Search Results

This is the 21st century, and there perhaps hasn’t been a better time in history. People live more peaceful lives and they live longer. There are so many good and bad things we can point out as the defining factor for this current generation, but none has been more impactful than technology. It has changed everything. It has changed the cars we drive, how we communicate, and even how we live our day to day lives. Imagine sitting in the sweltering heat without a fan or an air conditioner cooling you off, then maybe you would understand just how much technology has changed our world and ingrained itself into our lives. As someone who does remote work, I am grateful for it. The opportunities it has provided, is beyond anything I could have gotten in my current environment. But with all its benefits, there has been a lot of things that come with it, and the biggest of it has to be the distractions. As a writer, I had to understand the hard way, that the average person on the internet had an average attention span of 8 seconds and you have to plan content with that in mind. But as a consumer of content myself, I only just got to realize what that actually meant; our brains are constantly overstimulated. YouTube videos, YouTube shorts, Instagram reels, Snaps, games – the distractions are endless. Hours can fly by without you ever truly realizing how much time you’ve spent mindlessly scrolling through Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, and other social media platforms. If it doesn’t grab your attention immediately, you swipe to the next thing because you know that there is something else waiting for you. The worst part is, you might even forget what you were watching the minute you drop your phone. I recently got to Level 8301 on Royal Match, one of my favorite games recently and when I reached the milestone, I was taken aback by just how much time I have dedicated to just that one thing. When I’m reading or working, I find my hand slowly reaching back for my phone fearing that I might have missed something in the 10 minutes that I’ve been offline. I’m immediately taken out of focus by calls or emails and find it hard to get back that level of attention. And a tiny part of me knows that I am not alone. I saw a fascinating quote somewhere that inspired this post (bear with me I don’t recall it perfectly) “The price of what you are doing now is something else that you SHOULD have done.” It resonated with me because while I was scrolling through social media and occasionally binge watching the Real Housewives of Beverly Hills, I was leaving assignments and work undone. I was risking a lot, all because I couldn’t bring myself to drop my phone. What’s the solution? Hell if I know! I’m just dealing with it like every other Gen Z out there. But I’ve learnt that a little bit of mindfulness could go a long way. Constantly reminding myself of the cost I’m paying, the hours wasting away, and the possibly impending floodgates of regret has helped me regain a bit of my focus and prioritize what pushes me towards the future I see and the life I want. Let’s talk. How do you deal with distractions these days? Did you ever have a moment when you realized that you needed to make a change?

Share your voice! Take our survey and be a part of the conversation in the art community. Your opinion matters! Let's shape the future together. ArtsKeeper is working with Kelvin Iloanya, a master level Integrated Marketing student at Georgetown University in Washington, DC. Kelvin is helping us develop a program to attract and keep philanthropists and other sponsors involved with ArtsKeeper. It is our goal to acquire funds to expand the programs and services we can provide to our artist community. Click this link to give us your thoughts: SURVEY #VoiceYourOpinion

https://someoneyoushouldknowpodcast.buzzsprout.com/2047151/14450261-valentines-po Tammy's Twitter link Tammy's Instagram link Tammy's LinkedIn link Tammy's Etsy link Tammy's Alignable link Amazon link to purchase "Flutter of an Eye" Etsy link to purchase "Flutter of an Eye" Barnes & Nobel link to purchase "Flutter of an Eye" Walmart link to purchase "Flutter of an Eye" IUniverse link to purchase "Flutter of an Eye"

(Sharing a story I got from a musician friend of mine who lives in NYC) It was Monday night, and we had just arrived at Penn Station on the Acela from a gig in Boston. The venue was sold out, the crowd was enthusiastic, and it could not have gone better. But even so, a 24-hour NYC/Boston turnaround is exhausting. So we were even happier that Mohammed, our Uber driver, arrived early at Penn Station, and went out of his way to be accommodating and friendly. He was very excited to show us the pictures of his children and we were delighted to share in his joy. We remarked that babies and children benefited from music, and this idea excited Mohammed greatly; he asked for musical suggestions. The first composer who came to mind was Mozart, as numerous studies have indicated that something in his music fires kids' synapses, or something good like that. Mohammed, who we guess was with either Pakistani or Bangladeshi, had never heard of Mozart. As we pulled onto the FDR on the way to Harlem, he handed us his phone, pleading with us to find Mozart on YouTube with an energy that bordered on desperation -- and soon, Eine Kleine Nachtmusik was blasting on his speakers. At first, there was silence as the familiar (to us) music filled the car. After a couple of minutes Mohammed spoke, his voice now softer and less agitated. "I have been quiet not because I don't like it. I am silent because this music has changed me. You have changed my life this night. I feel peace, I feel relief. I can never thank you enough for this beautiful gift." Mohammed's joy was unbounded. He had never heard anything like it in his life and was profoundly moved and exultant at the discovery of something so beautiful and new, and he couldn't wait to share it with his wife and children. "I hug you forever for this gift," he said as we got out of his Tesla. And us? We both had tears running down our cheeks. We got a chance to share something precious to us that represents the best of what humans can do, and it turned out to be just what Mohammed needed. And not only Mohammed, but his wife and children, will now have something that no one can ever take away. And we two, New York cabaret performers who settled here long ago from remote American small towns, were able to give the gift of Mozart to another New Yorker who came here from far away to pursue his own dream. All of us went home grateful and changed that night.

