Reflections on Venezia (Venice) and the Art Biennale

Venice and the Art Biennale were on my list and since I was in the neighborhood anyway (in Barcelona for a conference)...it seemed prudent to take a side trip. At least this was my rationalization...admittedly, I am fairly adept at rationalizing travel...or so my husband tells me.  Ha Ha!   Since the hubster was unavailable, I asked my sister-in-law and niece if they might be interested given we've been talking about Italy FOREVER and my niece is an art education major making the art biennale an 'educational' opportunity.  And so it was that three Crumpton women traveled to Venice Italy for a week of exploring, art, and eating.  

The plan was that I would catch an early flight from Barcelona and meet them when their flight from the US arrived.  As luck would have it - the baggage carousel where my bag arrived was next to the baggage for the US flight where they stood waiting.  I don't know what the odds are for this to happen but...that was my first indicator of how cool this trip would be!    We grabbed bags and headed to the Alilaguna public transport (Tip 1) -  a boat from San Marco airport on the Blue Line to Venice.  You exit the airport with your luggage in tow and then walk roughly 10 minutes to the pier to catch your transport.  Just follow the crowd and keep walking until you hit water (Tip 2).   The transport ride was around 90 minutes from the airport to San Zaccaria stop (Tip 2).  We stayed at a Best Western property, Hotel Bisanzio.  This was a perfect location for exploring - friendly staff, breakfast included, and they had a room for 3.  PLUS, it was one bridge and one alley away from the transport stop (Tip 3).  

After dumping our luggage we headed straight to Piazza San Marco for cafe and people watching.  We enjoyed cafe and hot chocolate at Caffe Lavena while people watching and listening to music.   The Caffe is expensive but location, location, location.  Feeling somewhat refreshed it was time to explore (Tip 4).  Our walk took us to the Bridge Rialto which was under construction and ultimately to an early dinner at Trattoria Al Scalinetto (Castello, 3803-30122) - Mama in the kitchen, son waiting on tables.  It was a perfect relaxing time to eat and let it soak it that we really were in Venice!  Later in the day - another walk and gelato in San Marco Piazza (Tip 5).

On Monday, Day 2, we walked to the Peggy Guggenheim Museum and the Bridges of Graffiti exhibit.  The Peggy Guggenheim museum presents the collected art of Peggy Guggenheim within her former home.  She is buried on the property.  I'll do another post about Peggy Guggenheim and the museum soon, I was inspired post-trip to read a biography on her life to learn more about this woman, her passion for art, and the history behind this museum.  Per the website, the museum hosts "Cubism, Futurism, Metaphysical Painting, European abstraction, Avant-Garde Sculpture, Surrealism, and American Abstract Expressionism."  A highlight of the experience were the photos within a room of that room with the specific paintings now on display combined with an exhibit of Jackson Pollack works including The Mural (no photos were allowed)!  

Starved - we had lunch on a lovely terrace at the Ristorante Lineadombra.  This was an incredible pause  - imagine a warm sun, sitting on a terrace over the water, great food, wine, and conversation with family.  Perfect!  

The Bridges of Graffiti exhibit at the ArteTerminal featured works by ten graffiti artists including  Eron, Futura, Doze Green, Todd James, Jayone, Mode2, SKKI ©, Teach, Boris Tellegen, and Zero­T.  I'll do another post on this exhibit and Venice street art - this was a highlight for me!  Near this exhibit we saw two C215 pieces - a favorite street artist!

We finished this day by window shopping, eating pizza out of a window, and of course the coup de grace - enjoying gelato (Tip 7).

Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday we visited the  56th La Biennale di Venezia - Giardini and Arsenale locations along with various Collateral Events throughout the city.  Founded in 1893 the biennale incorporates (a) country pavilions where each country has their own pavilion and exhibit addressing the biennale theme and (b) curated exhibits represented by individual artists invited to submit a work in keeping with the biennale theme.  Two primary locations are the Giardini and Arsenale with multiple other venues throughout the city that are described as 'collateral.'  The biennale is closed Monday but open other days from 10 until 6 PM (Tip 8).  Our strategy was to visit Giardini on Tuesday, collateral locations on Wednesday, and then Arsenale on Thursday.  Our thought was that we might need a break from the concentration of art at a specific venue such that walking from venue to venue might alleviate 'art fatigue.'  This turned out to be a good strategy!  In advance of the trip, we explored Biennale Top 10 lists and had a quasi- priority for pavilions wanted to see.  Once at Giardini, we started with individual exhibits followed by the country pavilions.  In hind sight, we thought it would have been better to prioritize the country pavilions and then if time see the individual exhibits.  While there - remember the rules, stop for lunch and cafe in the afternoon.  Both Giardini and Arsenale host beautiful views of the water...of course, there's really no bad views, just be sure to hit pause in the day to enjoy the location and people watch. 

Venice is a wonderful city - I loved the Art Biennale, that Venice is a good walking city (Tip 9) and leisurely.  There is are plenty of spaces to enjoy a cafe, snack, and just people watch.  Often this is a great time to recalibrate as to where you really are because you're lost.  (Tip 10).  I like to window shop - there's plenty of small shops to be had for clothes, leathers, murano glass, etc.   I'm already thinking towards 2017 when the biennale is hosted again.  I would love to return!  

Tips

1.  You can pay what you want via private water taxi (estimated 120 to 125 euro) or you can take the public transportation for 15 euro one way or 27 euro/RT per person.  I'd rather spend money on food and beverages than transportation!  

2.  Pack lightly.  Remember that you are going to have to walk to the transport with your luggage, then once you arrive at Venezia, you have to transport your luggage to your hotel.  Everything you bring has to roll or be carried.  Don't overpack!  Before you leave home - look at your Venice hotel website to determine the closest transport stop.  If there are walking instructions once you arrive in Venezia, bring those too.

3.  Select your hotel wisely!  Logistics are important because you're going to fly in with all your luggage, then walk to the transport (See Tip 2), and then have to transport your luggage to the hotel.  Any walking in Venice includes cobblestones and bridges and even with directions, there's a likelihood that you will get lost.  We saw people late at night arriving with luggage and I thought good luck.  Make it easy on yourself to select a hotel near a transport stop.

4. In the corner of the Piazza (opposite the San Marco Basilica there is a Tourist Information Center + a public restroom (WC).  Pick up a brochure for the Art Biennale here that details the map and exhibits.  You'll need coins for the for the public restroom - 1.50 euro.  There is an attendant who can make change.  

5.  Eat gelato every day.  Why?  It's gelato.  Because you're in Venice.  And it's gelato.  

6.  Think leisure when it comes to eating.  There's no other time like the present so just relax.  My #1 rule for travel planning - have a few things you want to see with sufficient padding to sit, enjoy a meal, drink vino, and just be present.  These sorts of moments cannot be rushed - they're to be savored.  Venice is a city that calls for enjoying a cafe, people watching, and soaking in the beautiful sights.  

7.  If you have any notion of 'dieting' in Venice, then just stay home.  That's a dumb idea to plan on denying yourself an integral part of the travel experience - enjoying the food - pasta, bread, cannoli's, pizza on the street, gelato, cafe, vino - you have to try it all.  

8. Art Biennale - We purchased our tickets the day that we were visiting a venue, there was a short line wait.  If waiting in line drives you crazy then purchase tickets in advance.  

9.  Venice is a walking city.   Public transportation includes water taxis - otherwise, you're walking.  Wear comfortable shoes!  There are many bridges, cobblestone streets, and what you think is a short walk or distance is really 2+ hours because the route in indirect or you get lost (Tip 10).

10.  You will get lost, turned around, disoriented, think you're one place only to realize you're somewhere else.This is Venice.  Relax - soon you'll find a cafe, piazza, or some landmark that you'll see on a map and can get reoriented.  If all else fails, look for signs for Rialto Bridge or San Marco - they'll show up eventually.  

