Two to three times a week I meet with three other business associates to informally discuss, brainstorm and strategize our future economic survival. Our group consists of a retail shop owner two independent artists and me an unemployed web developer.
Reflecting on the last few weeks of dialog I have come to visualize the bunch of us as some old, but not so old guys hanging out at the barber shop dissecting every idea and possibility for making a buck. The last several days though our quartet seems to be singing a tired song, tired of what seems to be a deepening lack luster economy. Tired of trying to hold ones own, struggling economically to hang on.
Other of my business associates outside the group that represent the auto industry, custom furniture and cabinet fabrication are also experiencing the same effects.
While the purpose of this post is not to be consumed with the negative the reality is evident that the current economic status is becoming a long term situation.
The Salt Lake Tribune the past month ran headliners stating that another 1,000 government jobs would be cut and recently that another 800 Aerospace jobs were also on the chopping block.
While the government figures for unemployment nationally are stated to be around the 10% area the real unemployment rate takes into consideration many factors including those who have exhausted their insurance benefits and those underemployed. A couple of links regarding the statistics are:
Fox Business news,
Brian Sullivan
http://briansullivan.blogs.foxbusiness.com/2009/11/06/is-the-real-unemployment-rate-17-5/
and the The US Dept of Labor, BLS
http://www.bls.gov/news.release/empsit.t12.htm
Contemplating the voices of individuals tired by struggling and coping with economic uncertainty it is evident the need is becoming increasingly greater for individual replenishment. Replenishment being the foundation of recreation.
Looking at the situation on the positive side, the cup half full side, both the need and opportunity for personal replenishment is possible with and through increased participation in the arts.
The arts are being hit hard, really hard by the economic crisis. WSWS.org Has identified some of the effects in a most interesting article,
http://www.wsws.org/articles/2009/feb2009/cuts-f17.shtml
So opportunities for involvement in the arts will require individuals to they themselves take the initiative to create, participate and hopefully share with others,
In previous posts I have noted the positive social benefits of the arts. There are two free events that I recommend for stimulating interest in the visual arts and sculpting. Each month in Salt Lake City and also Park City there are Gallery stroll evening events. More than a stimulating look at a plethora of styles and subjects created by a diverse array of artists, the events are a opportunity to visit with some of the artists, gallery owners and staff and learn about their creative process.
Salt Lake Gallery Stroll
http://www.gallerystroll.org/
Park City Gallery Stroll
Hosted by the Kimball Art Center
http://www.kimballartcenter.org/
For my own personal replenishment this month I have been doing on location sketching throughout the city. I also have been doing some sketching in the Wendover Nevada area.
For more on how I integrate art as a part of outdoor recreation please visit my Blog An Easel A Brush & The Bus
http://www.easelbrushbus.blogspot.com/
Please also check out my page of classes workshops and free events
http://www.wasatchphoto.com/was-art/subpages/Workshops%20&%20Classes.htm
Monday, December 14, 2009
Tuesday, October 13, 2009
Art, Unemployment and Recreation
Wow could I have selected a topic for this post with such a wide range of possibilities for discussion and or description?
Please bear with me on the subject of this post. While some of the disheartening aspects of unemployment are discussed There is good news and positive solutions for personal replenishment.
First the term "unemployment" is limited and perhaps a poorly descriptive term. At best a word used to describe the condition or situation of being disconnected from a job, from an employee employer arrangement.
I say poorly descriptive because while not being gainfully employed and receiving a once regular paycheck, one is consumed with the task and work of procuring a new job or making work suitable to adequately providing for the needs of ones family and oneself.
With so many individuals still at the time of this writing October 09, being added to the still nationally growing list of unemployed. A double digit figure and statistic.
The focus of this post.
My thoughts and concerns are for how those individuals, (a group that since August am a part of) are coping with the stress that accompanies unemployment.
Although my statistic classification is unemployed my daily routine has changed from performing tasks for an employer in exchange for a paycheck to conducting a job search and diligently finding or making work. Indeed a stressful and at times a disheartening proposition given the current state of the economy.
For those individuals also in this position my concern is that they will be able to afford and take part in recreational activities.
Recreational activities are more than a luxury. They are a necessity for mental and physical replenishment.
Most individuals that have become unemployed have to pull in the reigns on ancillary spending. Unfortunately often time this includes funds previously allocated for recreation. While funds for recreation may be reduced or curtailed the need for recreation really becomes more important than ever. The previous situation of employment most likely provided at least some level of continuity in ones life.
The need for replenishment provided by recreation is really important and can be even greater than when employed. Keeping morale up is curtailed to maintaining a positive outlook towards work and life.
