... the other Black experience
Global Power Leaders in the Arts, Pt. II
Global Power Leaders in the Arts
Part II
“ When you clearly envision the outcome of victory, engrave it upon your heart, and are firmly convinced that you will attain it, your brain makes every effort to realize the mental image you have created. And then, through your unceasing efforts, that victory is finally made a reality.”
President Josei Ikeda, SGI
In last month's article, Global Power Leaders in the Arts, I shared with you my thoughts on principles (breathe, embrace change, strategize and demonstrate) that can serve to revitalize our ability to fulfill personal and artististic goals. Oftentimes however, it is difficult to comprehend how adherence to these principles manifest into victory.
Humanity is alarmed by the beginning of one's existence on the planet Earth with a breath, followed by a scream. Everything starts with the breathe, and while breathe is of primal importance, it is just as important to consider what one does in between and during the action. As an artist, breathe should represent opportunity to imagine, visualize and create. Imagine where you want your work to take you. Visualize and even better, create a physical sensation of where you want to be. Meaning, every place has certain sounds, smells, and tangible stuffs which identify it; enhance your ability to experience what you think it will feel like when you're exhibiting your latest collection, performing before a full house or receiving that award of recognition from peers and fans. That is what is meant by “engrave it upon your hear”. No action exsists for us without breath. As long as you're breathing, the future is yet to be determined.
Hang around anyone visiting L.A. for the first time, and they will undoubtedly express that the City and its people are like things from another planet. This is somewhat reflective of our ability to embrace change and explore new ways of being and thinking. When I meet someone that I perceive as unwilling to change, I understand that is is a reaction not out of love of self, but fear of the unkown. Artists must comfront whatever fear that limits their creativity. The range of fears can be from performing before an audience to fear of not being accepted by the surrounding creative community. Who at sometime has not felt displaced, out of sorts and at odds with their environment? If you find yourself in this hole, only you can get yourself out. You must have a sincere desire to share your creative voice. The desire should burn your skin, you should feel it in the pit of your stomach, you must not be able to comprehend your life without the opportuntity to do what you feel is your destiny. These feelings feed the passion, that is revealed when you speak to others about what you're doing; and if you believe in your truth, others will too, and they will be your biggest supporters and prophets. The best encouragement that can be provide at these times, is to keep moving. Film is one of the great loves passed onto me by my grandfather, a Veteran, construction worker and avid audience of Westerns and and Japanese films. When I was fearful of leaving home to attend college, he passed on a bit of truth that I treasure to this day: “ Learn to love a challenge boy. Never forget, you are a warrior, and a true warrior embraces, comfronts and overcomes obstacles.” Now wheather he just made that up or borrowed it from a Jjohn Wayne or Kurosowa film, I don't know, but I really dig it.
The amount of time, effort and attention paid to one's work and life, is not some immeasurable concept, but rather, can be evaluated by what is manifested. I have sat in pain at times while watching plays, open-mics or concerts, and I mean that in its most literal sense. It is a painful experience for both an audience and the artist to suffer through unprepared work. Patience while creating is a tremendous lesson that we must all cultivate in our life. It is understandable that one might feel the enticement to rush through the creative process, just to be able to say that they have written 20 plays, performed at clubs throughout North America or have played befor thousands, and while these can be considered fine accomplishments, as an artist, I find myself more concerned with whether 1 audience member was changed by experiencing the play, did the sharing of my life experience through comedy help the audience better identify with the commoness of all our lives, and did my music inspire someone else to sing loud or pick up an instrument because they identified with my message. How satisfying a creative life, when the response to these concerns is affirmative. What I find most rewarding as an artist is the occasion when an adult approaches me and relates how seeing my portrayal of Ceasar enhanced their appreciation of Shakespeare, when a scrawny kid of some other race says, “Dude, that song expressed exactly what I was feeling”, or when a former student recalls how some one thing that I said, changed and helped to improve their life. Money and fame are deserved and are great, but the treasure of simply sharing your gifts with others last much longer.
For my personal self, the burQsgate foundation, a private grant gifting organization, started by myself and my wife, the Lady Alzorra, is the manifestation of my commitment to playing an active role in the discovery, nurturance and production of arts and artists whose work promote happiness and world peace. Accordingly, we have produced a series of events, "FORMATIONSLA: A Celebration of Black Art and Music in Downtown LA” to be held February 18-22, 2009 in Los Angeles’ Downtown Arts District. The opportunity to produce such a n event is of course challenging and rewarding. The challenges help stregthen my physical and mental muscles, as well as, my resolve to stay committed to the vision and goals I have set. Among the many rewards is the opportuntiy to celebrate, exhibit and showcase such wonderful artists such as: iconic Black punk band, BAD BRAINS; the musical genius of hardcore rockers BLAXMYTH andd CIPHER; the U.S. debut of UK sensation, SABATTA; the beautiful artwork of C. E. Morris and the presentation of the burQsgate foundation's (R)EVOLUTION Awards, in recogntion of contribututions to the Arts and Humanity. I invite you all to learn more about series, by visiting: www.FORMATIONSLA.com or by calling 323-805-3933.
In the meanwhile, make the descision to manifest through action your vision, and change has begun. In the words of Yoda, “Do or do not, there is no try.”
