In this entry I reflect on what I do as a creative practitioner by considering Adrian Piper's (65) description of how "process is as important as the work itself." In writing this text I considered the broader context of my practice (beyond finished creative outcomes such as an edited film) and reflected on the processual dimension of creative activity.
Through the remainder of this post I will briefly describe the areas in which I practice, and also explore the significance of time within my work. I will conclude by sharing ideas on the notion of professional practice.
The question of what I do is multifaceted. I engage in different roles as an educator, arts-based researcher, and filmmaker. My work is often collaborative. At times I facilitate participatory experiences that help members of a community or classroom explore an issue or problem (as part of this facilitation, I often create tangible tools in the form of activity prompts, or card games that help initiate discussions).
My filmmaking/animation is often reflective of research activities—several projects over the last decade communicate lived experiences or cultural memory. In recent years I have also explored speculative fictional accounts of present-day human ecological challenges.
Within these different contexts, time plays a significant role. For instance, as part of community-based research I take time (often months and even years) to build ongoing relationships with people. I also devote considerable time (often thousands of hours) to the making of hand-rendered animated films. Sensitivity to the rhyme and rhythm of events—to how things unfold in time—is integral to my practice.
To further expand on issues discussed thus far, I will add that before creating final art for animated films I engage in hands-on visual explorations through sketching. As part of this process I also combine traditional and digital media. I usually render visuals and or textures by hand and then digitize.
Practice is also a meaning-making experience—in other words, meaning emerges through the very process of developing a project. My decision to conclude a project will often result from the degree to which the work is meaningful to a community or audience.
To conclude this post I will briefly reflect on the notion of professional practice. Through this reflection I offer a succinct etymological breakdown of the words professional and amateur.
The current English meaning of the word professional (rooted in the Latin, "professionem", meaning to publicly declare or profess) usually refers to an occupation that provides financial support or gain ("Profession (n.)"). Dictionary definitions of "professional" are often juxtaposed and contrasted with the word "amateur." Etymologically, "amateur" is rooted in the Latin, "amare" which literally means "to love." In this sense, to be amateur is to literally love what you do ("Professional (adj.)").
As we ponder art-making in 2023, it may be helpful to consider the extent to which professional practice is informed by the heartfelt work of the amateur. The etymological root of this word offers a perspective that moves beyond exclusively pragmatic or practical connotations often associated with professional practice.
References:
Piper, Adrian. “To Art (Reg. Intrans. V.” In The Fox, edited by Sarah Charlesworth, Michael Corris, Preston Heller, Joseph Krosuth, Andrew Menard, Mel Ramsden, Art & Language Foundation, 1975, pp. 60-65.
"Professional (adj.)." Online Etymology Dictionary, 22 June 2023, https://www.etymonline.com/word/professional.
"Profession (n.)." Online Etymology Dictionary, 22 June 2023, https://www.etymonline.com/word/profession.