What Story Are You Telling?

To positively move forward, we must create new normals.  We must shift our ways of thinking, seeing, and doing.  We must embrace the world around us and become part of its story.  We must tell new stories.

How?

First, expect beauty.  Move from a place where beauty is only captured in art museums, ocean side vacations, or photoshopped models.  Instead, start noticing color, texture, depth, creation, conversation, uniqueness, and love.  When we do that, everything begins to change.  We can expect to be surrounded by fragments of beauty each and every day.

Second, revel in it.  When we see beauty, capture it, breathe it, draw it, etc.  We must do whatever we can to experience the beauty we've found ourselves in.

Third, make it our story.  The story of beauty needs telling, and retelling, and retelling again.  Because in the story of beauty, is a story of creation, creativity, humanity, and love.  When we experience beauty, we must be confident in the promise that, "It is good."  And in the goodness of this new found beauty, may we make it our own stories to tell.

Peace,
Ross

You Are What You Art [re-post]

You all know the phrase, "you are what you eat."

It's 100% true.  The molecular properties of the foods you consume are brought into your body, alter your own physical and psychological makeup, and produce everything from growth to moods, disease to genetics.

Now consider this phrase: "you are what you art."

Art has always been something that compels, confronts, confuses, and creates new worlds.  Cultures change because of art; politics are overturned, and the world is changed forever.

The artist has an incredible role within humanity.  The truest artist has always been on the forefront of creating culture - not simply reacting to it.

Which brings me again, to the new phrase, you are what you art.

Biologist James Zull writes, "Neuroscience tells us that the products of the mind--thought, emotions, artistic creation--are the result of the interactions of the biological brain with our senses and the physical world: in short, that thinking and learning are the products of a biological process…This realization, that learning actually alters the brain by changing the number and strength of synapses, offers a powerful foundation for rethinking everything."

Art changes the mind, which changes the biology in one's brain and the physical world.

Consider the following artist…the chef who refuses to use genetically modified plants and animals to create a dish that is sustaining the biology of the consumer, as much as he/she is sustaining the environment. 

The culinary artist is transforming how we think about food, how we consume it, and even our most basic genetic and biological synapses.

Now consider the poet or songwriter…he/she writes to provoke and change a once held truth.  Over time these ideas and hopes become reality.  There's an incredible amount of power in the words, chords, melodies, and textures that the artist is creating; so much so, that our biological synapses are modified and we become a different person (in thought, reaction, and as society).

Are you creating beauty and tension and words and worlds that is worthy of biological change?

Consider your art in these terms. 
Consider the power of what you create. 
Because you truly are what you art.

Peace,
Ross Christopher

PW13

Happy Wednesday!

Piano Works 13 from Julien Martorell on Vimeo.

Peace,
Ross

You Are What You Art.

The hope of this blog is to continually push ideas and thoughts that connect the dots between art, creativity, beauty, spirituality, and everything in between. 

Today is no exception.

You all know the phrase, "you are what you eat."

It's 100% true.  The molecular properties of the foods you consume are brought into your body, alter your own physical and psychological makeup, and produce everything from growth to moods, disease to genetics.

Now consider this phrase: "you are what you art."

Art has always been something that compels, confronts, confuses, and creates new worlds.  Cultures change because of art; politics are overturned, and the world is changed forever.

The artist has an incredible role within humanity.  The true artist has always been on the forefront of creating culture - not simply reacting to it.

Which brings me again, to the new phrase, you are what you art.

Biologist James Zull writes, "Neuroscience tells us that the products of the mind--thought, emotions, artistic creation--are the result of the interactions of the biological brain with our senses and the physical world: in short, that thinking and learning are the products of a biological process…This realization, that learning actually alters the brain by changing the number and strength of synapses, offers a powerful foundation for rethinking everything."

Art changes the mind, which changes the biology in one's brain and the physical world.

Consider the following artist…the chef who refuses to use genetically modified plants and animals to create a dish that is sustaining the biology of the consumer, as much as he/she is sustaining the environment. 

The culinary artist is transforming how we think about food, how we consume it, and even our most basic genetic and biological synapses.

Now consider the poet or songwriter…he/she writes to provoke and change a once held truth.  Over time these ideas and hopes become reality.  There's an incredible amount of power in the words, chords, melodies, and textures that the artist is creating; so much so, that our biological synapses are modified and we become a different person (in thought, reaction, and as society).