This is a thing. I would like to share with you my experience with it. If anything I say, is something you can relate to? Then the risk, and vulnerability is completely worth it. Sometimes I am sitting here, trying my best to write something worth reading, and this sneaking little snake of self doubt, better word, deprecation creeps in and suffocates all my words. Get this, my first, immediate reaction? "You have all day every day to write to your heart's content, what are you being all wimpy for? This is it! Do it! What are you waiting for? What's your issue? I could go on. When I catch myself talking to my own self in this manner, I freeze. Literally. As if a police officer was screaming at me with their gun pointed smack-dab center-mass. No, a police officer hasn't ever needed to stop me but I have experienced guns pointed smack-dab, well, you get the point. :) This is part of what it feels like, to "seemingly" have all the time in the world, with no one bossing you or supervising or dictating any type of structure for your day. It isn't as perfect as it sounds. Story plots, the scenarios, events and descriptions of such, are all colored by, if not tainted by, the trauma. It is absolutely maddening to have more than three big story-lines moving, and be compelled to write in each one, at the exact same time. The confusion of emotions so warped around the rules you are trying to remember, and you practically create new trauma on your own-damn self. For trying to "not bury it" or "keep it bottled up." And then? Nothing. Frozen. Confused. Blank. But just under the ice, a caldera of anger, a churning boil of some of the worst experiences of your life. But it's time to let it go. It's time to crack a fissure open and let some steam out, before the magma blows. Because I am safe and sound in my own home. Take a breath, face it. Write it. That's what I do. I write. Bravery is trying to type through the blur of tears streaming down your face. Going back to edit where the typos exceeded the comprehensible vocabulary. Those one or two sentences. That paragraph, turns into a chapter. Then another. The biggest thing to understand, though, is that the very act of sobbing over your words, is to heal. Each letter [key] typed is a bit of pain released. It is put somewhere other than the pit of unmentionables within you. So I keep writing, even if I only hit 2000 words, scattered within three different projects. And if I am able to write a sentence or two, even a paragraph in the really scary one? The non-fiction project? The tears, and mountain of balled up tissues is completely worth the pain of it. Writing through trauma, is like removing shrapnel. It's going to hurt like a son-of-ah, but the healing can't even begin until the obstructions are removed. Experiencing trauma, of whatever kind, is for your heart and mind to be punctured by foreign objects all at the same time. You are going to bleed, before you start to heal. Writing, is to bleed. Each word, is to heal. Kerry Morgan~

Used To Be I used to be one of those people who said, "Oh I'll listen to anything, just not..." " Love everything! except..." But ya know what? After listening to "that" [whatever "that" is] with someone who loves- "that?" I can't isolate a "but" or an "except for" anymore. I see and hear the value and beauty in it all... hmm... ;)

A new sound can rhyme If we give her a place to shine like that oil to that rusty engine It will bloom and form An emerging rhyming name I wonder if she ever wonders of trying that poem

When was the last time you read a book? Flipped a book from page to page and enjoyed the feeling of holding something solid. Since the invention of the Gutenberg press in the 15th century, physical books have been the standard and nothing ever came close. That is until 2011 and the rise of e-books. By the end of 2012, almost everyone was certain that e-books were going to put an end to physical books. By 2020, the rise of e-book readers had jumped from 17% in 2011 to 28%. And there were many reasons why people favored digital reading. First, it puts literature and education right at our fingertips. You were no longer constrained to bookstores or libraries before you could enjoy your favorite Charles Dickens, Sidney Sheldon, or Jane Austen. E-books were a whole lot less costly and if you didn't have enough space to store books, all you needed to do was arrange them all in a tidy folder on your phone. Above all, the rise of e-books gave aspiring authors a chance to bypass the brick and mortar publishing houses and get their works to a large audience when ready. While e-books do have a place in our fast paced world of technology, and caused a decline in the sale of physical books, it never succeeded in eliminating it entirely. Why? Because there is nothing like the look, feel, and smell of a book. In our ever advancing world that can get overwhelming, there is nothing like sitting in a bookstore, library, or a private nook in your home flipping through your favorite book. It provides a place to escape to. A place where you can tune out the rest of the world, have a glass of juice at your side and delve into a world of fantasy, mystery, history, and suspense. Physical books have become nostalgic, every copy unique to the owner, and a physical reminder of a time well spent and the worlds you have traveled. Today's book covers are works of art that captivate and draw you in. Some, tell you the story without ever opening the book. For those who love interior decor, a colorful display of books can just be the perfect finishing touch. No matter how digital our world gets, hard copy books will never go out of style and I can't wait to see more people appreciate the fact that we can hold and enjoy a piece of someone's mind.

