Showing posts with label update. Show all posts
Showing posts with label update. Show all posts

Tuesday, February 6, 2024

Day 4181: Weather and Mushin.

 

   

"Nightmares": collage, digital.





  



Want music?

 

    

Click here: Michael Jackson, I'll Be There.

 


  

 

 
2GN2S


 Water and Your Creativity.

Today is our second day of rainfall here in So Ca., where we rarely get any rain. The news stations are full of warnings and pictures of flooding,  as we are to continue to get for six days with 5-12" of rainfall. More than we usually get in a year. Our problem is that we are unaccustomed to the large amounts of water in a short period of time.  The first days saturate the ground level, and additional has to find a new home. Thus the freeways and streets flooded, trees uproot and fall, usually on cars and houses. Powers lines and downhill areas are subject to gravity and move.



But, my intention was to talk about the idea in my head that says we are more creative in rainy weather or even when we are near water. I am not sure where I got that, so I thought I had better look it up ?

Expert opinion from Dr. Anuvitha Kamath

Rainfall noise is a good therapy for improving cognitive functions. The sound of rainfall can provide a soothing effect on the brain. Raindrop noise cancels out all other noises helps to focus on the task and our body and improves creativity. It acts as a stress buster. It can help to revitalize our bodies. Rain provides relaxation, good fragrance, boosts energy, inspires creativity, and improves metabolism. However, there are certain mixed effects of rain. Constant rain clouds continuously blocking the sun can lead to reduced levels of serotonin and melatonin production. This can disrupt the sleep schedule and affect energy, mood, and cognitive function. 

Expert opinion from Dr. Himabindu Sreenivasulu

Rain doesn't directly affect cognitive functions or creativity, but it can indirectly impact them. The sound of rain can have a calming effect, potentially enhancing focus and creativity for some individuals. However, heavy rain or storms might create distractions that could hinder concentration. Additionally, rainy weather might lead to lower natural light levels, which can affect mood and, in turn, cognitive function and creativity in some people. It varies from person to person, so finding a comfortable environment during rainy weather is key to maintaining cognitive function and creativity. 

Expert opinion from Dr. Rinta M Babu

Rain can relax our minds. A relaxed mind gives birth to various cognitive functions and creativity. You can see that many script writers prefer to live close to nature to get fresh ideas. 

Un-expert opinion from this blogger
 

 My friend and artist, John, in Washington, rented a cabin near the water and produced many beautiful works of art. He was happy as a bird with a french fry. I rest my case.




I did this so-so digital graphic on a rainy day in 2003. I can't make out all of what it says, but I am sure I thought it was enlightening?

 
 
And later, in  2011, I created "Mushin" on a rainy day, 
later adding Demura Sensei's beautiful kanji calligraphy.
 

Mushin is a Zen expression meaning the mind without mind and is also referred to as the state of "no-mindness". That is, a mind not fixed or occupied by thought or emotion and thus open to everything.

Demura Sensei explained Mushin to us as mind like water. He said water fits everywhere, in a square container, a round glass, a hole in the ground, anywhere without effort. He wanted us to be able to adapt to any circumstance.


 
 
 
 

  
 
A 3 minute video, North Star, here.
 
 
  
Just because ...
  

NicobarPigeon

 

Tuesday's Smiles ...  


    
 




  
 






 





Saturday, January 27, 2024

Day 4170: Rice Shop and Ants.

 

   

"Tension": junk collage, inks, digital.


 



  

Want music?

 

    

Click here:  Patti Labelle, On My Own

 


  

 

 
2GN2S


Almost Perfect: 

100-Year Old Tokyo Rice Shop Converted to a Space for Creatives


all photos by Brian Scott Peterson


Tokyo based illustrator Luis Mendo would often travel to the neighborhood of Asakusabashi to pick up sketchbooks. And over time he began falling in love with the creative and artistic vibe of the town. He and his wife Yuka were weary of feeling isolated in Shinjuku. Their tight apartment was putting a strain on their love for hosting artist friends from overseas. So when they stumbled onto a 100-Year old building that formerly housed a rice shop, it immediately checked so many boxes for them. It was almost perfect.


After some renovations, Almost Perfect opened in Octobe 2018.
  An essentially a short-term residency program for foreign creatives who want to come to Japan to learn, be inspired and display their work. The 1st floor serves as a gallery and cafe space. Luis & Yuka added a  wall to showcase art and kept the old rice machines in place as a tribute to the owner’s past hours of labor.





the 1st floor exhibition and cafe space


The 2nd floor has been completely renovated and now functions as a sleeping quarters for the resident artist, as well as a shared office space. The top and 3rd floor is where Luis and Yuka reside.
Built right after the 1923 Kanto earthquake, the 100-year old building survived the WWII bombings and is in surprisingly great shape with lots of old elements remaining as a nod to its past. Almost Perfect has already completed its 1st residency with French comic artist Charles Berberian and is currently hosting their 2nd creative resident, British photographer Hugo Tillman.
 

the resident creative’s sleeping quarters

the 2nd floor residency and studio






Interested? Check out their website.
How cool is that?






Thought for the day ...

 


Did you know that if you put 100 black ants and 100 red ants in a jar, nothing will happen? But if you shake the jar hard, the ants start killing each other. The red ants consider the black ants their enemies, and the black ants consider the red ants their enemies. The true enemy is the one shaking the jar. The same thing happens in human society. So, before we attack each other, we should think about who is shaking the jar!

 
Credit: Kurt Vonnegut


 
 
 
 

  
 
A 5 minute video, Happier Alone, here.
 
 
  
Just because ...
  

Lyrebird

 


Saturday's Smiles ...