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<DIV><FONT face=Arial>Further to Anne's posting. . . but in a little different
vein. some years ago the Arts Councils of the USA had annual meetings to sharpen
their trade. These meeting were the usual talking head, special sessions, etc --
and each year the people went home frustrated, bored and sometimes mad. On the
last meeting (this was a 5 year grant program from the Pew foundation), somebody
found Open Space. Pew almost had a fit because it sounded totally out of
control, and in fact they tried their very best to stop it. Failing that they
insisted that at least the program start with a panel of speakers. Presumably
they were "experts" b ut it was the usual -- however they did not draw the usual
response. Three quarters way through a large black man stood up in the rear of
the auditorium and said something to the effect -- I don't know what Open Space
is supposed to be -- but this is fuckin-A NOT open space. And he left. The place
was reduced ed to pandemonium -- and the sponsors quickly turned to the
facilitator (not me) and said Help!</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial>The circle was formed, space opened, and 250 highly gifted
artists (graphic, plastic, musical, and whatever) -- went for it -- Enhancing
the Arts in the Communities: Issues and opportunities.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial>God knows how many sessions were proposed, but few were
announced in the "standard way." Dance sessions were "danced," music sessions
were Sung/drummed/played, etc.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial>And then the fun began!</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial>The closing session (which I have only seen on a very bad
video) was incredible. 250 artists co-created, in the moment, an impromptu of
major proportions. <BR><BR>HO<BR><BR></FONT></DIV></DIV>
<DIV>Harrison Owen<BR>7808 River Falls Dr.<BR>Potomac, MD
20854<BR>USA<BR>301-365-2093<BR>207-763-3261 (summer)<BR>website <A
href="http://www.openspaceworld.com">www.openspaceworld.com</A><BR>Personal
Website <A href="http://www.ho-image.com">www.ho-image.com</A><BR></DIV>
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<DIV style="FONT: 10pt arial">----- Original Message ----- </DIV>
<DIV
style="BACKGROUND: #e4e4e4; FONT: 10pt arial; font-color: black"><B>From:</B>
<A title=annestad@comcast.net href="mailto:annestad@comcast.net">anne
stadler</A> </DIV>
<DIV style="FONT: 10pt arial"><B>To:</B> <A
title=OSLIST@LISTSERV.BOISESTATE.EDU
href="mailto:OSLIST@LISTSERV.BOISESTATE.EDU">OSLIST@LISTSERV.BOISESTATE.EDU</A>
</DIV>
<DIV style="FONT: 10pt arial"><B>Sent:</B> Wednesday, August 23, 2006 4:25
PM</DIV>
<DIV style="FONT: 10pt arial"><B>Subject:</B> OS with Artists</DIV>
<DIV><BR></DIV><FONT face=Verdana>First: if this comes to you twice on
the OSListServe it is not because I posted twice. It is something which
happens elsewhere. So I am SORRY.<BR><BR>Re. OS and artists: I
have often had circles in which artists participate. They offer their
work (be it musically, visually or whatever...) in the marketplace, and
sometimes as convenors. The crucial and only issue is “take
responsibility for what you love” and do it fluently as a gift to the
community, within the minimal formal context provided by the OS patterns.
If the artist is a convenor, he/she participates fluently as an equal of
the person responsible for OS facilitation, offering whatever comes, whenever
it is timely. And when convenors meet for attuning before the gathering,
or during it, he/she participates as an equal listener and voice.<BR><BR>For
instance, visual artists offer marketplace sessions. Once we had a
gallery of sculptures people made during a marketplace session, which everyone
in the circle (of 500+ people) was invited to tour. (That was amazing:
all the sculptures were made from rolls of aluminum and found objects!)
<BR>In the closing circle, visual artists show their own interpretations
of energetic exchanges they are witnessing or whatever they are inspired to
create. Dancers dance their interpretations of our subject. (This
happened once in Dharmshala at an OS on the subject: “Creating Value out of
Values”. It was awe-inspiring!)<BR>People have read poems that came to
them as we were together. Musicians have sung songs, played instruments
as they were guided.<BR>Etc. etc. etc. <BR><BR>One of my most profound
experiences was at Spirited Work. We arrived to find that very large,
tall sculptures had been erected on every post in the large room in which we
had our circle. There were eight of them. They were like totems,
made of found objects, and each had extraordinary power. It was as if a
group of archetypes had graced our space. All weekend we interacted with
them. Two small children who were part of our group periodically gave
people gifts of candies which came out of a hand-like space of one of them.
On Saturday night we always had a special celebration dinner, to which
we invited the artist (who was a neighbor). After supper he told us the
story of his life which had blossomed completely after he left everything he’d
believed he needed and simply trusted God to guide him. What a fantastic
inspiration!! And it was totally on the money, given the season and the method
of OS!! Talk about synchronicity!<BR><BR>All of us have the capacity to
speak, listen, write, move our bodies, create theater, draw, paint, create
sculpture, make musical sounds. AND it is sublime having all those gifts
present and expressed in any space we inhabit in order to gain maximum
inspiration in my humble and enthusiastic opinion.<BR><BR>Blessings to all,
Anne<BR><BR> </FONT> * *
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