Are you creating beauty and tension and words and worlds in the listener/consumer that is worthy of biological change?

Consider your art in these terms. 
Consider the power of what you create. 
Because you truly are what you art.

Peace,
Ross

Hiatus.

I found this video pretty brilliant and creative...enjoy!

Hiatus - We Can Be Ghosts Now (feat. Shura) from Tom Jobbins on Vimeo.

Peace,
Ross

Monetizing Creativity.

I had a conversation yesterday with an artist I just finished producing in the studio.  We were talking about the pursuit of creativity and art, and the difficulty of remaining pure to that art in a culture that demands the monetizing of everything.

Being an artist, I suppose, throws you into two basic categories.  Artists that make money, and artists that don't.  Notice that I don't call the later hobbyists.  Understand of course, that most people would, and do, make that distinction.  However, lots of so called "artists" I know do the same "art" over and over, with predictability, because it turns a profit, pays the bills, etc.  This (in my opinion) is a money-making craft.

Art is different.

Art is something that's inside you that needs to come out.  Art changes and pushes boundaries.  Art is loved.  Art is hated.  Art is understood.  And art is misunderstood.

Our culture has placed an unhealthy barometer on art and creativity, that basically says, "if you can't eventually attain the American dream, move to the burbs with your family, own the boat, take the vacation, etc, then it's time to hang up your college fantasy, and get a real (paying) job."

I couldn't disagree more. 

Sometimes I think the problem isn't the art, but perhaps the scope which the artists dreams, and sees his or her art flourishing.  We live in a culture that demands diversity and excellence.  How can you (as an artist) see things this way, make necessary steps to diversify your art/talent/skill/creativity in such a way that you don't succumb to the lie that "it's time for the paying gig?"

Perhaps you're defining things improperly. 

Perhaps your scope is that artistry is only attained once you've been given the national or international spotlight.  Let me tell you that without a massive machine behind what you're doing, this may never happen.  However, when you localize your tribe (or tribes) and create a genuine community with them (through and with your art), you will be a success.

This success may not equal Justin Timberlake status, but your influence may be just as powerful within your particular tribe.

Rethink.
Reorganize.
Do.
Create.

Peace,
Ross

In Your Wake

Saturday morning I woke up with some lyrics rolling around in my head.  I poured myself a cup of coffee and got to work.  Here's what I came up with:

In Your Wake

(c) 2013 Ross Christopher

You walk in a room

And steal its breath

You steal its every thought

'Cause death is your wake

Don't slur your speech

'Cause what you say

Will change every thing

There's a history with you

A marked past of poison and broken cries

'Cause you couldn't care less

Hell bent on you

Don't slur your speech

'Cause what you say

Will change every thing

You - take what's not yours

And nobody says a thing

You - devour what you want

And no one does a thing

You - break and bruise

And no one is left

'Cause we've grown tired, sore, and worn down

Don't slur your speech

'Cause what you say

Will change every thing

Peace,

Ross

The Light of a Single Candle.

“All the darkness in the world 

cannot extinguish the light 

of a single candle.” 

-- St. Francis of Assisi

I love this quote.
I love it because too often we pit light as the opposite of darkness.
But just like the quote shows us, darkness cannot coexist with light.
Darkness is the absence of light, and the world is glowing with light!

Sometimes it can be difficult to see. 
Suffering does occur. 
Death happens.
Sickness and tragedy cripples.
But light still exists, and squashes darkness in its tracks.

As an artist, sometimes I feel like its my job to point people towards light.
As an artist I can use creativity (images, words, sounds, etc.) to expose what's (already) around us, and can send darkness running to the shadows.

How are you exposing light?

Peace,
Ross

Flying Bird.

For the past few days I've been walking you through the creative process of writing a song.  Not every song writes itself the same way, but this is how I arrived at a new one.

The past 2 blogs have been about being prepared and ready to capture creativity as it comes - because there's no way to really schedule inspiriation.

However, rather than continue talking about the new love song that came out of no where, I want to switch gears to another song that, again came out of no where.

In the past week, I've written 3 songs...
1 about the end of the world
1 about falling in love
1 about drones

See the connection?  Exactly...there's not one. 
(except for being prepared to capture creativity)

If I wasn't prepared as a songwriter to capture the inspiration, these new songs may have been lost.

