Michael Chabon steps down from his chairmanship of the MacDowell Colony’s Board of Directors

One of my favorite authors Michael Chabon stepped down recently as chair of the MacDowell Colony’s Board of Directors, an organization that foster the growth of artists.

His take on the current state of the world is bleak, with an essence of hope. Here’s a snip:

And what is that truth, the truth of art, that freeing blade, that slaking drink in the desert of the world? It’s this: You are not alone. I am not I; you are not you. We are we. Art bridges the lonely islands. It’s the string that hums from my tin can, over here looking out of my little window, to you over there, looking out of yours. All the world’s power over us lies in its ability to persuade us that we are powerless to understand each other, to feel and see and love each other, and that therefore it is pointless for us to try. Art knows better, which is why the world tries so hard to make art impossible, to immiserate artists, to ban their work, silence their voices, and why it’s so important for all of us to, quite simply, make art possible.

Hey, maybe that would make a good slogan.

Well, I don’t know about you, but I feel a little better than I did when I started. The hell with fascism. The hell with bigotry and paranoia. The hell with fools falling for the lies of charlatans; that’s what fools do. We’re just going to keep on doing what we do: Making and consuming art. Supporting the people who remind us that we are in this together. We are each only one poem, one painting, one song away from another mind, another heart. It’s tragic that we need so much reminding. And yet we have, in art, the power to keep reminding each other.

We need words like this right now. Why? Because the world has become overwrought by people convincing the masses that politics and religion are more important than blood. That priority should be given to “belief” over family. That apathy is more important than empathy. That justice and “truth” is determined by a side of the political spectrum and not by honest to goodness hands reaching through darkness to pull friendship out of the mire caused by ignorance and shame.

When I began working as a photographer, I had an artist mentality of purity and naivety. It has evolved into different versions of cynicism and despair, followed by times of hope and joy. It’s a tough business.

I valued these words from Chabon. They gave me pause and time to reflect.

 

 

D’uh: an important relationship requires a smidge of empathy

From the brainiac, masters of the obvious at Business Insider (emphasis mine):

Whether you’re a business owner who wants your employees to learn effective relationship building skills, or on a first date and hoping to have a second, here’s a great five-minute “likability approach” to increase your odds for success:

Let’s start from the beginning. By nature, people respond positively when another person makes them feel important, heard, and cared for.

This is why I always recommend that you start by listening to the other person’s needs and concerns. Listen with genuine curiosity and interest. Validate their experience (i.e. their feelings) and a relationship will automatically begin to grow.

You don’t necessarily have to agree with the other person’s feelings or opinions, but you must respectfully and authentically acknowledge their experience in that moment … because everyone wants to feel heard and important; it lets them know they matter to you.

It’s that simple.

The bottom line is: the more important the relationship is to you, the more important it is to demonstrate an understanding of the other person’s experience. This is how we connect with others.

It’s like an article for the mentally challenged. It seems so obvious. It’s how 99% of my friend base treats each other. It’s why Tina and I experience a successful marriage and working relationship.

But of course there is that 1% … 

A new family portrait

Two nights before we returned to Chicago from our new house in the south, Tina and I raced to complete at least one new portrait. Inspired by a few different photographers including Greg Crewdson, we photographed each other separately and then plugged the image we wanted into the scene.

The room itself was photographed separately as well.

I love that Talulah made the cut. She was walking making sure she made an appearance.

 

It’s Splitsville for Atlas

Why not teach a robot a gymnastic routine.

The progress science is making with robots is so damn cool!

I dream of octopi

This video is fun, quick glance at a sleeping octopus changing color. It’s amazing.

A reminder: top one hundred books of the 21st century

This list of the 100 top books of the 21st century is something I want to come back to. And I thought maybe you would like it, too.

what you do … counts

This is a great short, viable solution film for advocating ideas for solving climate change.

It’s certainly striking that Greta Thunberg is so loved by many and so telling that she’s hated and demonized by others (this one is a gem). Demonization means fear. And fear comes from insecurity and ignorance.

holy moly: bicycle parkour made easy …

This is an amazing short film of a guy named Fabio Wibmer doing bike parkour, but stick around till the end if you want to remind yourself of how easy it is not.

Courtesy of the gentleman at the bar …

Gloriously hilarious exchange. Love it.

NYT: Birds Are Vanishing From North America

Via NYT:

The skies are emptying out.

The number of birds in the United States and Canada has fallen by 29 percent since 1970, scientists reported on Thursday. There are 2.9 billion fewer birds taking wing now than there were 50 years ago.