist, on the other hand, comes in and listens the same as
everybody else, perhaps to technical language that they don't quite
understand, any more than the facilitator would, but what the artist
does is quite different.

he/she sits in sessions, listening to the details, capturing the notes
-- same as participants and conveners... but the artists are
professional note-takers, and their product is so much more accessible
than a few pages of typed notes.  on the other hand, the artist
doesn't really grasp or record the details any more than the
facilitator does, so the drawings might be interesting but not enough
to act on.  the typed notes are still important... if we are here for
action.  depending on the circumstances, it seems that the pictures
might overwhelm the text notes.  that seems out of line with our
intentions in opening space.  we want people to make their own
stories, with whatever tools they might have.

is the artist's work beautiful, interesting, magical, and more.  yes,
of course.  but what if i am a great story teller?  would i ever get
up and attempt to 'keynote' the closing circle with my own summation?
never.  so i'm not sure why i would ever want an artist to come in and
be summarizing people's stories for them, taking them to some level of
expression that, as beautiful as it might be, is not somehting that
the group can sustain for themselves.

NOW, all that said... IF the artist can step out of this sort of
default role of brilliant storyteller and documenter and work same as
the facilitator -- to invite everyone else to make up the story for
themselves, now that seems something entirely different to me.  the
artist as invitation, the artist who never sketches anything -- but
somehow finishes the day with a wall full of pictures by others... now
that is what i call artistic opening!

i'm not interested in bringing others in to do things that we think
participants can't do for themselves.  i want to invite participants
to do it *all* for themselves.  that, to me, is what open space is
for... discovering that we can do it for ourselves... that we have the
bullet points, the artful sketch, the passion, the responsiblity, the
vision and the action within each and all of us.

m

On 8/21/06, Harrison Owen <hhowen at adelphia.net> wrote:
>
>
> Reinhard -- I didn't mean to hurt your feelings. And if it will make you
> feel any better you should know that when I facilitate an Open Space I
> consider myself an "addendum" My job is to get out of the way as quickly as
> possible so that the people can do what only the people can do.
>
>
> Harrison
>
> Harrison Owen
> 7808 River Falls Dr.
> Potomac, MD  20854
> USA
> 301-365-2093
> 207-763-3261 (summer)
> website www.openspaceworld.com
> Personal Website www.ho-image.com
>
>
>
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: Visuelle Protokolle
> To: OSLIST at LISTSERV.BOISESTATE.EDU
>
> Sent: Monday, August 21, 2006 2:34 AM
> Subject: AW: Working with visual artists at an Open Space
>
>
> Hi Chris, and all you others,
>
> I was hoping that your question would open a dialog I was seeking since
> years. Since years I am on this OS list, feeling that you and me are seeking
> for the same treasure in and on similar ways.
>
> But then I get Harrison's "One caution about visual artists and other such
> addendum" and ask me, and ask you: Are you, like me, an addendum to the
> process of self organizing people, helping them a bit as we can with our
> tools, or are you the high priests and I am the addendum?
>
>
> Mit freundlichen Grüßen
> best regards
>
> Reinhard
>
> VISUELLE PROTOKOLLE
> Kuchenmüller & Stifel
>
> tel +39-0566-88 929
> www.visuelle-protokolle.de
>
>
>  ________________________________
>  Von: OSLIST [mailto:OSLIST at LISTSERV.BOISESTATE.EDU] Im Auftrag von Chris
> Corrigan
> Gesendet: Mittwoch, 9. August 2006 18:51
> An: OSLIST at LISTSERV.BOISESTATE.EDU
> Betreff: Working with visual artists at an Open Space
>
>
> Hi mates:
>
> I have an opportunity coming up in the fall to work with a visual artist for
> an Open Space I am doing.  The clients wants us to work together and I'm
> excited by the possibility, but haven't ever done that before.
>
> So what kind of good stories do you have of working with visual artists (and
> visual art as a modality) in Open Space.
>
> Daniel?  Reinhardt?  Is Nancy Margulis around?  Others?
>
> Chris
>
> --
> CHRIS CORRIGAN
> Consultation - Facilitation
> Open Space Technology
>
> Weblog: http://www.chriscorrigan.com/parkinglot
> Site: http://www.chriscorrigan.com
> Open Space Resources:  http://tinyurl.com/r94tj * *
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-- 

Michael Herman
Michael Herman Associates
300 West North Ave #1105
Chicago IL 60610 USA
Phone: 312-280-7838
michael at michaelherman.com

skype: globalchicago

http://www.michaelherman.com
http://www.openspaceworld.org

Inviting Leadership ...getting
the most important things done in
the easiest possible ways.

*
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