So this newest song (the one about drones), just popped in my head and luckily I was snowed in with pad, acoustic, and iphone.

Here's the lyrics:

Flying Bird

(c) 2013 Ross Christopher

(Verse 1)

Take to the sky

And sell them the lie

That everything is safer now

And life cries goodbye

(Chorus)

Flying bird, won't you go back home

Flying bird, won't you go

Flying bird, won't you go back home

Flying bird, won't you go

(Verse 2)

Driven by joy -

Sticks of death and bombs

And innocent blood

Bombs and blood

(Bridge)

1, 2, birds are flying

3, 4, worlds are dying

5, 6, lies are fueling

Birds to fly again

Peace,
Ross

Be Prepared.

I grew up in Boy Scouts.  I earned Eagle, so I guess I'm an Eagle Scout for life.  Having said that, I'm prepared.  It is the scout motto after all...

As a creative, being prepared is one of the most important lessons I've learned through the years.  I cannot tell you how many times I find random pieces of paper, napkins, business cards, etc lying around with bits and pieces of song ideas scribbled on them.

My iPhone has become invaluable!  I have tones of voice memos with melody or riff ideas, recorded.  Some songs are process.  But in my experience, those are the ones that sound like process - and who likes process?

If not for being prepared and having the tools I need in hand, who knows how much creativity might be lost and forgotten?

Peace,
Ross

Some Things Just Write Themselves.

As a songwriter, lyrics and music hit me at all sorts of random times.  Though 80% of the time I write in a similar fashion, I don't have (or prescribe to) "a system."  Having said that, I was finishing up a new single that I've been working on for about a month, called 'Lonely Earth.' 

As I was working on a mixdown, I all of a sudden got this lyric and melody in my head.  Immediately I had to open up a new project and record what was going on in my head.  In about 10 minutes I had recorded the acoustic guitar part and the lead vocal scratch track. 

I played the song for Kate the next morning and I'd be lying if I didn't say that I can't get it out of my head.  Some things you work on for weeks, and some things just write themselves.  I'm consistently surprised by, and with, the creative process!  I'm excited to share more of this process with you in the coming days.

Peace,
Ross

Quiet Spaces

 Last night, I got home from rehearsal with a melody and some lyrics in my head.  I immediately wrote down the words and headed down to the studio to capture the music.   A couple hours later, I think I'm on to a pretty promising piece.  Here's the lyrics - enjoy!

Quiet Spaces

(c)2012 Ross Christopher

There's a sound for the quiet spaces

A sound for the broken places

A sound that is stillness

It shakes the ground

There it is

Way off in the distance

It's growing stronger

The beat's getting faster

There's a sound for the quiet spaces

A sound for the broken places

A sound that is stillness

It shakes the ground

 There it is

It's unexpected

It's reconnected

Like lines between the words

There's a sound for the quiet spaces

A sound for the broken places

A sound that is stillness

It shakes the ground

Peace,
Ross

Sink [Left and Lost at Sea]

Today, I'm going to let you in on the creative process.  I scribbled down this new song/poem late last week.  I wanted to write something that was steeped in imagery.  And for whatever reason, the most graphic and visceral image I could conjure, was drowning.  Most of us have lost our breath - either at the swimming pool, or doing something else.  We might not have ever been "drowning," but that short experience of losing one's breath was more than enough to never forget the feeling(s).  Enjoy!

 

Sink [Left and Lost at Sea]
© 2012 Ross Christopher.

It seems like
I've been left
And lost at sea
With water welling up
Inside of me

It fills my lungs
With stinging taste
Of lonely waves, crushing dreams
And breaks silent
Cries of apathy

Can you keep my head up
Can you help me breathe
Can you wash me to land
Or am I going to sink

Not sure how I got here
I woke in drowning slumber
Forced to swim
And tread and breathe

Can you keep my head up
Can you help me breathe
Can you wash me to land
Or am I going to sink

It seems like
I've been left
And lost at sea
With water welling up
Inside of me

Art Speaks When Words Cannot.

Over the past week I have been fortunate to connect with some of the most brilliant and artistic minds, that have helped shape me into who I am.

I think part of being an artist is searching for what art is and does.