I saw this on ArtsKeeper's Art News page and wanted to share in case someone wants to join this competition. Art64, a bracket-style live painting tournament, returns to The Village of Wauwatosa in Wisconsin U.S. in June. Artists have until March 1 to apply to participate. For the third year, 64 artists from across the country will come together to compete for a $20,000 prize. Discover Wauwatosa announced today that ART 64, presented by North Shore Bank, will take place on Friday, June 7 and Saturday, June 8 in The Village of Wauwatosa. During the competition, members of the public are invited to watch the painters create their masterpieces and vote for their favorite paintings online.  There will be three rounds of elimination with the final 16 artists competing for a $20,000 grand prize. The application is open to artists from across the country. All 64 competing artists receive a minimum of $100, with prize money increasing each round. Wauwatosa is a city in Milwaukee County, Wisconsin, United States. The population was 48,387 at the 2020 census. Wauwatosa is located immediately west of Milwaukee, and is a part of the Milwaukee metropolitan area. It is named after the Potawatomi Chief Wauwataesie and the Potawatomi word for firefly.

As we go through the craziness of our daily lives, we can come out on the other end a little burnt out, a little tired, and ready for a week-long nap. For many years this has been my experience, and I can bet you I'm not alone on this one. Often we forget to give ourselves permission to pause. When we start to burn out, our body forces us to take stock and make intentional changes. But, often we aren't listening. Women are especially bad at this. So much noise. Too many appointments. We overcommit ourselves to others and undervalue our own health. It's important to allow ourselves to pause – not to simply do it, but give yourself permission without feeling guilty. If we don't take time for ourselves, we risk burning out. We run on empty and this can affect our energy levels, mood, passion and drive. We become bogged down with details and become less efficient and productive. Emotionally we can feel angry, frustrated, defeated and stuck. Taking a few moments to refuel the gas tank is key to overcoming or avoiding these situations. There are many ways to recharge our batteries -- walking outside, journaling, writing poetry, taking photographs, making art, going out with a friend... maybe even doing nothing but relaxing and getting back in tune with life. Some experts say taking a pause should be intentional and be done with purpose. Sounds like a good idea to me - I think play should be prioritized and intentional.

Art can play a significant role in promoting world peace. Art has the power to transcend cultural and linguistic barriers, fostering understanding and empathy among people from different backgrounds. Here are several ways in which art contributes to world peace: Cultural Exchange: Art serves as a means of cultural exchange, allowing people to share their unique perspectives and traditions. This exchange can promote mutual respect and appreciation, reducing misunderstandings and conflicts. Promoting Dialogue: Artistic expressions, such as visual arts, literature, and music, can provide a platform for dialogue on important social and political issues. Through artistic creations, individuals can express their ideas, opinions, and experiences, encouraging conversations that can lead to greater understanding. Building Bridges: Art has the ability to build bridges between communities and nations. Collaborative art projects that involve people from different backgrounds can create a sense of unity and shared humanity. Education and Awareness: Artistic endeavors can raise awareness about social justice, human rights, and other issues critical to maintaining peace. Art has the power to educate and inspire people to take action for positive change. Cultural Diplomacy: Countries often use cultural diplomacy, including the promotion of their artistic heritage, to strengthen international relations. Cultural exchanges and artistic events can help foster positive diplomatic ties. Healing and Reflection: In regions affected by conflict, art therapy and creative expression can be powerful tools for healing trauma and promoting emotional well-being. Art provides a means for individuals to reflect on their experiences and find solace. Celebrating Diversity: Art celebrates the diversity of human expression and identity. By appreciating different forms of art, people can develop a greater understanding and acceptance of diverse cultures, contributing to a more peaceful world. While art alone may not solve complex geopolitical issues, its role in fostering empathy, understanding, and communication can be a crucial component in building a foundation for peace.

What makes you an artist? Beyond what it is you create, but why you express yourself by, creating. Maybe even another step further, look into what sparks your passion to become expressed with your art. Can you identify what sparks your passion, and the language it uses to speak? Passion is different than inspiration. The word itself even sounds more aggressive than the other. Passion can be inspired by, something. For example, my passion, or what get's my blood pumping, is someone being bullied. I absolutely stand-up, help others do so. I rally for the Underdog. Another passion, or dream of mine has always been to write and publish books. The two combined, became a children's adventure series. Real Uechi-Ryu Karate (sister style to Goju-Ryu, in the original Karate Kid movies) is taught within those pages. I was teaching all ages in our Dojo at the same time. In my fierce desire to help anyone being bullied, but particularly children who might find the book faster than a defense class, The Spirit Dragon series fulfilled several dreams. Writing is my passion's language, my art. So far, almost every single story I've written has contained some element of the little guy saving the day and receiving glorious vindication. I wonder what it is like for a painter/illustrator? Or someone who works with ceramics or metal, wood? When you are creating, what are your tools, mediums, colors saying? How do you pick? If passion could be defined by that feeling of a burning compulsion, a call to action? Do you feel better, a sense of satisfaction when you have finished your piece? Maybe it's the reactions of others, that crosses the finish line? That whole process from feeling the emotion motivating you to use your imagination to let it out? That, is what makes you an artist. Thanks for the read! Kerry~ Artskeeper.org