Failure

I failed. There, I said it.


A few weeks ago I fired a load of ceramics that not only warped, but had glaze failures. I was, of course, disgusted. Weeks of hard work were destroyed. I looked up every reason that the failure could have occurred; too low of outdoor temperature (it was below 20 degrees), clay body failure (I used clay that had been sitting around forever), too fast, too slow, too something in the firing schedule. In the end, I suppose it was a combination of things, as is often the case when something goes awry. I had not had an entire load failure in all the years that I have fired ceramics. I dropped each piece on the concrete floor and broke each into bits.

 I had another load to fire, and more importantly, I had two large pieces of sculpture that I had worked on for a very long time. The work is still sitting on a table, waiting for me to lick my wounds, get off my butt, and try again.

Instead, I turned my attention back to my easel and started painting. Now, I seriously needed to do so, as painting is my primary medium. Still. It was a classic move - avoidance of conflict, confrontation, recognition of failure, and fear of recurrence.

Michael Jordan has remarked," I've missed more than 9000 shots in my career. I've lost almost 300 games. 26 times, I've been trusted to take the game winning shot and missed. I've failed over and over and over again in my life. And that is why I succeed."

I have always believed that life experiences, good or bad, are teaching points. If we look at our successes and failures, we can learn so much about what works and what does not. Thomas Edison once said, "I have not failed. I've just found 10,000 ways that won't work". Perhaps I believe in experiential learning because I have had so many losses in my life, failures of most every sort, and disappointment in myself and others. Regardless, I have found that if I think on what has happened, try to learn from it, and then move forward in a meaningful way, I can let go of the past events and live purposely in today.

So, when the time avails, I will fire again, and see what happens. I will experiment with other materials; challenge myself to try again and again. I may even take that bucket of broken bits and fashion them into mosaics on the sides of some pots and plant some flowers. Those bits just might see their way into something new and beautiful.

Here is hoping that you keep blooming, keep learning, and keep loving. Never, ever, give up.

Wishing you all that is good,

L

Spring, Renewal, and Love

It is a beautiful sunny day here at Crow River North. Snow is melting, birds are singing, the sound can be heard of snow slipping off the roofs, and grass is peeking out where the sun is able to melt the piles of snow.

I have started a new painting, bisque fired two kiln loads of ceramics, managed to tear a room down to the studs to reconfigure some spaces, spent many hours of time in meditation, and in conversations with my lovely daughters. Time seems to have stood still while I engaged in these activities - and though I have been slow in posting to this blog, I am so grateful for this springtime regeneration.

I am reminded by the sights, the season, and by conversations had in the last week, that this is a special time of year characterized by rebirth, renewal, and love.

I was born lucky. Not because I’ve won the lottery, had a wealthy family, have great health, or any of the common measures of luck. No, I was born lucky because I have always had an open heart, optimism, and the ability to be thoroughly engaged. I have the capacity for great love, the resilience to pick myself up after sorrow or failure, and a sense of well-being.

I keep hearing conversations about singles finding “the one”, about anger, regret, disappointment, depression, and a lot about unhappiness.  This has had me thinking (while I have been tearing down walls, pulling nails, cleaning up debris) about love and the decision to be happy.  Yes, I said decision.  I believe that we can choose to be happy.  I don’t pretend that there is not sorrow, heartbreak, failure, sickness, even suffering. I do know, having experienced a challenge, more than once, that you can choose to live in that place of unhappiness or doubt, or you can choose to pick yourself up, re-craft your life, become engaged in meaningful activity, and feel happiness. I love art, architecture, design, my friends and family, know my own strengths, and have crafted my life so that I can engage in what I love and with whom I love.  This has nothing to do with cessation of suffering, or constant pleasure, but rather the choice to live with gratitude for what I do have versus what I have lost, or don’t have.

If you are interested in learning more about what Aristotle called “the good life"; about happiness, positive psychology, or optimism, pick up copies of some great books.  I would start with The Art of Happiness by His Holiness the Dalai Lama, or if you prefer a science based approach, books by Dan Gilbert or Martin Seligman. I've included links below to a couple of Ted talks that might be of interest.

Spring – a time of renewal and rebirth – invites you to start anew. I’m taking the time to start new projects which I’ll share here. How about you? What are you birthing this season? Let me know!

Wishing you love, happiness, and all that is good,

L

Please view my work at lindabrobeck.com

Winter Studio Time

It has been a long, cold, winter here at Crow River North, my rural Minnesota studio, with snow drifts that remain nearly chest high. I have shoveled tons of snow, been snowed in for days on end, and postponed many trips, short and long, as a result of the weather.

Despite this snow and cold, I have found great joy in the countryside and peace in my surroundings. Having lived throughout the USA in cities large and small, my choice to create a rural studio, was indeed a good one.  The setting has created a quiet space for reflection. Though many people would find it lonely, I have found the solitary time to be important to my creative process.

My favorite time of the day here at Crow River North, is sunset. I take the time to stop and watch as the sun sets over the river and drops beyond the horizon. Each sunset is an entirely new set of colors and striations. Clouds, wind, snow, rain, leaves, bare branches, birds, and animals of all types, influence the experience of the sunsets. It is my time to breathe. I clear my mind and take in the glory of this gift to me.  

I have painted (some of my work can be seen at: artsicle.com/Linda-Brobeck) and worked on my ceramics throughout the winter. The below zero temps have made it difficult to fire my kiln, which is located outside in the building pictured in the photo of snow drifts. So, I have accumulated a lot of green ware, which, I am excited to report, will be bisque fired next week, as the temperature has risen.  I suspect I'll be firing for the entire week before I get the chance to start glaze firing, which is always exciting. I have created both functional and sculptural work and look forward to finally getting the Crow River North website and shop open online. Please watch for my announcements! In the interim, please visit my website lindabrobeck.com

Wishing you peace and all that is good! 

L