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<TITLE>Re: [OSList] Sharing about making work in Open Space</TITLE>
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<FONT FACE="Calibri, Verdana, Helvetica, Arial"><SPAN STYLE='font-size:11pt'>Thanks Harrison. Yes, I think you’re right, and I think we’re starting to realise this in how we’re working together, in the way we welcome in new (and sometimes unexpected) people, and the way we organise ourselves around the work we’re trying to make.<BR>
It’s less actual “Open Space” as for a group of 12 or 120, and more constantly opening space as we go, at every moment we need to. <BR>
So maybe working in ‘intentionally opening space’ rather than Open Space? (you can never split hairs too much for me, I write for my living and love the semantics.)<BR>
Though whatever we’re doing, it sure does help to have the 5 principles on the wall, and a (badly drawn) picture of those two feet ...<BR>
Stella x<BR>
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On 29/05/2012 16:43, "Harrison Owen" <<a href="hhowen@verizon.net">hhowen@verizon.net</a>> wrote:<BR>
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</SPAN></FONT><BLOCKQUOTE><FONT FACE="Calibri, Verdana, Helvetica, Arial"><SPAN STYLE='font-size:11pt'><FONT COLOR="#1F497D">Stella – I love what you are doing, as I am sure do all the other odd folks in OS-Land. Congratulations! But I think you may be missing something – perhaps a most important “something.” You say, and I am sure it is true, that you have done it all in Open Space, but it is equally true, and possibly more important, that you and your colleagues are intentionally working in the naturally occurring domain of self organization. And the pluses that you experience in terms of enhanced creativity, ease of operation, and just plain fun have less to do with Open Space per se – and everything to do with the natural flow of a well functioning self organizing system, I think.<BR>
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This may seem like academic hair splitting but the potential payoff is by no means simply academic. I think you are building bridges, creating knowledge and experience towards a profound “next step” in the human journey when we finally accept the liberating experience we associate with Open Space to be the totally natural or normative experience of being human. That really puts us in a new and different place and will require no small amount of recalibration when it comes to the practical business of living and working in our world. A lot of this recalibration will involve learning what not to do. But I am also sure that there will be some marvelous new tricks that we never thought possible. Maybe something like coming to understand what it might mean to be a gymnast in a gravity free world. Pretty free! <BR>
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Anyhow, I really think you are on to something and look forward to updates on your continuing adventure!<BR>
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Harrison <BR>
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<FONT COLOR="#1F497D">Harrison Owen<BR>
7808 River Falls Dr.<BR>
Potomac, MD 20854<BR>
USA<BR>
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189 Beaucaire Ave. (summer)<BR>
Camden, Maine 20854<BR>
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Phone 301-365-2093<BR>
(summer) 207-763-3261<BR>
<BR>
www.openspaceworld.com<BR>
www.ho-image.com (Personal Website)<BR>
</FONT></SPAN></FONT><FONT COLOR="#1F497D"><FONT SIZE="2"><FONT FACE="Consolas, Courier New, Courier"><SPAN STYLE='font-size:10pt'>To subscribe, unsubscribe, change your options, view the archives of OSLIST Go to:<a href="http://lists.openspacetech.org/listinfo.cgi/oslist-openspacetech.org">http://lists.openspacetech.org/listinfo.cgi/oslist-openspacetech.org</a><BR>
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</SPAN></FONT><FONT SIZE="2"><FONT FACE="Tahoma, Verdana, Helvetica, Arial"><SPAN STYLE='font-size:10pt'><B>From:</B> <a href="oslist-bounces@lists.openspacetech.org">oslist-bounces@lists.openspacetech.org</a> [<a href="mailto:oslist-bounces@lists.openspacetech.org">mailto:oslist-bounces@lists.openspacetech.org</a>] <B>On Behalf Of </B>Stella Duffy<BR>
<B>Sent:</B> Monday, May 28, 2012 6:20 PM<BR>
<B>To:</B> <a href="oslist@lists.openspacetech.org">oslist@lists.openspacetech.org</a><BR>
<B>Subject:</B> [OSList] Sharing about making work in Open Space<BR>
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</SPAN></FONT><FONT FACE="Calibri, Verdana, Helvetica, Arial"><SPAN STYLE='font-size:11pt'>For the past two years, since the Improbable-hosted Devoted & Disgruntled in 2010, I’ve been convening a group of writers, directors, artists, actors, musicians, performers (approx 60 in all, but we’ve been coming together in different combinations of between 12 to 30) towards making a show together, entirely in Open Space. <BR>
Having worked on 14 days over two years, we decided we wanted to aim for performance in 2013, with a week’s R&D this summer. And that, while we would continue to make the work whether we had funding or not, we would apply to the Arts Council (of Great Britain) for funding for the R&D, 25 people, rehearsal space, 6 days ... Not a cheap thing.<BR>
Like any of those application forms, the Arts Council funding application form has plenty of questions asking the name of the leader or the writer or the director ... And we kept saying the same thing “a show about individuals and community, made by a community of individuals” (it’s about loads else, of course, but that sums up the basics pretty well). <BR>
We explained Open Space and how well it’s working for us, that it feels very new (to welcome a 3 year old and a 6 year old into the rehearsal room for eg), but also very old (if theatre started around a campfire), and therefore very right.<BR>
And we did all this – the actual filling out of the application – in Open Space. Eleven people, all writing on flip chart paper, working out how best to explain who we are and what it is we’re trying to make and – perhaps especially – how we’re trying to make it. <BR>
We added the photo of us doing this in OS to our application. <BR>
Last week we heard we’ve been successful and have been granted funding for the R&D. And we know that’s a long way from a completed show, but it’s a big step forward. And it also feels like a vindication of our choice to work entirely in OS. And it started at D&D. <BR>
Thank you community,<BR>
Stella Duffy</SPAN></FONT><FONT FACE="Times New Roman"><SPAN STYLE='font-size:12pt'> <BR>
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