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<TITLE>Re: The Question of Openness</TITLE>
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<FONT FACE="Arial"><SPAN STYLE='font-size:14.0px'>This is a great discussion on boundaries, especially given the interesting relationship of an open space to its “boundaries.” Boundary in social and other bio-based architectures can be a point of enclosure, entry, or transition. At the boundary, familiar meets unfamiliar, known meets unknown, heaven meets earth.<BR>
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In open spaces I observe, I trust that if I interact with non-judgment and non-interference, the group will discover and reinvent its own boundaries. Often, this means what used to be enclosures becomes new entries and transitions. And there is where the magic begins ...<BR>
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</SPAN></FONT></FONT><FONT FACE="Papyrus, Times New Roman"><SPAN STYLE='font-size:14.0px'>Jack<BR>
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</FONT><FONT COLOR="#808080"><FONT FACE="Papyrus, Times New Roman">jack ricchiuto<BR>
two.one.six/three.seven.three/seven.four.seven.five<BR>
www.designinglife.com / www.appreciativeleadership.com<BR>
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<FONT COLOR="#0000FF">> From: Pat Black <patblack@paulbunyan.net><BR>
> Reply-To: OSLIST <OSLIST@LISTSERV.BOISESTATE.EDU><BR>
> Date: Mon, 2 Jan 2006 10:06:17 -0600<BR>
> To: <OSLIST@LISTSERV.BOISESTATE.EDU><BR>
> Subject: The Question of Openness<BR>
> <BR>
> The issue of boundaries is a fascinating one to me. In the living, boundaries <BR>
> that define life are semi-permeable membranes. Solid concrete boundaries like <BR>
> the walls you described Harrison spell certain death to the living. The <BR>
> living transform their space with their living making it toxic to their <BR>
> current needs for living. Permeability allows for toxic waste to escape to <BR>
> the environment and be used for other processes while allowing new nutrient <BR>
> rich materials to pass through the membrane into the cell. Only what the cell <BR>
> can use passes through the membrane. That is what insures its living. For me <BR>
> this is the heart of the brilliance of Open Space, particularly the principles <BR>
> like "whoever comes is the right people etc." It all fits perfectly with the <BR>
> organizing principles of creation which have delivered life. <BR>
> <BR>
> I think of the individual people who show up for open space as the organelles <BR>
> and nutrients of the cell. Each one has a contribution to make, even the ones <BR>
> that create toxicity. Each component can only be themselves and I suspect <BR>
> they are blind to the concrete ways the selfs aggregate into collaboration and <BR>
> ever new creation. The new creation is the surprise and surprises prepare the <BR>
> ground for ever new creations. The measure of success in these groups of <BR>
> people who come together to open space is, were you surprised, how were you <BR>
> surprised? If we are present in the creation there is always surprise, there <BR>
> is always revelation. <BR>
> <BR>
> I do some work with organizations, non-profits usually, that work for balance <BR>
> in the world. Typically they are social justice groups, environmental groups, <BR>
> peace workers. Typically the people in these groups are very heady. They <BR>
> understand the world through their developed analytic skills and linguistic <BR>
> abilities and their passionate response to injustice or unbalance. When <BR>
> different groups start working together on joint issues things often break <BR>
> down around linguistic descriptions or what I think is actually their <BR>
> orientation to the problem, their viewpoint or perspective. So one of the <BR>
> things I often do is have participants draw pictures with big fat crayons of <BR>
> their viewpoint of whatever the issue is. Then we look at the pictures and <BR>
> describe what we actually see, like the picture is all red. Then we describe <BR>
> what we thing the artist is trying to say, how we feel, what we learned, how <BR>
> we feel about the learning until the collective ahas begin. The ahas are of <BR>
> co!<BR>
> urse the surprise percolating as the deconstruction of concrete boundaries <BR>
> allow permeability. <BR>
> <BR>
> And Harrison in the case of the Artist institute the invitation was open to <BR>
> anyone in the state so he was invited and has come more than once. One of the <BR>
> great things about Bill is through his holding of space instead of management <BR>
> of the situation the situation resolves itself and the provocateur is always <BR>
> welcome as the demolition expert for those concrete walls we are all prone to <BR>
> building.<BR>
> pat black<BR>
> Date: Sun, 1 Jan 2006 11:00:26 -0500<BR>
> From: Harrison Owen <hhowen@verizon.net><BR>
> Subject: The Question of Openness<BR>
> <BR>
> Open Space is a curious beast. It is open, but always within certain<BR>
> boundaries. Absent the boundaries, and there would be no defined space =<BR>
