The Art Of Being

The Art of Being in Conversation

Conversations About Creativity and Mindfulness

We are all creative beings, but how often do you tap into your creativity? Do you often feel as though you have forgotten how to be creative? What would it look like to create with intention? 

In April and May of 2020, we created a short series on IGTV called The Art of Being in Quarantine. It was an effort to bring more creativity into our lives during the onset of the pandemic, as we contemplated what it means to be a human during difficult times. We found that by intentionally making space for creativity in our weeks, we were able to show up more fully in our lives. The prompts are intended to be playful and straightforward, 10-15 minute activities, for you to engage your creative being. 

We wanted to expand this beyond ourselves, so started the monthly series, The Art of Being in Conversation. These conversations are about creating with intention. Each month we will be talking to a featured guest about what it means to them to be creative. Every conversation will dive into that person’s story and creative process and will end with a prompt or activity that you, as the listener, can experiment with to tap into your own creative being. 

If you try out any of the prompts, please tag us on Instagram @artofbeingexperience or use the hashtag #TheArtOfBeingInConversation, so that we can see your creations!

 

Suzi Q. Smith

 
 
Suzi Q. Smith LWT - Suzi Q. Smith.jpg

In Conversation with Award-winning Artist, Activist, and Educator, Suzi Q. Smith

 
 

April is National Poetry month, so we are delighted to have Suzi Q. Smith as our April guest. Suzi Q. is an award-winning artist, activist, and educator who lives in Denver, Colorado.

Her recent collection of poems, A Gospel of Bones, is now available from Alternating Current Press, and her second collection, Poems for the End of the World, will be available from Finishing Line Press in June 2021. She shares during our conversation that she wants to be kind and impactful in the world - impactful kindness - which we most definitely experienced during our time together. 

 
“I think we can do better. I feel really confident that we can do better. I think that there is an opportunity still for us to allow a gentleness to take over, and give ourselves a lot more space and expect a lot less productivity and calm down a little bit. And just take the time to nurture and grieve collectively. ”
— SUZI Q. SMITH
 

In conversation…

  • Suzi shares the importance of playfulness in her creativity and how she makes sure to infuse the writing of bad poetry into her process.

  • During our time together we discuss how it is vital that joy be infused into whatever it is you are creating, and how you can work to not be too attached to the outcome of a creation. 

  • We had the opportunity to talk with Suzi about her experiences being a middle school teacher and a creator of spaces for community care, and how she is helping others hold onto, foster, nourish, and cultivate their own creativity. 

  • And, she lends her thoughts on what you can do when that self-critical or self-judging voice rears its head, and how she has built a relationship with her own. 

  • Suzi’s poetry is infused with feeling, because she feels so deeply. Writing is a healing process for her, and her openness, gentleness, and humanness is felt in her words and our conversation. Have a listen! 

 
“I’m a person who just feels really, really deeply and in really big ways, and I can’t contain all those feelings inside my body so I have to make something with them. They have to go somewhere. They have to do something. So, that’s part of my creative process - it’s either intentionally focus that energy and release it in some helpful, creative way or I explode and I would prefer not to explode. That is messy! ”
— SUZI Q. SMITH
 

WATCH THE VIDEO

music: Beach, musician: Jeff Kaale

LISTEN TO THE AUDIO

music: Beach, musician: Jeff Kaale

 
“Something that I’ve discovered over time is that sometimes there is too much pressure, especially when you’re doing something professionally, when this is the artform that you are known for, people expect it to be good, and I start expecting it to be good. I do really give myself this process of writing bad poems frequently, and I encourage other people to write as many bad poems as you need to. Because no one else ever has to see them and also what is ‘bad’ poetry, right? So I try to get out of my own way around the pressure to write something ‘good’ or something that’s ‘useful’ and just write. ”
— SUZI Q. SMITH
 

THE CREATIVE PROMPT FROM SUZI:

Spend 15-20 minutes with a journal.  If possible, be outside in nature, at a park, somewhere you can access fresh air and open sky. 

If you were an animal, what would it be?  Here are a few questions to consider as you begin your writing:

  • What are the characteristics of that animal?

  • What does it eat? How?

  • Where does it live? With whom?

  • Who are its allies?

  • Who are its enemies?

  • How does it move?

  • How does it procreate?

  • What is its behavior?

  • What characteristics do you share?

  • If you could ask this animal 7 questions, what would they be?

  • How would it answer each of these questions?

If this animal could give you advice, what would it say?

LINKS FROM THIS EPISODE: 

 
Angela CravenThe Art of Being in Conversation