#StreetArt #Richmond Virginia #RVA

Street Art as an expressive form is experiencing an international zeitgeist in urban settings with cities like Richmond, Virginia intentionally inviting internationally recognized street artists to paint public murals throughout the city.  

The Richmond Mural Project 

Curated by Shane Pomajambo, CEO and Creative Director of Art Whino Gallery, the Richmond Mural Project is an overt project designed to use street art to:

“Establish Richmond as a landmark destination for internationally recognized murals. . . . [creating] exposure for the city, establishing it as a premier art destination. ”

— Richmond Mural Project

Kudos to Shane Pomajambo for such a wonderful collection of street artists - a place to study, learn, and observe the varying artists' techniques and styles!  

Street Artists

For a street art enthusiast - Richmond provided a wonderful collection from which to expose me to those artists I typically only see on my Twitter #streetart feed.  Artists included:  2501, Andrew Hem, Angry Woebots, Aniekan, Aryz, James Bullough, Caratoes, Chazme and Sepe, Clog Two, Clog Two and Inkten Collaboration, D*Face, David Flores, Ekundayo, Etam Cru, Ever, Evoca1, Gaia, Greg Mike, Inkten, Jaz, Jerkface, La Pandilla, Lelo, Meggs, Moya, Natalia Rak, Nils, Onur, Pixel Pancho, Roa, Robert Proch, Ron English, Scribe, Smithe, Sonni, Stormie Mills, Wes21 and Onur, Nils Westergard, Taylor White, Jason Woodside.  Some of my favorites:

Questions about Street Art

This truly was an incredible opportunity to see some great street artists.   Curation implies decision making about selection, preservation, maintenance, and collection.  A curator facilitates decision making - who's in or out including who or what's acceptable and within the scope or vision for the city's public spaces and built environment.  Further, those who endorse a project like this decide what other forms of expression within the public built environment are permittable. Some questions arose as I walked the city:   

• Nils Westergard is a fabulous local Richmond artist who participated in the project.  What other local artists were invited to participate?  Is there a way with these sorts of projects to engage and intentionally highlight local artists' contributions?  
• I observed evidences of wall scrubbing where others' expressions had been scrubbed or painted over.  With the scrubbed walls - who was silenced?  Silencing is about power - who controls the streets and what is permittable?   Are the underserved incorporated or provided an opportunity to participate?  What was said or displayed that is no longer visible?   Are there other venues where those silenced publicly can provide input, have a voice?   
• Street art in non-curated occurrences is generally understood as temporal.  Is the curated mural understood to be temporary or is there another standard?
• What are the benefits for this sort of mural project?  How can or should other cities pursue this sort of project?  
• What are existing laws regarding graffiti or street art?  If illegal, what was the process for navigating those laws in support of this sort of project?

Street art provides such a rich topic for conversation about community, creative expression,  incorporation, philosophy of public art, and legality. Richmond is a terrific place to explore, see great street art, and ponder the questions arising from such a project.  

Richmond Logistics Notes

I stayed at the Linden Row Hotel - an incredible space, those who work there are rabid passionate about customer service.  For breakfast, a must try are their maple scones!  I didn't have a car and found the city easy to navigate - I walked everywhere day and night exploring, observing, and enjoying the city.  My one must try was Mama Js - oh my goodness the fried chicken and peach cobbler were ridiculously good! 

Sources

G40 Summit - (also in Richmond) website:   Retrieved from http://www.artwhino.com/exhibitions-1/g40-art-summit-2015

Richmond Mural Project website.  Retrieved from http://www.artwhino.com/exhibitions-1/richmond-mural-project-2015

Richmond Mural Locations (2012, 2013, 2014, 2015) Map.  Retrieved from https://www.google.com/maps/d/edit?mid=z4w_7Jx-pKNQ.kUA6MtBwKc-A&usp=sharing

#Streetart Barcelona Street Style Tour #ILA2015

In my mind, any location deserves a deeper look with regard to the built environment and street art or graffiti found visible to the public.  So when I learned that the International Leadership Association (ILA) was holding their annual conference in Barcelona, I was ecstatic for Barcelona is recognized internationally as a vibrant, creative, abundant street art scene.  

