i went to the world domination summit and i found my people

Sometimes you just know when like-minded people are going to converge on a place you are headed.  That's what happened to me with World Domination Summit 2013 a.k.a. #WDS2013. 

I mean, all the bloggers I followed for the past few years wrote about their experiences for WDS2011 and 2012 and I soaked it all in.  I think I tried slightly to get in to last year's event, but didn't make it.  I bought my ticket for 2013's event last October.  I wasn't going to miss it this year.

photo from Chris Guillebeau's flickr

I had to meet up with my people!  What gave it away that these would be my people?  Well, when starting to explain to my bff what WDS was, I mentioned the online Unconventional Race while pulling my iphone out of my pocket.  She stopped me from going any further with, "Oh yes, these are definitely your people."

photo by @ROOTMIX

And the extra icing on the cake was the morning hi-5 greeting line as we walked into the Schnitz.  Even better, the second morning when I was dragging, I told the greeting line, "Low-5's today!" and they all leaned over to meet my hanging hand.

But those are just peripheral confirmations.  What drew me here?  Folks livng lives that allow them more choices.  Stories of how people found their own way and didn't follow a "should" life path.  If they are trying something different, they may accept my something different.  If they are pushing the boundaries of what's acceptable in creativity and connection, they prolly won't be negative to my ideas.  They'll help create a space that's excited and visionary, open to facing fears and displaying courage. 

photo from Chris Guillebeau's flickr

Yup, it happened. 

6 exciting things you probably missed this weekend and why tony hawk hit his tweet limit for the day. [nO. 1]

1.
Reading through the tweets for #THTH, I was getting butterflies in my tummy and smile after smile across my face.  This was so exciting!  #THTH stands for Tony Hawk Twitter Hunt and Sunday he hosted an international find.  But only in English speaking countries.  He can only tweet in English.

Here's the clue for San Francisco's filled goodie box...

...which was found in under 3 minutes. 

2.
Across that bridge pictured above, was the second super-awesome thing you probably missed...

pic courtesy of Ron Evans

Books Inc. hosted Attack of the Authors with Jason Fry and Ryder Windham, writers who shared their experiences writing Star Wars books.  Not pictured:  more stormtroopers, a Rebel pilot, and a Jedi Knight.  Thanks for the pic and explanation, Ron!


3.
This one I missed, but hope you made it - Vanessa VerLee Variety Show!  Here Vanessa is about to cover My Sharona, which, when little, her brother made her think was written for her father's church secretary.  They'll be another V. V. Variety Show in the Fall, so stay tuned!

picture by Brandon Smith

4.
If you weren't in L.A., or didn't make a trip down there specifically to Caine's Arcade, you missed the presentation of his $152,000 scholarship check; all funds raised in under a week from supporters happy to participate in a return to off-screen creativity.

You also missed the announcement that each dollar raised for Caine's education up to $250,000 will be matched by to start the Caine's Arcade Foundation to find, foster, and fund other creative kids.

Here's a video that recaps what's happened since last Monday.  And here's a spectacular article pointing out why discovering Caine's Arcade is so important for him and others.



5.
Finally, you may have missed me bidding on my new mini home bass and snare drum kit...

6.
Oh, and Mission Open Studios.  I like to catch up on what I missed by having a little online show, browsing through artist websites.  No free cheese and wine though.


Let me know if you discover a new favorite artist and what you didn't miss this weekend!

scraps of awesome.

I love Jeremy Rourke's music and it's been a super-wonderful addition to watch as he shares even more of his creative heart with us by setting his music to stop motion animation.  "scraps of paper" has just been released today.  Take a look.

Be sure to take some time to enjoy earlier videos he's made.  Award winning ones!  And if ya wanna see him live and up close irl, just follow this link for deets.

divisadero art walk tonight!

Art Walk is back!

I think the main reasons to share this event are:

• the poster is so pretty!
• the event starts early so I can get to bed early!
• to check out Rare Device's new location!
• peruse Indie Mart's pop-up shop!

Maybe I'll see you out and about tonight :)

april is wrap up month

{this walrus means business!}

Hi Rootmixers,

Happy to announce that March Madness went well for my Power Year.  Yay!  Though I did not complete one of my scheduled tasks, I came up with two alternates to consider and completed many other side tasks.  This is an amazing process.  Why do I say that?  Because previously, my standard turn-around time for projects stood at about 18 months.  Ugh!  So, this montly stuff is awesome.

