52 Things.

In recent months I've been feeling a lack of artistic creativity. With some consideration I can see a steady decline since my university days nearly two decades ago. It's a weird feeling. I remember what is was like to be more creative. The memory of how effortless it seemed at one time stands in harsh contrast with how much effort I've made lately on a specific project and come up with nothing.

A friend of mine, Thomas, started an amazing project 26 weeks ago that I didn't bother to look at until this past Sunday. Thomas reminded me of his project after I was lamenting to him my lack of creativity. The project is called 52 Things. In a nutshell, he made a public oath to post a new creative work to his website by bedtime Sunday every week for a year, be it good, bad or ugly.

His results are inspiring. Also inspiring is an excellent short video he points to by Ze Frank entitled Brain Crack. This addresses another problem I've always had: even for the fairly good ideas, I rarely produce them. I hold onto them, waiting for the time to work on them uninterrupted, or some more polishing of the idea. In the end they still exist mostly just in my mind.

I've been telling anyone who asks my age since February that I am 40 years old. In fact, I'm 39. Two of my friends also turned 40 this year, so in a show of comradeship we decided to all tackle the new age together on the first of our birthdays and just claim we rolled over into the new decade of life. The true date is a couple of weeks away for me. Perhaps this is why I've decided it is time to take action.

I'm going to embark on my own 52 Things voyage. Good, bad or ugly, I'm going to post something every week. Software, music, video, story, photograph, sculpture, painting. Whatever. Something.

I've decided to post these items to my longtime blog AkuAku despite the fact that I've been posting more often to my vox blog lately. It gives me more flexibility since I control the server.

I hope to accomplish good things, but I will take whatever comes and try to build on my failures and successes. I must go now, it's Thursday already and I need to figure out a project for this week.

Comments

[Aponi]

brilliant idea. i really dig the concept...even though I just turned 37, I'm feeling the slow down in many ways and through many facets of my life. That really shouldn't be the case. It's all about context, really. Thanks for posting this. Something to think about in all of us.

[Tom Taylor]

I actually started this blog a year ago in hopes of forcing myself to shoot more. I use to take pictures almost every day (usually because my job required it), but had slowed down to the popint of picking up my camera every few months. The blog has helped, but I still feel like I need a kick in the ass.

[Dav Yaginuma]

Thanks to both of you for the comments. I'm happy to report that while my first project wasn't something I normally would have thought good enough to release yet, it feels damn good having put it out there anyhow. And in general my idle-time mind is busy with more ideas for that comic strip and other projects. I think this thing is working!

[Aponi]

Just checked out your comic strip! Bravo! It's all about getting it out there...that's what I need to remember...I'm too much of a perfectionist sometimes.  I think creativity is about flux and living in the moment...not dwelling on it...well at least that is what I keep telling myself.

Thanks for sharing the link to your first of 52! Enjoyed it.