One of my favorite novels of all time is E.M. Forster's classic Howard's End. On the first page of the book, a phrase is written just under the title. It reads "only connect." This art project is sure to be a work of the collective, not the work of one person. i've found an unused journal in my piles of things that i'm going to start using tonight. in it, i will list the names of every person who has come forth to comment on this idea, support me on this idea, question me on this idea, etc. so many people have given their time and thoughts to the blog and the concept and the feedback has been like an elixir of strength for me.
pilar, karen h, kayren, donna, rosa, sarah, lori, julie, peter, john s, steffi, deniz, erin, rebecca, noah, amanda, danah, lisa, jenn, catherine, jenny...and that's just from the last few days. and, i fear listing everyone here who inspires me, for i do not wish to ever leave one person out by some bit of oversight. so, i begin the thorough book of grateful names. for those names, those individuals, are as much contributors to this art and thought process as i am.
Samantha Power's book is now basically one giant dog-eared text in my hands (and it's a library copy, oops). I am amazed at how many stirring facts and ideas pop off page after page of this massive body of work. Raphael Lemkin, a man of many titles who is credited with actually creating and defining the word "genocide", recognized the creative losses that all of humanity feels when a certain group is eliminated (or attempted to be eliminated) from the planet. how vital creativity is in our existence. in music, poetry, design, science, everyday life, etc. as chris here at home said the other night: "art touches the divine in all of us. it's so necessary."
Danah gave me a copy of Carl Rogers' On Becoming A Person. I turned to a section on the process and necessity for creativity to be nurtured in a society--or else, all of society suffers. His words resonated similarly to those of Lemkin. Again, another example of connection surfaced.
800,000 nails is a work of connection. Of the collective. It seems to already exist and yet, not one nail has been banged.