Let's review, here's my SMART Goal broken into it's 5 parts:
(1)Produce (2)well received (3)and highly sought after (4)profit-generating (5)art.

(1)  I've produced (some embroidery, crochet)
(2)  My embroidered art received compliments...
(3)  and an invitation to join a traveling art hanging
(4)  No one's throwing money at me... yet!
(5)  Art - it's happening, I did practice my gouache skills

What do I need more of?

April Wrap Up Goals:

• Write out and post my Power Year Rules.  (done!)
• Complete the art scarf for my mom {not even a stitch yet!}
• Focus on sleep!!!  (I get so much more done and feel so much better about it if I get 9 hours of sleep starting before 11pm!) [I'm doing the opposite!!!  Got to jump in!] {yay! I awoke at 7:30am with no alarm!!!}
• Get in the habit of working.  Since my part-time job ended, I still need to keep that schedule...  I can play for 5 hours a day in my studio! {well, I'm doing something}
• Build an alter for my inner artist and crew of angels!  This visual will help inspire me.
• Send in my taxes {check}
• Plan the dual birthday party with my bff. [Save the date sent] {time selected}
• Get some money generating projects up online (this can be kickstarter, etsy, or other...) {renewed a pin-back button posting on etsy, joined the sf etsy team}
• PRODUCE!!! (This kinda goes with the 5 hours a day item.  Zipper pouch, more embroidered items, some paintings...) [Test sewed a pouch, halfway...] {learned some new songs on the drums...}

oh, and finally,

• Get my laptop repaired...  That will help with this whole process.  Though the library is nice too. [DONE!!!]

[updated 4/10/11] {updated 4/26/11}

As far as my rules go, they are all super helpful and positive.  I don't think I've really dug into the budget one, but I know where I stand.  And I still need to practice the habits of rule number 4.

So that's it for now, kids.  Thanks for walking through the review with me and I look forward to sharing a productive month with you all!

xoxoz

P.S.  My band is playing this Wednesday at Hotel Utah Saloon!

i'll be here next thursday...

Fear Not at the Trickster Arts Salon

From Jennifer Maria Harris, the artist:

Trickster  is a monthly Arts Salon that describes itself as a clubhouse for artists, seekers, thinkers, and players dedicated to community, creativity, and openness. This month's theme is appropriate for the start of the new year: the Juke Joint at the Crossroads, with a juke joint being a place to eat, drink, and dance your blues away, and crossroads being a place to make new decisions. This one-night event will include an installation of Fear Not Radio and Fear Not Indirect Mail,  performances by We are the unReal, Tom Jonesing, Wesley Frederick, and  DJ Fact.50, a workshop on connecting with your Wild Self by Gino Dante  Borges, body painting, a photo booth, and general merrymaking. Costumes are encouraged, though not required, and drinks are BYO.

I hope to see you there!

Trickster Arts Salon
2519 Mission Street

San Francisco

January 27, 2011

8PM - Midnight

meet up sunday // art in nature festival

Here are details for Sunday's Art In Nature Festival happening at Oakland's Redwood Regional Park.  You may have met Laura Inserra at the CELLspace Expo for Independent Arts.  She has put together an awesome festival with 100 musicians and artists participating in this interactive day!



It  will also be home to the next Crafters  Local 415 make 'n' take gathering!  Laura's invited me to set up some  crafty supplies, share some techniques, and just enjoy making stuff with  you all.  Look for other artists from the CELLspace expo as well!



There  will be no food vending or sales that day.  It is a purely free and  interactive event.  What project are you working on now?  Can you bring  some knitting or collage materials and enjoy making art in nature?  And  pack a lunch too!





Here are more details from Laura:



A Multidisciplinary Performing Arts Festival

Art in Nature / the Nature of Art



1st annual FREE  multidisciplinary performing arts Festival conceived for the Stream Trail of Redwood Regional Park, Oakland, California.



It will be held on October 3rd, 2010 from 12pm to 4pm as a site-specific performance

organized by SAMAVESHA, an international multidisciplinary performing arts collective,

and directed by renowned Italian composer and artistic director Laura Inserra.



Stroll along the nearly 1 mile Stream Trail of Redwood Regional Park

and be entertained by nearly 100 different artists and performers

tucked among the meadows, redwoods and oaks in this brand new family friendly (and bicycles & dog friendly) Festival.



