Greetings Creatives,
What is noise?
VOICE+ECHOLOCATION+IDENTITY
I remember working in a classroom where adaptive technology was used. The students would speak using the voice assistive software on their iPads.
If the students spoke to me while my back was turned, I could not readily distinguish the ‘who’ behind the voice or where the voice came from. Mentally mapping the room helped me to locate the speaker sometimes.
We hadn’t adjusted the synth voice in any customized way. All students sounded the same, all the time.
I have often thought about the missed opportunity to explore the identities of our students.
MEMORY+JOY+GRIEF
Over the course of the last year my auditory memory has been wiped.
I have difficulty bringing to mind some of the sensual indicators of being in a school.
Yesterday I went into the school to gather my last bits of office miscellanea. I figured it would be a quick in and out since most of my gear had already come home before the April break.
It wasn’t quick though.
The smells and sounds and absence of sounds slowed me. I noticed a deep difference between what I knew about school and what I now understand.
COMMUNITY+SYMPHONY+MOVEMENT
A friend was telling me about her garden. She was recounting how spotty her success had been in actually growing plants.
She attributed her results to lack of watering and bad soil.
I asked her which plants do you spend more time with? Which do you listen to more? Which plants are planted close together? Which are further apart?
She laughed and said that she rarely spends time in and around her entire garden. But noted that the plants closest to the deck seemed to be more healthy.
CREATIVITY+COORDINATION+CONNECTION
I am not a great listener.
I tend to do it way too fast. My monkey brain is constantly chattering and prompting me to jump in instead of waiting my turn.
This has an impact on my memory. Most times because I am not actively taking in and beholding what is said to me, I miss the point and I lose important parts of what was shared.
Being in time, in tempo, in the moment is constant work for me. But when I get it right the sense of wholeness in the moment can sometimes be breathtaking.
Be well,
Cluff
If you are interested in attending a monthly Words Keep Wolves At Bay meet-up, please drop a comment below and we can make arrangements for you to share your email with me. The link for monthly digital meetups will be shared on the day of meeting. Meetups are on the 3rd Friday of each month at 8:00 PM. UPCOMING MEETING DATES AND TOPICS May 21 - Secret stories. Private pieces in public. June 18 - Light and Dark. Creating balance. July 16 - Loved and Lost. Pieces that broke, burned, or bothered you. August 20 - Supporting people who don't support your Creative. September 17 - Can I have more ham? Eff you it's called Prosciutto. And other misunderstandings. October 15 - Ozymandias November 19 - Baring bones. The structure of a Creative. December 17 - Polymath All past prompts are posted here. Post your work wherever you feel most safe and tag it with #wkwab. Feel free to let other peeps know about our circle. This circle is not just for words, feel free to explore any element of your creativity. Consider the 'Words' in #wkwab to be our ongoing conversation and fellowship in this space.
chris j cluff 