March 31, 2012 In appreciation, communication, design, graphic design, inspiration, words and language By Patricia Saxton

A Plethora of P’s / #53: Path

proactively punctuating life with the plausible, powerful possibilities of positive thought presented through a plethora of “P’s”.

– ♥ –

Some of us, especially when we’re young adults, think we need to follow a set path. Line it up, stay on course. If you falter, get up, brush yourself off and carry on. And there is much truth in that ~  because if we try to follow too many paths at one time, we can become a.) overwhelmed and b.) lost. One path allows us to define a direction, set goals, see progress, maybe even see down the road a bit.

But life teaches us that a clear path isn’t necessarily what it seems. We learn that “things happen”, causing us to change course. There are detours, and there’s debris along the way. Not all the stones are smooth and flat, or angled just so. They might suddenly veer off, dip, crack or overlap. You might have to go through some muddy parts.

And besides all that, how do you know if you’re on the right path? And what happens when you stumble upon a different path? One that looks more inviting?  Ah… that can really mess you up, if you’re humming along, thinking you’ve got this all nailed down pat. Are we really on track, or just kidding ourselves?

Maybe though, we could see many of those dips and swerves as opportunities. Adventure. Choices. After all, who’s to say what path is right for any one individual? Who decides? Who really knows?

Except that when it’s right, it feels right. Right there in your gut. You feel stronger, with more clarity, more determination, more light. Your dreams kick in. Obstacles? Surpassable. Detours? Hey, maybe they’re enhancements.

So go ahead and follow your path, your calling, your dream, even if it you don’t know for sure that it’s “the one”. With a plan in your pocket and an open mind, follow what lights you up, because in taking action, taking steps, you might even stumble upon something better.

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March 30, 2012 In appreciation, art, communication, creativity, fine art By Patricia Saxton

“We Are You Project” Art Exhibition

Last weekend a new exhibit opened in Manhattan’s lower east side Wilmer Jennings Gallery at Kenkeleba.

In recent years I’ve gotten to know and respect several of the participating artists, on occasion sharing gallery space with them, and wanted to show my support. I was also intrigued by the show’s theme: “We Are You”. A simple phrase, but deceptively potent and full. I like how it causes the mind to bend a bit.

As a body of work, the exhibit is described as “an artistic overview of the current state of Latino socio-cultural, political, and economic conditions in the 21st Century  …   reflected in paintings and prints by thirty-three prominent, contemporary Hispanic artists whose trans-cultural and pan-Latino-heritage can be traced to many and diverse Ibero-American traditions, including Mexico, Puerto-Rico, Cuba, Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, Uruguay, Brazil, Argentina, the Dominican Republic, and Spain and Portugal.  Most importantly, each artist or their families have experienced the perspective of being an immigrant, refugee, a migrant, expatriate, or nomad, who gratefully found a new home in the United States, and where over the course of years, they have attained professional success by expressing both their vision and unique personal story.”

They’re an impassioned crowd, friendly and welcoming, and the art was fantastic, with wonderfully varied expressions of what was so eloquently stated in the above press release. Here’s a sampling of what’s on display. If you’re in the area, it’s well worth a visit.

Full listing of “We Are You” exhibiting artists:

José Acosta, Efren Alvárez, Nelson Alvárez, Willie Báez, Josephine Barreiro, Hugo X. Bastidas,, Monica S. Camin, Priscila De Carvalho, Jacqui Casale, Gerardo Castro, Pablo Caviedes, Carlos Chavez, William Coronado, Maritza Dávila, Rosario D’Rivera, Fernando Goldoni, Elizabeth Jiménez Montelongo, Roberto Marquez, Raphael Montañez Ortíz, Hugo Morales, Lisette Morel, Gabriel Navar, Julio Nazario, Jimmy Peña, Joe Peňa, Duda Penteado,  Mel Ramos, Rolando Reyna, Jesús Rivera, José Rodeiro, Marta Sanchez, Sergio Villamizar and Raúl Villarreal.

