Word Tattoo

I invite you to join me on a journey to explore memories of the future.

a blog by john-michael korpal

Crisis + Chaos = Opportunity

Posted on by johnmichael

The studio is going through a major facelift.  The first coat of fresh paint is already on the walls and I am slowly going through piles of “stuff” figuring out what stays and what must find a new home.

 

My criteria… if its purpose is not creative… it needs to go.

 

This is a completely different type of “Creative Process”. The Chinese hold the belief that the combination of crisis and chaos creates an opportunity for change to occur.

This is the weekend to get the studio up and running for the classes starting in September. So on Monday check back to see photos of the new and improved Flying Dolphin Studio.

securedownload-8

securedownload-7

Cicadas ~ The Big Green Bugs

Posted on by johnmichael

Each night this week I have sat on my back porch listening to the songs of the Cicadas. I realize that for most these guys are gross, scary, big bugs (and I understand that on some level).

 

But for me they have always symbolized a bittersweet beauty, as the markers to the end my summer. It is at this moment that I am always forced to come to terms that I have worked through my summer and have not taken time for myself to really appreciate or enjoy it.

 

This year, I was at least able to go to the lake several times, but the visits were usually placed between two errands. This is something that happens all the time and I am going to guess that it will happen again next year and the next…

 

But one thing has changed, last night was the first time I was able to see a live Cicada. They are so beautiful! The colors and the design are amazing. I have not been able to stop looking at this photo. The wings are transparent, but when the flash of the camera reflected off of them they glowed with opalescent brilliance.

 

 

This guy in the photo below landed on the table as we were sitting eating dinner. I have gotten very use to the random bugs out there as it seems every night I find a new and interesting insect to explore. But this one was very special to me because he was a Cicada and he just sat there not moving…just sitting there long enough for me to go inside and get the camera and take a picture of him and then he flew into one of the plants and was gone.

 

 

Today as I gazed at his image something changed~ the sadness of hearing their song was replace by how beautiful and stunning he was. So tonight as I sat outside listening to their songs back and forth to each other… I did not really think about the ending of summer, but more of how beautiful he was and how lucky I was that he came to visit me last night.

 

Cicadas

Post Office Adventure ~ part 2

Posted on by johnmichael

When creating art it is usually best not to have any preconceived ideas about the art before it happens…  as not to limit what the art might become.

This situation is a little different because the art never showed up.  The fact that no one commented on the post from Monday informs me that no one received anything from me in their mail box.

So part of  my experience was documenting this process to provide the foundation to build upon. But this is one of those times that I have nothing to place on top of the foundation.

But they do say that a photo is worth a 1000 words

So here is 2000 words of proof of something you never received. (FYI… this is a potato)

potato

Mailed Potato

 

Post Office Adventure

Posted on by johnmichael

Last week I came up with a new idea for an interesting project and I wanted to include you in the action! I realize this may seem vague, but I do not want to give away too much information… until later. But, I promise it will make you think…

 

You might be one of the 10 individuals that will receive “something” from me in your mailbox (physical, not e-mail) in the next couple of days.

 

What I would like you to do is when/if you receive “this”, go to my blog page on my website and under this post you will see a link that is marked  “Leave a Comment”. Click on that and it will open to a page that will allow you to leave a comment. Once you are there, please describe what you received in the mail. But “DO NOT” reveal what it is, only describe it in the best manner that you can. (This is the perfect time to use your thesaurus!)

 

I will collect all this information with the images that I took while putting this together and a little more about my thought process behind this.

 

Mystery

There Is A Train Coming Down The Track

Posted on by johnmichael

This week has been a wonderful journey as I have viewed my life from the metaphoric window of a coach seat on a cross country train… enjoying the views but never really knowing when the train would make an unscheduled stop at a station.

 

I have confidence that I am indeed on the correct train, But the adventure is unfolding as I travel along.

 

When I was younger I always wanted to stow away on a freight train and see where it would take me. I loved the idea of the adventure and the element of surprise of where I would end up…

But, I never acted upon this because I was afraid that I would not be able to find my way back home.

 

I still hold those dreams dear and even though I have not been able to travel much in my life so far, the places that I have visited have been amazing and I have been grateful for the opportunities to see the world and view my life differently as I traveled along the “train tracks” to new and exciting destinations… both in thought and physical forms.

 

I am very fortunate to live in Chicago and use my bike as my primary source of transportation, because this allows me the opportunity to experience many different cultures with only having to travel a short distance. It supports my belief that our unique traditions and cultural differences create a wonderful opportunity to learn so many interesting things about others and in turn learn new things about ourselves. It is in the exploration and sharing of differences that we learn that we enjoy more things in common than we originally though.  In this process we create a dialog based out of mutual respect and genuine curiosity. Throughout my day, I am able to experience the world at large in little ways in the sights and smells of the individual neighborhoods as travel through them.

 

It is though these wonderful opportunities that I am able to create a new and exciting adventure everyday. As I grow older I have a better understanding of my choices for destinations but I am still pleasantly surprise by the unscheduled stops that reveal the potential for an adventure!

 

Sometimes the destination is not as important as the adventure you might experience while traveling there.

 

Train Tracks

Do You Want To Learn Calligraphy?

Posted on by johnmichael

Calligraphy Classes start again this Sunday, August 8, 2013 at the Discovery Center.

 

In this three-week class I am teaching the graceful Chancery Cursive Script (Cancellaresca Corsiva). This script was the standard hand in Italy around the 15th century. The main individuals responsible for this beautiful script were Ludovico degli Arrighi, Giouanniantonio Tagliente and Giovanbattista Palatino.

The first class the focus is using the broad edge marker and working our way through all of the minuscles (lower case letters). There is a ton of information to absorb in two hours but this will give you plenty to practice till we meet again following Sunday afternoon.

 

The second week will be covering the formation of the Majuscules letters and the numbers… and then we can create sentences!

 

The third and final week is reserved for creating a final project.

Sunday class will fill up fast so if you have an interest in learning Calligraphy… this is a fun and exciting way to learn!

Hope to see you Sunday afternoon at 3:00 at the Discovery Center!