Filed under: creative process
I have been doing a lot of thinking about my introversion. I came out of the introversion closet so to speak when I read that Atlantic Monthly article “Caring for Your Introvert”. I know I mentioned in a previous entry that I had been aware of my INTJ status for quite some time but what I failed to mention was that for years I was in total denial about the I(ntroverted). Introversion felt to be a character flaw. However the Atlantic Monthly article was a huge watershed moment for me. It was such a duh and once I accepted my introversion and actually came out to a few friends about it I felt much better. I finally had a legitimate reason for preferring to work in the privacy of my own home instead of my school studio, loathing art openings or parties unless I had an understanding extroverted friend to tag team with.
Some months ago I decided to live by myself (a decision that was of course met with surprise by some extroverts I know) At the time I realized that I had to be very careful—lest I happily spend hours and hours alone in my apartment, experimenting with peanut brittle recipes, reading books and making things. But now thanks to the current economic downturn I find myself with more free time than I care to have (read: unemployed). What used to be pleasurable is now kind of agonizing and even I have to admit that I need people too. And being around people does help with the art process. I like talking about ideas and projects and find my relationships with my local art colleagues to be extremely rewarding and satisfying. I am trying to devise ways/reasons to make sure I leave my apartment—even in this crappy weather and actually interact with people. Gah.
I find myself once again in Guayaquil, Ecuador. A quick aside: I never lived in Guayaquil when I was living in Ecuador. I lived in Quito. My family is from Guayaquil, but I always feel like Quito is My City. So it has always felt strange that I have so many connections here.
Last week I managed to get over my occasional art related social anxiety and contact curator/writer Rodolfo Kronfle Chambers, whose blog I have written about before. When he expressed interest in seeing my work I admit I was nervous. His was an opinion I actually cared about. I truly admire the curatorial work he is doing in Ecuador. Thankfully the “studio visit” went well and I think we saw eye to eye about a lot of things—primarily art in Ecuador and perceptions about Ecuador abroad. He recommended that I read Culturas Hibridas by Nestor Garcia Caclini. I am still trying to track it down while I am still here but I think I should be able to find it in the US. At the very least I can probably get it via inter-library loan.
Incidentally, I quite like my morning routine of the past week or so. I wake up at around 8. It’s already around 80 degrees so I don’t feel so reluctant to get out from under the covers since I don’t really have any. I putter around doing “errands”. Shower. Get a breakfast of cheesy yucca breads and naranjilla yogurt. The day has begun.