Enjoy roaming performances and 12 different areas of live music, dance, martial arts, poetry, henna tattoo,

circus arts, theater, painting, storytelling, arts, crafts and kids events put on from Noon to 4pm.



www.ArtinNatureFestival.com

this is happening

saturday, if you're anywhere near jack london square, head on over to the handmade ho down! entry is free and there will be over 50 vendors sharing their wares. i just love that the vacant space of the old barnes and noble gets to be used in such a crafty way!

this is an evening event, starting at 5pm. here are some more event highlights of what you can expect:

*farmers market eats

*local beer and wine!

*live local bands/djs including:

-red meat

-kit and the branded men

-the goat family

-the crosstops

-dj dirti hari

*swag bags to first 200 attendees!

*raffle - proceeds to drawbridge

*bring in art supplies for drawbridge and receive free raffle tickets

*live weaving demo by the de young museum

*square dancing lessons and contest!

*picnic tables and hay bales

*creamed corn wrestling (yes, seriously)

*mechanical bull rides

meet local artisans, musicians, and farmers while at the same time supporting drawbridge, a local organization which provides art programs and classes to homeless and other vulnerable children in 7 bay area counties.

cheers,
rootmix!

a spa day for our professional minds!

wow! i showed up for a free conference at san francisco's herbst theater yesterday. even considered not going. but since i went, looks like i've had a life-changing experience.

what was it? the *dynamic adaptability conference: new thinking and new strategies for the arts*. when introduced by the director of grants for the arts at city and county of san francisco (yes, we have that), kary schulman explained how the conference planning committee decided to design the kind of conference art world professionals would pay thousands of dollars to attend... but let's make it free!

ah, the power of free!

i would have been suspicious that the conference was jenky, except for the option to reserve your own box lunch! for free also! at that point during pre-registration i felt they must have excellent funding.

turns out the wallace foundation is in the middle of a four year grant with an over $7 million budget. their charge is basically to research best practices for artists to be supported, promoted, sustained. which in turn builds and sustains our communities.

the agenda of the 9am-5pm conference covered

• the brain science behind creating and appreciating art,
  
• data and stats on the professional lives of artists and how to best engage with their audience,
  
• inspiration for creating a deeper connection between artists and their communities, and finally
  
• an overview of demographic and technological changes

{jonah lehrer and holly sidford}

the highlight of the day came for me at the beginning with johah lehrer's presentation on the science behind decision-making. the research he shared helped illustrate that there is a scientific reason behind things we do. for me, the data released some of the burden that *i should be different, better, faster...* and he also provided a solution for success: being educated on how the mind functions, accepting the mechanisms of how we work, and staying focused on harnessing the strengths of these outcomes.

in fact, the whole tone of the day was highly focused on what's *right* in our artistic worlds. there was a lot of good news. as artists, we've already accepted a life-long recession. topics of the day pointed out ways to hyper-succeed at leveraging our best practices, of engaging with our communities, of bringing excitement and joy into the lives of our audience members, making them part of the process, bringing us all together.


all in all it's pretty simple and straight-forward:
find art you like. have a better life.


*i'll be sharing more specifics of my experience at this conference over the next week, including a list of actionable take-aways! chime in if you were at the conference or have heard about the organizations or presenters who participated!

indie crafting shopping alert!

have you made a commitment to buying handmade this year? find all those unique, joyful, and hand-crafted goods this weekend at the bazaar bizarre! i'll be walking around checking out the stuffs on saturday. maybe i'll see you there!!!

oooh, and check out a special limited edition poster by jaime zollars that will be available at the event!!! i love the mini positive messages throughout!


xoxo,
rootmix

p.s. get chur blog puffs on!!! (with a yoyo maker or without!)

la musica!

if you're in the san francisco area, come see my band play tomorrow night!

{gold!} come darkness

i love the simplicity and sparseness of the grijs blog. using so little says so much. all the white space really soothes my mind... ahhhh.

now announced on the blog is a show called *come darkness* and features this equally minimalistic silk scarf which screams/whispers sanity...


click over to the curated art collection to see more goodies artistically displayed. i love it!!! and, it you're in the portland, maine area, the pieces will be displayed through december 1st!

chelliswilson
17 Pleasant Street
Portland, Maine

207.518.9018

and below are a few more of my favorites, though i'd love a corner of my home to be filled with all the goodies found on the link!