ILA 2015 Post Conference Tour/Workshop:  Barcelona Street Art: An Exploration of Street Art, Culture, Politics, and Culture 

My basic idea was that a tour/workshop featuring Barcelona's street art would be fun affording participants an opportunity to explore boundary and intersectional questions pertaining to: street artists, their art, expression, and subculture versus the streets, and public versus private spaces including who decides what is acceptable; formal (often commissioned) versus informal art; and legality and criminality of artist’s activity.   So I contacted Barcelona Street Style Tour - co-founded by Joachim Castaneda and Mike Frankos assisted by Dominic Attard to see if they might be interested in designing a street art tour specifically for ILA participants - a process that required developing a proposal and selection via a competitive process.  Our proposal, selected for a post-conference tour, included two parts:  (a)  Street Art Tour led by Mike Frankos and (b)  How-to Make Graffiti workshop conducted by Dominic Attard.  

Barcelona is a city with a rich cultural, artistic, and political history. Barcelona’s urban art takes a variety of forms ranging from simple written words to elaborate murals, graffiti, street art, pasteups, tags and stencils. This tour highlighted Barcelona’s graffiti and street art movement showcasing the latest works of art found adorning almost every wall in the city center. For an introduction to Barcelona street art, see Las Calles Hablan is a documentary film about "discovering a hidden world, an extraordinary subculture and the struggle between an artistic community painting for freedom of expression and an increasingly restrictive dogmatic government."  Some highlights of the tour through pictures:  

Reflections

1. "Seeing" and observing what is going on within our built environment  is a capacity that must be taught and exercised.  One participant noted, "Now that you see street art, you see it every where."
2. Street art adds vivaciousness, stories, and richness to the built environment.  The artists who put their works on the streets are people, with stories, and for a variety of reasons, a desire (need?) to express themselves using this media.  
3. Street art represents a sub culture with rules, norms, and shared understandings.  For example - Barcelona based street artists paint on the roll down metal doors.  Per Mike, travelers are those who paint on the walls...  Placement of tags, signatures, etc. follows rules of the street with regard to respect for artists' work.
4. Street art takes a variety of forms and styles:  murals, paintings, stickers, pasteups, stencils; characters, figures, scenes, words, shapes, abstracts, etc. 
5. Street artists have reputations - some artists like Pez have international reputations, they are known, their style is recognizable.
6. Street art is illegal in Barcelona, offenders face a 3000 euro fine but street artists take the risk, their work is evident throughout the city.
7. Highlight:  Visiting Base Elements Urban Art Gallery 
8. A tour/workshop like this raises questions:  Where else is street art?  What is the 'scene' like in the US?  Are the same issues facing US street artists?  Who is studying the phenomena?   How do we incorporate more experiential efforts like this into the ILA.
9. Post-conference was perfect because ILA participants were relaxed - their presentations were done, nothing was ahead of them except fun.
10. Next time I would build in a snack break or more time in advance of the tour so people could grab food.
11. When doing an event like this particularly in an international context - people likely won't be checking email, have a communication contingency.
12. Do more of these sorts of events at ILA conferences.  Presentations/workshops are fine and serve their purpose but ours is a very educated, thoughtful group - they don't need in your face scholarship to think, learn, and ponder (grin).

Barcelona Street Style Tour

What a great company and group of guys to work with in organizing this tour - fun, responsive to the goals we set forth for the tour/workshop, and interested in the group's makeup and interests.  Joachim took the lead on logistics, scheduling, and helping work out the details with the ILA.  He is efficient, responsive to emails and demonstrated enthusiasm for the project.  Mike Frankos conducted the walking tour - he is a playful spirit with a wonderful gift of gab, and a great story teller knowledgeable about Barcelona and her street art.  He delivered a fun and informative experience. Dominic who conducted the hands on how to create graffiti workshop is a gifted teacher, patient and instructive with a friendly spirit.  Both Mike and Domnic had such a warm sense of humor - something I look for in those I associate with!  