Both Erwin McManus and Rob Bell have shown me that

   art speaks 
         when words 
                  cannot.

Peace,
Ross

Finding Creativity (the art of BMX)

In my constant pursuit of all things creative, I came across this today.  Its an amazing video of someone that's uniquely balanced, artistic, fluid, and quite incredible.

Enjoy!


Alain Massabova - 40 years in Paris from ART BMX MAGAZINE on Vimeo.


Peace,
Ross

PIN

I'm a schmuck for the uber-creative.  I love this short video's use of time, texture, sound, and light. 

Enjoy!


PIN from Elise Fachon on Vimeo.



Peace,
Ross

The Most Creative Paper EVER!

The making of A from Bianca Chang on Vimeo.


Bianca Chang - Recent Works, June 2011 from Bianca Chang on Vimeo.


Peace,
Ross

Fast & Furious, Afghanistan, and Creativity

Creativity births more creativity.  It offers hope, regeneration, and future.  But what happens when we lose our ability to be creative?

Allow me to connect some dots…

The administration's failure in their recent Fast and Furious program exemplifies a hopeless and shallow creativity.  The DEA allowed guns to be smuggled into Mexican cartels, with the hopes that we could follow the trail to the drug lords.  Guns bring death - an easy (and very final) end to the problems surrounding drugs and violence.  But like all creativity, it breeds future.  And a future of death is no future at all.

But instead of new ideas, of long-term, difficult, ideas, the DEA opted for the immediate gratification of bullets to brains.

The same Taliban fighters we're fighting in Afghanistan today, we equipped and trained in the 80's.  The short-sighted and shallow creativity bred a future of violence.

Guns have been done before. 
Tanks have been done before. 
Arms trading is old hat.

Imagine a world where our creativity is truly creative.  In this world we might combat regions of war with plowshares rather than weapons of war.  But we must be willing to dream of futures that we've yet to experience.  We must risk it all on creativity.  We must risk it all on hope. 

Peace,
Ross

What Story Are You Telling? [re-post]

To positively move forward, we must create new normals.  We must shift our ways of thinking, seeing, and doing.  We must embrace the world around us and become part of its story.  We must tell new stories.

How?

First, expect beauty.  Move from a place where beauty is only captured in art museums, ocean side vacations, or photoshopped models.  Instead, start noticing color, texture, depth, creation, conversation, uniqueness, and love.  When we do that, everything begins to change.  We can expect to be surrounded by fragments of beauty each and every day.

Second, revel in it.  When we see beauty, capture it, breathe it, draw it, etc.  We must do whatever we can to experience the beauty we've found ourselves in.

Third, make it our story.  The story of beauty needs telling, and retelling, and retelling again.  Because in the story of beauty, is a story of creation, creativity, humanity, and love.  When we experience beauty, we must be confident in the promise that, "It is good."  And in the goodness of this new found beauty, may we make it our own stories to tell.

Peace,
Ross

Pan De Libros

Kate spent the weekend in Baltimore, MD with our best friends, the Schultz'.  There, she and Katie brainstormed and wrote a children's book that will be available in the coming months (much more info about that later). But more importantly, they dreamed and created a vision for changing a community in Anapra, Mexico.

{this is from Katie's blog, Schultz Party of Four}

 Though the front porches of Anapra look out over the Mexico - U.S. border onto the verdant lawns of the United States, many of the luxuries we take for granted are not readily available to their community. Paved streets, potable water, steady employment, safety, even education - none are guaranteed to our neighbors to the south - and neither are books.

Perhaps we can change that...

However, the vision is growing, taking root in the hearts of many in the U.S. and Anapra to provide more literature, a place for community, and HOPE. The next step in the good work being done in Anapra is taking shape, the shape of a library... and I couldn't be more excited!!! A location has been identified, supply costs are being assessed, and a plan is developing!

And in order to coordinate the efforts that will surely require the compassionate and generous contributions of numerous partners in the U.S. to empower these impacts, the Pan de Libros (Bread of Books) collaboration group has been formed. Our goal: to promote education, community, and hope by providing books to families across the border.

As we develop this initiative you can follow our progress:
twitter
facebook

{READ THE ENTIRE PIECE HERE}

There's a WHOLE LOT MORE that I'll be rolling out in the coming weeks and months, but for now, keep up-to-date via twitter and facebook.

Paz,
Ross