Peace,
Lord Quander
of
burQsgate
Part II
“ When you clearly envision the outcome of victory, engrave it upon your heart, and are firmly convinced that you will attain it, your brain makes every effort to realize the mental image you have created. And then, through your unceasing efforts, that victory is finally made a reality.”
President Josei Ikeda, SGI
In last month's article, Global Power Leaders in the Arts, I shared with you my thoughts on principles (breathe, embrace change, strategize and demonstrate) that can serve to revitalize our ability to fulfill personal and artististic goals. Oftentimes however, it is difficult to comprehend how adherence to these principles manifest into victory.
Humanity is alarmed by the beginning of one's existence on the planet Earth with a breath, followed by a scream. Everything starts with the breathe, and while breathe is of primal importance, it is just as important to consider what one does in between and during the action. As an artist, breathe should represent opportunity to imagine, visualize and create. Imagine where you want your work to take you. Visualize and even better, create a physical sensation of where you want to be. Meaning, every place has certain sounds, smells, and tangible stuffs which identify it; enhance your ability to experience what you think it will feel like when you're exhibiting your latest collection, performing before a full house or receiving that award of recognition from peers and fans. That is what is meant by “engrave it upon your hear”. No action exsists for us without breath. As long as you're breathing, the future is yet to be determined.
Hang around anyone visiting L.A. for the first time, and they will undoubtedly express that the City and its people are like things from another planet. This is somewhat reflective of our ability to embrace change and explore new ways of being and thinking. When I meet someone that I perceive as unwilling to change, I understand that is is a reaction not out of love of self, but fear of the unkown. Artists must comfront whatever fear that limits their creativity. The range of fears can be from performing before an audience to fear of not being accepted by the surrounding creative community. Who at sometime has not felt displaced, out of sorts and at odds with their environment? If you find yourself in this hole, only you can get yourself out. You must have a sincere desire to share your creative voice. The desire should burn your skin, you should feel it in the pit of your stomach, you must not be able to comprehend your life without the opportuntity to do what you feel is your destiny. These feelings feed the passion, that is revealed when you speak to others about what you're doing; and if you believe in your truth, others will too, and they will be your biggest supporters and prophets. The best encouragement that can be provide at these times, is to keep moving. Film is one of the great loves passed onto me by my grandfather, a Veteran, construction worker and avid audience of Westerns and and Japanese films. When I was fearful of leaving home to attend college, he passed on a bit of truth that I treasure to this day: “ Learn to love a challenge boy. Never forget, you are a warrior, and a true warrior embraces, comfronts and overcomes obstacles.” Now wheather he just made that up or borrowed it from a Jjohn Wayne or Kurosowa film, I don't know, but I really dig it.
The amount of time, effort and attention paid to one's work and life, is not some immeasurable concept, but rather, can be evaluated by what is manifested. I have sat in pain at times while watching plays, open-mics or concerts, and I mean that in its most literal sense. It is a painful experience for both an audience and the artist to suffer through unprepared work. Patience while creating is a tremendous lesson that we must all cultivate in our life. It is understandable that one might feel the enticement to rush through the creative process, just to be able to say that they have written 20 plays, performed at clubs throughout North America or have played befor thousands, and while these can be considered fine accomplishments, as an artist, I find myself more concerned with whether 1 audience member was changed by experiencing the play, did the sharing of my life experience through comedy help the audience better identify with the commoness of all our lives, and did my music inspire someone else to sing loud or pick up an instrument because they identified with my message. How satisfying a creative life, when the response to these concerns is affirmative. What I find most rewarding as an artist is the occasion when an adult approaches me and relates how seeing my portrayal of Ceasar enhanced their appreciation of Shakespeare, when a scrawny kid of some other race says, “Dude, that song expressed exactly what I was feeling”, or when a former student recalls how some one thing that I said, changed and helped to improve their life. Money and fame are deserved and are great, but the treasure of simply sharing your gifts with others last much longer.
For my personal self, the burQsgate foundation, a private grant gifting organization, started by myself and my wife, the Lady Alzorra, is the manifestation of my commitment to playing an active role in the discovery, nurturance and production of arts and artists whose work promote happiness and world peace. Accordingly, we have produced a series of events, "FORMATIONSLA: A Celebration of Black Art and Music in Downtown LA” to be held February 18-22, 2009 in Los Angeles’ Downtown Arts District. The opportunity to produce such a n event is of course challenging and rewarding. The challenges help stregthen my physical and mental muscles, as well as, my resolve to stay committed to the vision and goals I have set. Among the many rewards is the opportuntiy to celebrate, exhibit and showcase such wonderful artists such as: iconic Black punk band, BAD BRAINS; the musical genius of hardcore rockers BLAXMYTH andd CIPHER; the U.S. debut of UK sensation, SABATTA; the beautiful artwork of C. E. Morris and the presentation of the burQsgate foundation's (R)EVOLUTION Awards, in recogntion of contribututions to the Arts and Humanity. I invite you all to learn more about series, by visiting: www.FORMATIONSLA.com or by calling 323-805-3933.
In the meanwhile, make the descision to manifest through action your vision, and change has begun. In the words of Yoda, “Do or do not, there is no try.”
Peace,
Lord Quander
of
burQsgate
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