Working with visual artists at an Open Space

joralt joralt at netvision.net.il
Tue Aug 22 03:45:45 PDT 2006


Dear Michael

 

I have no idea where did you take the image of an artist as someone who is
supposed to take away from the group their own story telling by imposing his
own artful interpretations and

how did you arrive to conclusion that the artist's "default role of
brilliant storyteller and documenter" is what artist's job really supposed
to be?

In my experience, working with visual material allowing people to use
unsophisticated and non-professional image making as a tool to extract deep
insight into a problem or a burning issue has always resulted in a very
positive and many times a surprised reaction at the profoundness and
inclusiveness of those insights. What is more, with a very little guidance,
most people have no problem to read and correctly interpret the visual data
that adds a significant emotional and sensual information that goes beyond
the judgmental tendency of cerebral verbiage. It is exactly the image of an
artist as some sort of a specially gifted and sometimes eccentric individual
that has created the isolation of the artist in specialized ghettos, with
the result of profound neglect of the search for a balance between content
and form almost in all areas of life .The fact that all content needs design
to be meaningful and good design is not limited to artistic forms is exactly
what can be the artist's contribution to the society in general and to an
alternative ways of communication, interaction and creativity in many
specific settings, open space included.

Josef

 

 

Josef Ralt

mobile:972528000278

home:97236821621

http://www.flickr.com/photos/joeralt

-----Original Message-----
From: OSLIST [mailto:OSLIST at LISTSERV.BOISESTATE.EDU] On Behalf Of Michael
Herman
Sent: Monday, August 21, 2006 11:05 PM
To: OSLIST at LISTSERV.BOISESTATE.EDU
Subject: Re: Working with visual artists at an Open Space

 

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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