The good news is that while recreation and entertainment budgets may be reduced or even non existent, art specifically sketching and keeping a sketchbook can provide a lot of recreation.
I practice, enjoy and instruct others in this most worthwhile activity. It’s an activity that provides physical exercise, aids greatly in mental thinking and clarity. A famous quote regarding art is that art is activities where you can both loose yourself find yourself. I have found this to be true, exceedingly true.
Taking your sketchbook and going afoot rewards the individual with the huge benefits of physical activity. Pausing to sketch your surroundings develops a more acute awareness of your environment.
Often individuals are amazed with how much pleasure and appreciation they develop for simply taking time to pause and explore the sometimes most simple things.
Best of all in financially good times or difficult times sketching requires little or no cost. I have instructed very financially successful individuals in sketching as an activity. One of the couples that participated in an outdoor workshop called me a few months after the workshop reporting that after a day’s business convention they forwent the usual evening social and took their sketchbooks and went sketching. They said it was one of the most pleasurable evenings they had spent in a long time.
My personal crusade is to instruct and share with others alternative recreational possibilities.
While ambling about sketching may seem a new thought many individuals in the U.S. and abroad take part in this growing form of recreation. It is also a perfect activity for group activities. Some individuals form groups and all meet and do sketches of a particular location.
My personal blog An Easel A Brush is an example of one of the ways I enjoy sketching as both outdoor and indoor recreation. Please check my news and events page often for upcoming activities and my classes and workshop pages for classes and workshops.
http://www.easelbrushbus.blogspot.com/
Please bear with me on the subject of this post. While some of the disheartening aspects of unemployment are discussed There is good news and positive solutions for personal replenishment.
First the term "unemployment" is limited and perhaps a poorly descriptive term. At best a word used to describe the condition or situation of being disconnected from a job, from an employee employer arrangement.
I say poorly descriptive because while not being gainfully employed and receiving a once regular paycheck, one is consumed with the task and work of procuring a new job or making work suitable to adequately providing for the needs of ones family and oneself.
With so many individuals still at the time of this writing October 09, being added to the still nationally growing list of unemployed. A double digit figure and statistic.
The focus of this post.
My thoughts and concerns are for how those individuals, (a group that since August am a part of) are coping with the stress that accompanies unemployment.
Although my statistic classification is unemployed my daily routine has changed from performing tasks for an employer in exchange for a paycheck to conducting a job search and diligently finding or making work. Indeed a stressful and at times a disheartening proposition given the current state of the economy.
For those individuals also in this position my concern is that they will be able to afford and take part in recreational activities.
Recreational activities are more than a luxury. They are a necessity for mental and physical replenishment.
Most individuals that have become unemployed have to pull in the reigns on ancillary spending. Unfortunately often time this includes funds previously allocated for recreation. While funds for recreation may be reduced or curtailed the need for recreation really becomes more important than ever. The previous situation of employment most likely provided at least some level of continuity in ones life.
The need for replenishment provided by recreation is really important and can be even greater than when employed. Keeping morale up is curtailed to maintaining a positive outlook towards work and life.
The good news is that while recreation and entertainment budgets may be reduced or even non existent, art specifically sketching and keeping a sketchbook can provide a lot of recreation.
I practice, enjoy and instruct others in this most worthwhile activity. It’s an activity that provides physical exercise, aids greatly in mental thinking and clarity. A famous quote regarding art is that art is activities where you can both loose yourself find yourself. I have found this to be true, exceedingly true.
Taking your sketchbook and going afoot rewards the individual with the huge benefits of physical activity. Pausing to sketch your surroundings develops a more acute awareness of your environment.
Often individuals are amazed with how much pleasure and appreciation they develop for simply taking time to pause and explore the sometimes most simple things.
Best of all in financially good times or difficult times sketching requires little or no cost. I have instructed very financially successful individuals in sketching as an activity. One of the couples that participated in an outdoor workshop called me a few months after the workshop reporting that after a day’s business convention they forwent the usual evening social and took their sketchbooks and went sketching. They said it was one of the most pleasurable evenings they had spent in a long time.
My personal crusade is to instruct and share with others alternative recreational possibilities.
While ambling about sketching may seem a new thought many individuals in the U.S. and abroad take part in this growing form of recreation. It is also a perfect activity for group activities. Some individuals form groups and all meet and do sketches of a particular location.
My personal blog An Easel A Brush is an example of one of the ways I enjoy sketching as both outdoor and indoor recreation. Please check my news and events page often for upcoming activities and my classes and workshop pages for classes and workshops.
http://www.easelbrushbus.blogspot.com/
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