| What's your own talent that brings you your most joy?
Posted: 11/10/2007 4:44:12 PM | Some would say that this thread belongs in the "Art" area, but I want to be specific to our "CA group" and see what happens here. Recently I went to an exhibit titled "Craft in America" at the Mingei Museum in Balboa Park here, and it got me to thinking of a question I wanted to ask the locals.....
As part of the exhibit there was also a video playing with a segment close-up spotlighting one of the craft-artists, Sam Maloof, an incredible artist with wood and quite an interesting and great man. He's most famous for making fine wooden rocking chairs, but makes wood into much more than that in many different forms too. During the tape, he said that he was once asked a question, "How will you compete {as an artist making "one off" items} against factories that put out furniture faster than spit and can sell it just as quickly?".
His response was profound. I'd like to put it exactly in quotes, but I can't remember it that well, so here it is loosely: If Charles Eames wants to design fine wooden chairs and allow a factory to mass produce them, that 's fine for him and God bless him. But myself, I like designing and making each one of my pieces carefully and getting to know the people that I make them for. This brings me great joy. and then he implied that he knew in his younger days that there might not be fame and fortune in this when he started down his path, but it's what he needed to do. Well, he's now since made pieces for every President of the U.S. since Carter, has a piece in the Smithsonian, and is quite renowned in the world of craft becomes art, and has a backlog of orders for more. He's one of the fortunate ones that could take his special joy and turn it into a way of life.
I'm a firm believer that everyone is gifted with their own unique talents and skills. But it's whether we find them or not, that's all the difference. And now I want to ask our crowd:
What do you do, contribute through your talents, that brings you true joy? - something that even if there was no market for it, you consider to be your "comfort food activity" of your days? (more than just hanging out in the Forums on POF). Something that you'd do in your closet if it wasn't appreciated by others..... In the example, Mr. Maloof was found by an appreciative audience and he's fortunate that way.......But what art/craft do YOU do regardless of the market (Just for the joy of it!)? What talents were you given that give you the most joy when you see the creations that come from them? | |
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| What's your own talent that brings you your most joy?
Posted: 11/10/2007 6:38:33 PM | | I sing in a choir at my church, and we sometimes go to sing at places that take care of the mentally or physically handicapped. It's really rewarding to bring the gift of music to other people. | |
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| What's your own talent that brings you your most joy?
Posted: 11/10/2007 7:11:28 PM | | I choreograph school productions. I love to get a "big picture" in my head, and then work with these great kids to make it a reality. The reason I'm so good at it is that I can't dance to save my life, so I will never ask them to do anything I can't do. It's amazing how good a couple of well placed grapevines and a boxstep or two can look when the postions are interesting. | |
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| What's your own talent that brings you your most joy?
Posted: 11/10/2007 7:55:44 PM |
What do you do, contribute through your talents, that brings you true joy?
Well I would have to say, what I do best, that brings me joy, has definately changed over the years and certainly has been affected by age and life's circumstances. I equate the question similiar to asking a young Race Car Driver, what brings him the most joy in life and then 40 years later re-addressing the same question to him. Naturally, he is no longer racing and his interests and pursuits in life have dramatically changed.
Therefore, what I say today, certainly is far different from the answer I would have posted, say 20 years ago. I suspect this is not the case with your wood working artist, because he is self employed and can carry out his handy craft until he is unable to perform his artistry.
Currently, I enjoy making physical and financial contributions to Community Charities and Neighborhood Organizaions. I volunteer my time and energies to a couple of local worthy civic organizations. I also enjoy working on a couple of cars I own. I participating in Car shows in California and a few other Western States. I guess my artistic talents are reflected in the Automoblies I customize and drive.
But of course my first and foremost interest is locating new eateries in the surronding area and exploring their menu's for succulent, high caloric offerings, to keep my bulk up, so I don't develop old age wrinkles ! ~ ....It's refered to as the Balloon theory. If you blow up a balloon, it's nice round, firm and without wrinkles. But let the air out of a balloon and what remains is a displeasing unsightly wrinkled mass of material. Therefore, I make a concerted effort in my old age, to keep my bulk up and my wrinkles to a minimum. On that note, I leave you wondering, BYE ~  | |
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| What's your own talent that brings you your most joy?