Gallery Hours: Wednesday to Saturday, 11am to 6 pm or by appointment
Gallery Location: 219 East 2nd Street at Avenue B

The exhibit runs through May 5, 2012.

For further information about the show and related events please contact Kenkeleba Gallery Director at (212) 674-3939 and/or visit the project’s website at:  http://www.weareyouproject.org

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March 21, 2012 In art, communication, inspiration, intelligence, life and the universe, philosophy, presentation, work and play By Patricia Saxton

“The Happiness Advantage”

OUTSTANDING.

“Train your brain, and create ripples of positivity… ”

Unlike the stereotype of a brooding artist/musician/writer, whose greatest work comes on the back of depressing events, I’m with Shawn Anchor that happiness inspires productivity.

Anchor’s TED talk is entertaining, articulate and wise ~ and makes you feel good at the same time. A must listen!

“If we change our formula for happiness and success, what we can do, is we can change the way we can then affect reality….”

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March 15, 2012 In art, books, branding, communication, creativity, design, inspiration By Patricia Saxton

52 Weeks of Peace (squared) / #63

“Peace cannot be kept by force; it can only be achieved by understanding.” ~ Albert Einstein

Yesterday was not only Albert Einstein’s birthday, but also National Pi Day.

Yes ~ ∏.  I’ve since learned that National Pie Day is on January 23. Still, one can take artistic license now and again. And besides, it seems a great theory to celebrate both mathematical tributes (Pi and Einstein) with some yummy dessert.

You could even make a mathematical equation in this somewhere, I betcha. The ratio of blueberries to sugar sprinkles? The probability of not a single sugar sprinkle hitting one of the raspberries? The average number of vertical lines in a kiwi slice?

Or maybe not ~ but I think Dr. Einstein would have enjoyed a piece of fruit pie, with a dollop of whipped cream and a nicely sharpened pencil on the side.

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March 13, 2012 In communication, inspiration, life and the universe, photography, work and play By Patricia Saxton

Time Out: Signs of Spring!

Dear Clients, I’m planning to take the rest of the afternoon off. I hope you don’t mind ~ in fact, I think you should too, and here’s why:

My God, what a gorgeous day! The windows are flung open wide, the sun shines, the air is warm and breezy. Birds chatter, daffodils open, kids walk home from school, sweatshirts abandoned.

Spring is everything delicious. Everything new and reborn. Really it is  ~ because it’s not as though we’ve never seen a daffodil before, but when they bloom each spring there’s a thrill of delight as if it were the first. And when we spot a robin, as if it were a strange and unusual creature, we shout like children, “look – a robin!”.

Our heart feels lighter, our hope expands. A beautiful day like this reminds us that life always chooses to look up, to grow towards the light and surprise us with a million ways to shine, no matter what.

And all that warrants some time out ~ enjoying this early gift from the fickle month of March, for the winds could change tomorrow!

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March 11, 2012 In business, communication, life and the universe, marketing, networking, philosophy, social media By Patricia Saxton

Social Media Roller Coaster

I hear a bunch of exasperation out there about social media.

Bottom line, we have to make choices about our time ~ these days, almost on an hour-to-hour basis. In any given period we may ask, is this a good use of my time? Is this what I want to be doing, is this what I HAVE to be doing, is this just what happened when one thing ran into the next and here’s where I landed?

Those of us who are self-employed need to insert structure into our day, or we’d not be at all productive ~ and that requires a hefty dose of self-discipline.

This may work beautifully if you work with tasks that have clear beginnings and endings (not to say there aren’t snags and challenges that could send potentially simple project into galactic proportions), but far less controlled if you’re in the concepting stage of a design project where you’re, let’s say, trying to break the rules in imaginative, but still effective ways. You can’t set a timer for that. But you can set a timer that says it’s time to shift gears, have dinner, take a walk.