If you find yourself in Barcelona, take the BSST as a way to explore and learn more about street art and to wander the streets with the best.  For corporate planners - if you want an experience that gets your team outside of the office in a group exercise, consider working with BSST to design an experience.  The walking tour plus how-to workshop was a fantastic way to bring people together in a common experience, expand individual capacities to 'see' and provided an opportunity for people to explore their creative side..  

“I am originally from San Diego, CA and have spent 15 years living between San Francisco and Barcelona, Spain. In 2002, I left San Diego to attend the University of San Francisco, where I studied fine art with an emphasis on painting. In 2009, I moved from San Francisco to Barcelona, Spain to further my investigation of contemporary art. I attended Metafora Escola d’Arte Contemporani and began to heavily expand my portfolio towards abstract graffiti doing large scale murals all over Spain, Austria and Germany. It was after my first year in Barcelona that I decided to remain in Spain taking on various artists’ assistant positions to some of Spain’s top street artist, and working alongside various platforms promoting street art and graffiti as social and educational initiatives. It was 2012 that Mike Frankos and I launched Barcelona Street Style Tour (BSST) offering an in-depth, up close and personal tour showcasing Barcelona contemporary youth culture with a large emphasis on street art and graffiti.”

— Joachim Castaneda, BSST

“I am 35 years of age, originally from California and I have been living in Barcelona for almost 5 years. I co-founded Barcelona Street Style Tour with Joachim Castaneda back in 2012 and have been guiding the bulk of the tours since then. Although I am not an artist, I have enjoyed and appreciated street art Graffiti since I was a child.”

— Mike Frankos, BSST

“I first entered into the world of graffiti in the early 2000’s mainly painting on the train line and focusing on making public property look much nicer. These early years, I think of as the refining years, and post this period, I moved into commissioned murals and pieces. I now find myself living in Barcelona, still painting, but not anywhere illegal anymore, in the comfort of a studio. ”

— Dominic Attard (aka Rate Oner), BSST

Sources

Barcelona Street Style Tour website.  Retrieved from  http://barcelonastreetstyletour.com   

Base Elements Urban Art Gallery website.  Retrieved from http://baseelements.net

Dominic Attard website.  Retrieved from  http://motiquedesigns.wix.com/streetart

International Leadership Association website.  Retrieved from  http://www.ila-net.org

Las Calles Hablan documentary.  Retrieved from  http://vimeo.com/60149775

#Phoenix First Friday #Art Walk

I love our city!  Tonight's First Friday Art Walk reminds me why this is so!  First stop:  Monorchid Gallery   a wonderful display space located at 214 East Roosevelt, to visit exhibition aptly entitled:  TEN:  Modern Abstract. 

“A departure from the realistic the artists focus on shape, form, color, and line creating compositions independent for traditional visual references. ”

— Nicole Royse http://www.monorchid.com/shade-gallery

My primary purpose was to check out the latest 3D sculptures by Kevin Caron  but of course much more was to be seen.  Kevin is a metal and 3D printed resin sculptor - I offer a photo of Arabesque, a metal sculpture of his, as a comparison to the 3D work he presented at Monorchid.  He has a knack for capturing a beautiful line - there's a grace and flow in both the metal and 3D resin works that is elegant and graceful.  Early on my impressions were that he was representing a post modern/industrial perspective...today I feel grace and peace - striking red and purple communicating strength and conviction.    He's a leader in the conversation surrounding 3D printing as art.     

Next, I met Dan Pederson, a Mesa, AZ, artist  who's eclectic style captivated my attention - it reminds me of really cool public urban walls plastered with street art, graffiti, pasteups, stencils, and stickers!  I love that feel!

Dan Pederson - Monorchid Gallery 11062015- photo with permission 

As part of the Monorchid exhibit, there was in process body painting called Bare Landscapes featuring local artists creating abstracted versions of Arizona landscapes.  No photos allowed but I will say - it was incredible to watch a human body being transformed through the use of paint.  An artist that I particularly enjoyed watching was Brandon McGill.  

