This past weekend, in honor of the summer solstice, I danced in the 41st annual Mermaid Parade in Coney Island with The Findyhoppers. Even though I have now been dancing for ten years, choreography is not something that comes easily. Dance itself did not come at first. Far from it. I legitimately could not even move my foot how my first dance teacher showed me. I stared at her and couldn’t pick it up to place it in “third position” (and had no idea what that was).
When she picked my foot up for me and placed it in the spot, I felt my brain respond and knew I had to keep going (you can read a post about it all here). And, a decade later, here I am performing in front of thousands of people. Still not “good” meaning “professional” but that is not the point. It’s a challenge, it’s engaging, and it’s fun to do! To me, it’s an essential embodied healing practice in so many ways. And it’s a beautiful practice of being in and contributing to community.
These are some of the themes that are also in a brand new book which launched today called What Art Can Do: A Conversation with Janet Morgan. In it Janet talks about her creative process and shares the wisdom that making and teaching art has brought to her (and through her to others). In exploring the outrageous, the foolish, and the divine, Janet shares how some of her best work started with a failure, rejection, and/or making a mess and what that means (in art and in life). She then shares a vision of the healing and inclusive power of art, especially in relation to building community.
With this in mind, our conversation brought me new insights of what “success” is and how it can transform into something that is unifying instead of exclusive. How art is a major conduit through which that transformation can occur, which I share in my concluding thoughts along with several exercises for readers to notice their own beliefs and start their own art practice.
Janet also talks about her work painting deities and her strong connection with Coney Island and how it has inspired her own story telling and that it is a place with a history of inclusivity.
This inclusivity and community with art at the center is a driving force of the Mermaid Parade! An event where all are welcome and show up in so many creative expressions of Self and mer-ness. No matter how that art takes shape, it is met with support and adoration by all of the attendees.
This is what art can do, to–build up the energy and power of being vulnerable and still loved. Taking risks and having them seen without criticism. Generating positive connection in ways that feed one another.
I would be honored if you could get a copy of the book where we cover all of this and more! It’s available as an eBook and paperback and also includes six of Janet’s art pieces.
Here are the links to get What Art Can Do!
eBook available for Amazon Kindle (device, app or laptop):
US, CA, UK, DE, FR, ES, IT, NL, JP, BR, MX, AU, IN
Paperback available:
Majestic Wisdom Publishing 