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Show pg 13 the Big Unknown can be seen as either a friend or foe. As I explored the Unknown through formal process and technique, I found the masks created in the absence of a definite direction to be the stronger, more successful masks in my collection. The Unknown, in this scenario, was a friend. Occasionally, the fear of the Unknown would surface, and anxiety would return; fear of success, fear of failure. As the fear and anxiety returned, so would old habits. I was either too focused on receiving validation from my peers, or overthinking a project. Art making would become forced, and these masks or illustrations would result in dismal final products. This is how the Unknown is your foe. This made me realize that allowing yourself to be vulnerable and open to the Unknown opens up endless possibilities. If the Unknown (or the fear of the Unknown, really-for what is there to fear, but fear itself?) is allowed to be become the foe, you are limited to the time and point in your life that fear took over. You cannot move forward to your ideal state. We all have Unknowns, and there is not just one Unknown for me. There are several degrees of Unknowns, and some I'm willing to be vulnerable to, while others I am not. The varying degrees of the Unknown lie on a spectrum that I have associated with color. Color indicates how the Unknown is seen by the person entering in, and the narrative of the Unknown continues in accordance to its designated color on the spectrum. When The Unknown is foe, he is black and ominous. When The Unknown is a friend, he is white and cheerful with a big happy smile. When The Unknown is neither friend nor foe, and you are not certain whether you are vulnerable or not, he is purple. Why purple? There's no reason, I just like purple. With this new vocabulary for mythmaking, I began to narrate certain principles and ideas that I collected through the program. I then created a hero, the hero, to represent myself within this journey. A hero needs a weapon, so I gave him The Sword of Engagement. Admittedly, it was my own lack of engagement that has been one of many reasons that my art craft had never been perfected. The wooden sword reminded me to stay engaged, and to use it as a weapon for success. It also acted as a symbol for my growing skill set. Much like video games, such as Minecraft or Zelda, the hero always starts with the least desirable tool or weapon. My skill set had to start somewhere, too. If the gamer engages in a game long enough, the other swords or tools are revealed, and added to his tool chest. My skill set is my tool chest, and can be upgraded as I earn it. |