From here I explored galleries along Roosevelt Row, people watched, and just hung out.  Some street art I saw along the way:

I finished my time on Roosevelt Row visiting the container galleries - shipping containers converted into temporary gallery space.  First there was the exhibit by Takashi Hara

Takashi Hara exhibit, Roosevelt Row, 2015

I finished with an exhibit entitled The Collapse featuring Jesse Armstrong, Jeff Reich, Patricia Sannit, Sheetal Shaw, and Jonah Amadeus Skurky-Thomas - ceramic artists engaging in themes of sustainability.  Curator = Cory J. Rogers, in collaboration with the Phoenix Institute of Contemporary Art.  Two favorites by Patricia Sannit and Jeff Reich.  

My Friday night in Phoenix - love the arts and having such incredible access!  

Sources

ArtLink (n.d.) First Friday Art Walk.  Retrieved from http://artlinkphoenix.com/first-fridays/

Armstrong, Jesse website.  Retrieved from http://soaportfolio.asu.edu/grad/JesseArmstrong

Caron, Kevin website.  Retrieved from http://www.kevincaron.com  Artist perspective on 3D printing:  http://www.kevincaron.com/3dprint-why.html

Hara, Takashi website.  Retrieved from http://www.takashihara.com

McGill, Brandon website.  Retrieved from http://www.brandonmcgill.com

Pederson, Dan.    https://www.facebook.com/dan.pederson.37?fref=ufi&pnref=story

Reich, Jeff website.  Retrieved from http://www.indigostreetpottery.com/Site/Home.html

Sannit, Patricia website.  Retrieved from http://www.patriciasannit.com/Patriciasannit/home.html

Shaw, Sheetal Website.  Retrieved from http://www.studioboteh.com/

A Sea of Red: Japan Pavilion Venezia Art Biennale 2015

Imagine yourself immersed in a sea of red.  This was my experience walking into the Japan Pavilion at the 56th International Art Exhibition – La Biennale di Venezia.  

This truly was a take your breath away moment...I felt my breathing slow and was mesmerized at the beauty of the Chiharu Shiota's described as:  

A space filled with red yarn. Attached to the end of each piece of yarn, suspended from the ceiling, [is] a key. In our daily lives, keys protect valuable things like our houses, assets, and personal safety. . . . By coming into contact with people’s warmth on a daily basis, the keys accumulate countless, multilayered memories that dwell within us. Then at a certain point we entrust the keys, packed with memories, to others who we trust to look after the things that are important to us. . . . two boats on the floor beneath the yarn and the hanging keys. . . . symbolize two hands catching a rain of memories (i.e., countless keys) pouring down from the ceiling. (Japan Pavilion, 2015)  

In her statement on youtube, Shiota (2015) spoke about keys carrying human stories and memories of events even noting how the shape of the key is like the shape of a human body.  "If you have a key in the hand, you have a chance."  I resonated with the interconnectedness represented by the installation.  In perhaps a silly thought, I smiled as I considered how we're all in the same boat.  Introspectively, I wondered how my thoughts, actions, and deeds promote interconnectedness or opportunity for those I encounter.   I want to be about fostering those spaces for others to realize those 'chances' represented by the keys.  This is the power of such an exquisite exhibit.   

Sources

Azzarello, N. (2015).  Chiharu Shiota weaves an immersive labyrinth of keys and yarn.  Design Boom.  Retrieved from http://www.designboom.com/art/chiharu-shiota-venice-art-biennale-the-key-in-the-hand-05-06-2015/

Japan Pavilion. (2015).  The Key In Hand.  Retrieved from http://2015.veneziabiennale-japanpavilion.jp/en/

Japan Pavilion. (2015). Experience the installation.  Retrieved fromhttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QvCfgV7qimA

Shiota, C. (n.d.). Artist website.  Retrieved from http://www.chiharu-shiota.com/en/ 

Shiota, C. (2015).  Artist Interview.  Retrieved from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DV3AwzrQbIo

JU PhD Program Reflections

To quote Donald Trump, "This is Huuuuuuge!"   Today is a big day at Johnson University because we signed off on our very first dissertation within the Ph.D. in Leadership Studies program.  See program description.  I spent the remainder of the day vacillating between exhilaration and sadness simultaneous filled with a sense of now what?!  

