Serendipity Booth is my portable studio/shop and a busking place but it is also much more than that... Donation-based and open for visitors, this mini street gallery came to life as an answer to my multi-layered inner call. The thoughts and longings behind were: - take myself out of home - allow myself to be exposed to possible change and opportunity - display my art in an offline context - connect with people face to face - sell what I create and make art my main income - leave my comfort zone and e x p a n d ! - engage my daughter into an activity I would usually think of as reserved for myself only - present the world with an image of creative mother who promotes child inclusion into artistic work Before taking my daughter out to go busking for the first time, I didn't hesitate. I just did the same what I would have done before she was born. I had some little voice of doubt though - what I call "whispered beliefs" - something you don't consciously think but it's in your head anyway and it tries to impact your thoughts and actions. I used to believe that if I went to play without my daughter, things will be less chaotic, I will be more focused, organised, not interrupted and able to stay out for a longer period of time. I've let go of those weighty thoughts while embarking on our journey. It happened almost momentarily. After all, I have entered a brand new world - how could I expect it to be much like the one I knew before? We sing, play ukulele and guitar. We talk, eat, meet people, dive into conversations... We do "pauses" and run around to stretch our legs. We sell paintings, poems, my music albums, handmade notebooks, envelopes and customised paper, handspun yarns, art prints, postcards... I write poems on order. I ask people to name the subject - just one word - and not to think it through too much. Then I fill up one sheet of paper without pausing. It's often an emotional and entrancing process for me, yet I feel calm. I do not force myself to write "on the subject" and I don't have anything rehearsed... I simply put down whatever comes at the moment and believe it to be a mutual message important for both of us at this time. Already the first attempt left me with more blessings than I could imagine. People are kind. They are full of grace. They appreciate when someone shows up. It feeds their need for adventure too! I've met so many wonderful beings, experienced beautiful sharing and received a lot of support from total strangers. It fills me with gratitude and builds an awareness of that "things are possible" and of a vast uncovered space beneath each encounter, each song sung, each smile... I feel Autumn getting nearer.. and though we've been out with the Booth even yesterday, I know it's a travel-series reserved for the Summer. Before, I've been seeking the soulful festivals and forest gatherings to display and share what I do. I'm happy with my flexibility and readiness to have been doing this throughout the past months in a totally different environment. In an ordinary-city-environment, with perhaps less of, but more varied receivers and an overall feeling that we rem being a random gift of beauty to the ones that pass by... and so are they to us. We started 2 years ago... also in Vilnius, Pilies street.
Sometimes we sold my handspun yarns and knitted accessories, but most of the time I just played the guitar and sung. People always stopped and talked but there wasn't that much of a connection comparing to what we've experienced this Summer. I think it is partly due to that Saule is older now and makes connections easily and earnestly. She reaches out to people and is also able to participate actively in a similar manner to myself (she can write those poems, play and sing those songs, paint pictures, attempt to spin yarn, decide what item to offer as a gift, ask and answer questions, etc.) But it is as well my attitude that has changed, ripened. I do not go there any more merely to sell or collect donations. My purpose has deepened, and so did my experience. So, here, in the end.. I want to extend heartfelt thanks to my partner, who one day offered me to "not think of money" as I go there to play, and who (probably not intentionally) caused me to ponder my purpose behind all this. Why do I go to the street? What do I want to create? What is my art saying? What are my most important values and how can I share them?... I found my answers and they have manifested into a rainbow of exciting journeys and as a stream of greatly focused creative-work days at home. Thank you, Love, for saying those things!
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