So what then do you do with the onslaught of social media demands on top of all the rest? Do you skip the walk to check your twitter feed? Post facebook quotes while you eat dinner? Pin on Pinterest early in the day, while checking email and planning calls … and yea … you see, things can start to overlap and then maybe your grip starts to slip, the ride is moving and your hat is flying… and you’re saying, “wait!, whoa, slow down!” Yet the world out there is saying, “ha! right! time waits for no one, better hop on!”

So you sigh and shrug and try to keep up.

Or you decide not to.

Here’s the thing: there’s no rule book that says you have to leap into every social media outlet that comes along. That said, I’d be leading you down the wrong road if I said you shouldn’t participate in at least a few of your choice. But by all means, unless you’ve got a budget and a staff whose sole job is to handle every social media site, be choosy.

When all those invites come in to join this group or that network, don’t impulsively jump. Let it sit. Check it out. If it feels right, you may want to climb aboard. If it feels a lot like “ugh, do I have to?”… then don’t.

Either way, don’t miss that walk in the park in order to get a front seat on the next social media wave. If it really sings to you, you can join in after your walk.

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February 6, 2012 In advertising, appreciation, branding, communication, creativity, imagination, presentation By Patricia Saxton

Super Bowl Ads / Part II: The Forgettable and The Unforgettable

If you’ve read my last post, I stand corrected, thanks to my friend Mary.

There was one more really good, memorable ad besides the Chrysler/Clint Eastwood piece. (I hadn’t seen this one ~ must have been firing up the hot fudge sauce when it aired…) This one’s just a happy hoot! ~ and every bit as good for wit and creativity as the Chrysler ad was for class and message.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Fe1cJPD_ZbA&feature=player_embedded

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February 6, 2012 In advertising, appreciation, branding, communication, creativity, presentation By Patricia Saxton

Super Bowl Ads: The Forgettable and The Unforgettable

“Ads are the cave art of the twentieth century.”
~ Marshall McLuhan

If this statement is true, and if we consider the majority of this year’s Super Bowl ads, we’re becoming pretty forgettable.

Super Bowl advertising is eagerly anticipated by millions, almost as much as watching the game. (Some would argue that the ads are the main event). It’s a huge opportunity to hawk wares to a captive audience, and highly regarded as a showcase for some of the best & brightest commercials made.

So, I watched to see what cream would rise to the top, and was incredibly disappointed. Have I just become jaded and old-fashioned? As a reality check, I asked my teenage daughter if she found them entertaining. Her answer: “No.”

She was out of the room for the only one that I found powerfully memorable and worthwhile. It happened to be a serious ad, and featured Clint Eastwood (I’ll let that fact speak for itself). In case you missed it, here it is:

Aside from this one, I thought: “they just don’t make them like they used to!’ Okay, I’ll admit that the “we go” Budweiser dog ad was sort of cute, and I liked the one about entrepreneurs. So there, I found two more. But by and large there were too many ads and too little substance.

Of course, they don’t have to make them like they “used to”, except for maybe having some more class, more wit, more depth, more intelligent ingenuity.

Am I asking too much? I don’t think so. If the idea is to make a big impression, and get the most bang for the probably obscene amount of monies spent, they might take some tips from some great ads of Super Bowl’s past…

With the wealth of talent and creative energy in the world today, you’d think the 2012 Super Bowl ads could’ve been a little bit spectacular. In my opinion, it just goes to show that technology doesn’t equate with creativity, and bells and whistles don’t make the message.

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January 20, 2012 In art, branding, communication, creativity, design, imagination, inspiration By Patricia Saxton

Pop Peace

“I’d like to teach the world to sing….in perfect harmony… ”

Week #59 / 52 Weeks of Peace (squared) / © Patricia Saxton

Interesting what the mind holds on to and randomly pops back out. Here’s a link to the ad that inspired the idea for this peace sign (all these years later!). Some of you will remember this one well. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ib-Qiyklq-Q&feature=related

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