Background:  JU's President Weedman introduced JU to me in 2009 when he asked me to teach Strategic Planning within the BA/BS in Nonprofit Management program.  I still remember that first visit to JU TN located in Knoxville.  I was immediately struck by the physical beauty of the campus and the intense commitment of JU faculty and staff to hospitality.

Source:  http://www.JohnsonU.edu 

In 2010, Dr. Weedman called saying JU, in partnership with 7 other universities, wanted to start a PhD in Leadership Studies.  Will you design the program?  Timeline:  5 months.  So a consultant reverse calendars from the due date and does what it takes to meet the client expectations.  Little did I know that within academia - a 5 month design timeline is considered lunacy; however, this is JU - agile, on task, and willing to do what it takes.  

The day we submitted the design package for accreditation review, I remember tears flowing as I contemplated this BHAG (big hairy audacious goal)!  That day, Dr. Weedman asked me to come on board full time to direct the program.  On many levels this was a crazy hire.  I'm not an academic; like strategy, planning and design but grow weary in the midst of implementation; and my professional network, at the time, did not include typical JU alumni or constituents.    Shoot, I wouldn't have hired me for the role!   Yet - I saw an opportunity to build something directly focused on developing leaders and creating opportunities for leadership studies related research and scholarship.  Content mastery and research skills are important but I am more focused on developing leaders who, within their sphere of influence, are equipped to see complexity, focused on human flourishing, and judiciously care, act, and serve.  In Christian-ese, I see our primary purpose as discipling.  

All of these memories came flooding in today.  As a designer, I strive to 'imagine' an if this/then this design anticipating possible hiccups and/or questions in advance.  The reality though is that all implementations are accompanied by a need for thinking, discernment, and adjustment.  So it is with this PhD program rollout.  Bless their hearts - Cohort 1 truly represent canaries sent into the coal mine.  It is a deep honor that the 4 men in cohort 1 entrusted JU with their doctoral education in an untested program and PhD program director.  But they did and today - one of them finished.  We've walked and learned together.  It's with deep satisfaction that I say - Our approach to teaching content and research skills while simultaneously focusing on leadership development works.   I'll get more practical in future posts about what we do.  For now - I want to relish the moment.  It works.  Congratulations Dr. Chris Beard - JU's first to complete their doctoral dissertation.  I am so happy you finished! 

Source: Johnson University, Cliff McCartney

First ever blog post!

I know it's rather cliche' to post a first blog post announcing that it's a first but this is a big step towards having all my writing, consulting,  and social media identities consolidated into one place.  This is it - the world according to AC. A while ago, I asked a public relations person to review my social media content to provide a preliminary critique as a way of figuring out if I wanted to hire her.   Her response, You should only communicate professional related content.  Say goodbye to goofy shoes and craziness on Facebook, street art on twitter, and shared photos on Flickr - all this was deemed 'unprofessional' taking away from my professional brand and identity.  I impolitely said - that's a bunch of crap.   The look on her face was priceless!  

So the truth is I'm rather eclectic and bohemie. I want consulting clients, colleagues, students, Facebook friends, Twitter followers, etc. to know who I am....really know who I am so they trust and are encouraged by this strong, flawed, quirky person who gives every day all the gusto she can muster.  Another reason for this is to connect with others thinking about and researching topics I'm curious about, I thrive in the world of ideas and conversation! One more reason....I thought this might be fun.  Something I haven't done before.  What can I learn?  How can I express myself creatively without the agony of APA, peer review, and all the craziness of academia?! 

I look forward to learning how to blog and interact in this way!