> (to<BR>
> be opened). So whatever Open Space is all about - it is not about the<BR>
> elimination of boundaries. They seem to come with the territory. But =<BR>
> that<BR>
> said - we have obviously not said it all. Just a start!<BR>
> <BR>
> First there is the nature of the boundaries. For some people, when you =<BR>
> say<BR>
> "boundary" the conjured image is immutable concrete walls, all set about<BR>
> with razor wire. Now that for sure is a boundary, and perhaps necessary<BR>
> under some conditions. The concrete wall is a boundary established by =<BR>
> the<BR>
> powers that be with the objective of containment (The Berlin Wall - =<BR>
> keeps<BR>
> the citizens in), or protection (The Great Wall of China-keeps the<BR>
> barbarians out). Or maybe both? But that is definitely not the sort of<BR>
> boundary I would anticipate in Open Space.<BR>
> <BR>
> For me, the boundary in Open Space has a very different origin and =<BR>
> function.<BR>
> The boundary in Open Space has its origin in the people who care to show =<BR>
> up.<BR>
> This is obvious even in purely physical terms. To be sure, some one =<BR>
> person<BR>
> may rent the hall and set up the chairs, but you don't have an open =<BR>
> space<BR>
> until the people arrive. No people, no open space - and also no =<BR>
> boundary.<BR>
> Just a bunch of empty chairs! But when the people come, as they usually =<BR>
> do,<BR>
> the assembled circle of folks describes the edges (boundaries) of an =<BR>
> empty<BR>
> space. And while nothing is physically present there is still a massive<BR>
> presence consisting of all the (as yet unspoken) hopes and fears of =<BR>
> those<BR>
> who cared to come. The people create the boundary and its function is<BR>
> neither to contain nor protect them (the people), but rather to provide =<BR>
> a<BR>
> welcoming space for all that they are and hope to become.<BR>
> <BR>
> This people-created-boundary is not set in concrete, for almost as =<BR>
> quickly<BR>
> as it is established it dissolves into multiple new open spaces with =<BR>
> their<BR>
> attendant boundaries. And so it goes through an endless process of =<BR>
> creation<BR>
> and dissolution, stasis and disequilibrium. In the moment (perhaps a<BR>
> nanosecond) it all seems quite fixed, but in fact there is a continuous<BR>
> flow. It is the flow of organism, or life. Were that flow to cease, life<BR>
> would cease; the open space vanishes with a poof!=20<BR>
> <BR>
> So much for the poetry and abstractions! This understanding of bounded =<BR>
> open<BR>
> space has some very practical implications and applications, I think. =<BR>
> For<BR>
> example, the notion that the space/boundaries are created by all those =<BR>
> who<BR>
> cared to come casts the role of "The Organizing Body" (be that the =<BR>
> Corporate<BR>
> Executive Committee or a single person) in a rather different light. It =<BR>
> is<BR>
> not about exclusion, but rather inclusion - of all those who might care =<BR>
> to<BR>
> come. Obviously there may be some practical limitations (the room is too<BR>
> cramped, the budget too small), but each of these represents a =<BR>
> compromise to<BR>
> the potential power of the open space. And to be sure, life is always a<BR>
> series of compromises which just have to be "lived with." But that does =<BR>
> not<BR>
> make them any less compromising.<BR>
> <BR>
> However, when the organizing body seeks to exercise its role in an =<BR>
> exclusive<BR>
> fashion - all under the heading of insuring that the "right people" show =<BR>
> up,<BR>
> it always seems to me that "compromising" turns into its completed state =<BR>
> -<BR>
> Compromised! As Michael H. points out such situations do exist, as when =<BR>
> it<BR>
> is determined that the Open Space is "only" available for Senior =<BR>
> Management.<BR>
> As if Senior Management was the only folks who cared?!?!?<BR>
> <BR>
> And what about the strangers? Particularly those strangers who are =<BR>
> deemed to<BR>
> be socially unacceptable? Pat Black tells of the "Provocateur" who =<BR>
> showed up<BR>
> at the Arts Open Space. Doubtless, he or she was not on the guest list. =<BR>
> And<BR>
> I am sure that his/her performance made many of the participants =<BR>
> distinctly<BR>
> uncomfortable, all the while offering Bill Cleveland (the facilitator) =<BR>
> an<BR>
> anxious moment or two. But I would be willing to be any amount that the =<BR>
> open<BR>
> space became full, exciting, and rich - filled with deep learning =<BR>
> moments of<BR>
> surprising sorts. And none of that could have occurred with the =<BR>
> obnoxious<BR>
> stranger.=20<BR>
> <BR>
> So anyhow, Open Space has boundaries for sure. But we may want to =<BR>
> explore<BR>
> their nature, origin, and purpose. It could be they are not what they =<BR>
> seem.<BR>
> Be prepared to be surprised!<BR>
> <BR>
> Harrison<BR>
> NEW EMAIL ADDRESS!!!!<BR>
> hhowen@verizon.net<BR>
> Harrison Owen<BR>
> 7808 River Falls Drive<BR>
> Potomac, Maryland 20854<BR>
> Phone 301-365-2093<BR>
> Skype hhowen<BR>
> <BR>
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