Posted: 11/10/2007 8:38:17 PM | Performing. I love to sing. Secondly, I love to write about singing. I am very lucky to get to do what I love to do. It's the first art.
When things have been dark and difficult on my life, singing would always lift my spirits. One of my voice teachers told me a long time ago, that singing was joy released into the universe. I wish everyone would do it!
William Byrd wrote in the 16th century:
Reasons briefly set down by th'author, to perswade every one to learne to sing.
First, it is a knowledge safely taught and quickly learned, where
there is a good Master, and an apt Scholler.
The exercise of singing is delightfull to Nature, & good to preserve the health of Man.
It doth strengthen all parts of the brest, & doth open the pipes.
It is a singular good remedie for a stutting and stamering in the speech.
It is the best means to procure a perfect pronounciation, & to make a good Orator.
It is the onely way to know where Nature hath bestowed the
benefit of a good voyce : which guift is so rare, as there is not one
among a thousand, that hath it.
There is not any Musicke of Instruments whatsoever, comparable
to that which is made of the voyces of Men, where the voyces are
good, and the same well sorted and ordered.
The better the voyce is, the meeter it is to honour and serve
God there-with : and the voyce of man is chiefely to bee imployed
to that ende. | |
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| What's your own talent that brings you your most joy?
Posted: 11/10/2007 9:15:43 PM |
I tell jokes. Long jokes. With funny voices. Drives people crazy,
Well cooky my guess is, as long as you don't hear funny voices in your head, you'll be OK and not drive yourself crazy ! ~  | |
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| What's your own talent that brings you your most joy?
Posted: 11/10/2007 9:31:04 PM | OMG... you want me to revel my talent that brings me my MOST joy??? 
Damn, did I click on the "Sex and Dating" forum again???
OH.... you are talking about making a meaningful difference.. or someting like that... ok... um... I get it now. I like to be a role-model for preschoolers with special needs! (I love my job!) Not many adults get to ride trikes and have snack, sing and play as part of their work day. In a lot of ways my life sucks right now, but THAT brings me joy on a daily basis... hearing kids talk who weren't talking two months ago... seeing them interact and play and sing and achieve... THAT bring a smile to my face. | |
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| What's your own talent that brings you your most joy?
Posted: 11/11/2007 3:43:34 AM | | Playing the keys and singing. I studied for ten years with a graduate from juiliard and have been playing for 45 years. I perform at least 3 to 5 times a week and still as a musician I make less then they did 30 years ago. So I guess I do it for the love of it, thats why I still do it but that is why I will die doing it and still have to work 5 days a week. Cause as you know it is not what you know but who you know and if you are at the right place at the right time. I have played with Etta James' band, won awards and been with so many at places some would love to have been. So I guess it brings me joy and have been told to others also. God Bless, Brett | |
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| What's your own talent that brings you your most joy?
Posted: 11/11/2007 7:50:10 AM |
I tell jokes. Long jokes. With funny voices. Drives people crazy, but that's just because they don't realize I am bringing joy into their lives.
I personally can attest to this and no, she does not drive me crazy. She has this "look of warning" that she gives you if she is telling one that you've already heard. I know of one pup who was on the receiving end of her "wrath" and forbidden to speak until after she was finished. It was a crack up.
I admire you wilplay for still doing this after so many years. I come from a family of musical talent, but when I came along, most of the members have been long over it and didn't think to nurture my interest.
My talent has to be my cooking. I enjoy it, it is relaxing and I love feeding others. For the past 7 years, I have been entering the OC fair. Although I consider myself more of a cook than a baker, I win ribbons for my baking and spice mixes. Last year, I won best of show for a chocolate rum cake. My friends and co-workers look forward to "testing season". This is where I will try different recipes in a category and let everyone vote on what I should enter. They all get excited, and hey, I consider that a form of joy. | |
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| What's your own talent that brings you your most joy?
Posted: 11/11/2007 12:59:12 PM | The most rewarding thing I did was work with a "feed the homeless" group. I'm not doing that now because the group's sponsors stopped contributing and it went under. We used to feed 150 to 200 people a day.
