Metaphor for creativity: There are no mistakes on the bandstand

 The TED talk by jazz musician Stefon Harris There are no mistakes on the Bandstand demonstrated how a "mistake" like an out of key note, was an opportunity if the other players who where listening and responded to what they heard.  Harris talked about the Bandstand as a special place, a place without past and without future.  The bandstand is a place of the complete present.  Musicians in the present and responding to one another in a natural way results in opportunities for creativity.  Harris and the 3 players with him showed how it worked when they let a note by one lead toward a new directions.

No mistakes on the bandstand is a natural metaphor for creativity in almost any creative endeavor.   Bandstand is the creative moment.  The here, the now.  With the understanding or assumption there needs to be a excellent level of craft, there are no mistakes, just a deviation from an expectation and an opportunity for a new and creative direction.  Harris did not talk about level of craft, he assumed a high level.

As metaphor bandstand to have no mistakes is to be open to change, be ready to adjust and avoid being judgmental, especially on the bandstand at the time of creating the art.

Curiousity and Danger, Connections at my fingertips

I love this time we live in.  Connections at my fingertips.  On Facebook I "like" Prairie Schooner the literary magazine.  Their page sends out a "share" to FilmMaker Magazine  with an article Ten Lessons on Filmmaking from Director Marjane Satrapi.

Filming Meet the Artist

Our recent video project is the Meeting the Artist Event at the Portland Art Museum Rental Sales Gallery we filmed February 25th.  So film making is on my mind.  Not at the level of Satrapi's "Persepolis".

Of Marjane Satrapi's list of ten lessons I like 1. Learn to tell your story, 2. Create Don't Produce, 4. the best films come from the best collaborations, 5. Don't waste your time on Divas, 6. Try Dallas (she means go to places where not everyone agrees with you), 7 Suffering is optional, 8. Shoot for beauty, 10. Remember Humor.

How easy it is to learn things these days.  Curiosity can also be dangerous.  Access from afar is very possible and real.

Earlier today I watched a TED talk All Your Devices can be Hacked  by Avi Rubin.  He presented a horrifying list of devices that can be hacked and controlled.  Pace Makers, Cars, phones, two way radios, and stealing key strokes from your computer.  Access is not easy, it takes knowledge, some very esoteric knowledge, but access can be achieved.  Some of the methods are beyond me.   In Rubin's talk there were seeds to several 21st century spy stories and some pretty good mystery stories.

Those who say privacy is dead, get over it.  Yep.  I hear you.