Since I do most of my own auto work I thought I might apply that to boating since that's another love of mine. I have a fifty year old fiberglass boat that (with trailer and motor) I purchased for $500. After about a year of work (and more money than I care to admit) it looks new. In the process I learned how to work with fiberglass and epoxy, two-part paints, electrical wiring, and two stroke motor diagnosis and repair. Though it's only 14' I had it out in the Santa Monica Bay quite a few days last year and it's quite sea-worthy. In fact I trust this "relic" a great deal more than I would trust a newer boat. | |
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| What's your own talent that brings you your most joy?
Posted: 11/11/2007 1:47:24 PM | | I would have to say my ability to do Martial Arts. Knowing that I'm good at it, gives me that self-confidence, which has helped in dating, school, work, health & other aspects of my life. | |
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| What's your own talent that brings you your most joy?
Posted: 11/12/2007 9:37:27 AM | I got busted. A friend pointed out that when you ask a question such as I did, you're supposed to give a hint of your own response too.
Like Moma above, I'm also one of those fortunate people that got to find a way of life from my talents, working with building design projects. Got hooked at a young age; I've been doing this since before I even had a driver's license. Like as with most relationships, there's good days and other days when it feels more like burn-out, but then the good ones come back too. And there's always something new. As a matter of fact, it was within just the past few years that one day I confided to one of my seniors with, "Gordon, here I've been doing this since I was 15, and now about 30 years later, sometimes I feel like I'm just starting to 'get it'!". By his calm smile and nod, I felt endorsement as par for the course. However, still need to keep expanding the 'after hours' pursuits too. | |
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| What's your own talent that brings you your most joy?
Posted: 11/12/2007 9:54:58 AM | | I sing in a band. It's not a "band" band, just a bunch of closet and/or retired musicians that meet up and make music. We play about 4-5 gigs a year, and at least two of those will probably be for friends' parties. The others are civic/charity things. We don't suck. It is by far the very best thing I do that is just for me. | |
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| What's your own talent that brings you your most joy?
Posted: 11/12/2007 10:12:59 AM | ...I tell jokes. Long jokes. With funny voices Cooky is very good too I have heard her in person... She also has a fine voice !!! 
My talent or should I say enjoyment is No, not just T & G... even though that is good too.. but I like to bring back the luster that is lost in old stuff... furniture, cars, cycles, objects that are discarded for what ever reason, I would like to think that someday people will see the joy in things that they once did, and not just toss to replace. 
Also quite good at turnin a mess into order.... | |
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marcob
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Joined: 10/4/2007
Msg: 19 | |
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Ender
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Joined: 2/1/2004
Msg: 20 | |
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| What's your own talent that brings you your most joy?
Posted: 11/14/2007 12:23:45 PM |
Performing. I love to sing. Secondly, I love to write about singing. I am very lucky to get to do what I love to do. It's the first art.
Thankfully this positive thread wasn't voted off.
Mominatrix do you think, as some claim, that anybody can be taught to sing? I would love to sing, I think it is the best talent in the world.
I can write, poetry/prose, people enjoy it and when complimenting me they don't seem to be just acting nice. But I don't enjoy writing. I have great rhythm and dance well naturally without following a set of structured steps. I enjoy that very much. I have a great eye in terms of photography and can capture really good shots. | |
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| What's your own talent that brings you your most joy?
Posted: 11/14/2007 12:55:03 PM | OK, I've got two...
My Band. I'm by no means the best bassist or singer you're ever going to see but my tallent is in bringing OTHER musicians together and getting the best out of them. I design the plan, find the people and facilitate thier creative process. So, when we get on stage I feel that everything that happens from theme to the individual parts are an extention of me and when I see people enjoying that (which I have at three PoF Parties now plus other shows) that brings me a great deal of joy.
I'm an amatuer psychologist. For some reason many of my friends find that I have a "sigular wisdom" and help others through thier personal issues brings me a great deal of joy as well as gives me practice for working out whatever roadblocks get thrown in front of me. | |
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| What's your own talent that brings you your most joy?
Posted: 11/14/2007 5:26:03 PM | I am a good cook. Not gourmet, but just good home cooking. I make a really mean pot roast and crispy, juicy,Southern Fried Chicken and awesome mushroom omelets. I get joy out of seeing a friends, family, or a "special someone's" eye light up when they sink their teeth into one of my dinners.
I am a natural born organizer. I can easily organize a dinner for 100, an intimate party, or make sense out of a business that is in chaos. I just thrive on the challenge. | |
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