The Giving Keys

I started a new job one month ago. I’m a Production Coordinator at The Giving Keys here in Los Angeles. Normally, I would wait a minimum of six months to a year before divulging (to myself) any semblance of a somewhat objective judgement or assessment of the quality and type of work I’m doing. For obvious reasons, it’s best to wait a while before arriving at a conclusion since seasonality, employee turnover rate, and other unknown factors have yet (if at all) to present themselves. However, I feel like I have been hugely impacted on a personal and professional by the work I’m currently doing and would love to share this in the hopes of inspiring others.

Helping end homelessness in L.A. Our company makes jewelry. This jewelry is handmade by individuals transitioning through homelessness. I’m super passionate about helping others. Under the general sphere of this altruism falls a population of humans who are often ignored, vilified, and misunderstood. By employing this unique workforce, our company is setting an example of how a business can make money and do good at the same time. As an expatriate of the advertising world, I am far too familiar with the outdated (from a humanistic perspective) business model of making money at the expense of others (whether that includes commercial competitors, finicky consumers, or disposable employees).

Working closely with others. I feel human again! This is what I blurted out of my head 2 weeks in regardless of how crazy the workload got. I came to this realization since the last time I was working a 9-5 was in advertising (nearly a year ago). In huge corporate environments it’s very easy to become a cog in the wheel. Cubicles become isolation chambers when a barrage of deadlines, emails, phone calls, unnecessary meetings, and projects consume one’s time. This is the opposite of connecting with others, since it becomes a martial art in deflecting constant bombardments from outside forces. Collaboration becomes an overused buzzword since it actually doesn’t exist; A kind of corporate wishful thinking if you will. Now, I actually work with others. Not primarily through computer screens like I did before, but through talking face-to-face, exchanging raw materials to make jewelry, hugging, laughing, and sharing stories.

Half way in half way out. I still do work on the computer to sort out placed orders and shipping logistics, but this time is split with manual labor on our production tables making and inspecting jewelry as needed. From a mental health perspective this is absolutely fantastic. This setup provides and nurtures a balance between future oriented (computer) and mindfulness present (manual labor) tasks that are unique to any other job that I’ve had. My personality type is half anxious and half nostalgic. Both are psychic and emotional fixations on the future or past, respectively. Armed with awareness of how I’m feeling at any given moment I am able to pivot between the two fixed states on a daily basis. If I get too absorbed with emails I switch to the production tables where my overactive mind shuts off and I’m mindfully engaged in what I’m doing. I take notice of the color of the materials, how they feel, the people who are sitting across from me, and a whole host of other things that are entirely in the moment. When this feeling begins to wane and I start thinking of things outside of the scope of the present moment I jump back on the computer. This tango of being future oriented and mindfully present has allowed me to become more familiar with how I feel minute by minute, hour by hour, and day by day. This familiarity has helped me assess how I can better let go and pick things up (figuratively speaking) when needed.

 

Inspiration

In another recent hiatus, I have not published a post in a while. Life gets hectic and things that one does not anticipate unfortunately spring up. I still don’t have access to Photoshop or Illustrator, which kind of limits my creative expression. However, in lieu of digital art programs, I  occasionally produce work via hand.

Above is my rendering of a Marcus Aurelius bust. I recently revisited his ‘Meditations‘ and was inspired to create the above image. ‘Meditations‘ is like cold pizza. It’s great when you first pick it up and just as good (if not better) when you revisit it at a later date.

In ‘Book One: Debts and Lessons,’ Marcus addresses many of the individuals (and Gods) who have influenced him in one way or another. Two individuals and their respective lessons that inspire me are:

‘8. Apollonius

Independence and unvarying reliability, and to pay attention to nothing, no matter how fleetingly, except the logos [rational thought and/or God]. And to be the same in all circumstances – intense pain, the loss of a child, chronic illness. And to see clearly, from his example, that a man can show both strength and flexibility.

…

9. Sextus

… Not to display anger or other emotions. To be free of passion and yet full of love.‘

I’m hoping that this piece will get the momentum going and allow me to continue posting. I forgot how rewarding this process can be.

A Good Read on Life

This is an amazing video of 12-year-old Neveah Moshe, who lives in the South Bronx and is incredibly fascinated with reading. It’s very inspiring to see how enthusiastic she is about education and going to college.

Black Heart

Whenever I get the sense that something is particularly overwhelming, instead of regression I seek the will to confront and resolve. What comes to mind is a black heart. Not in the sense of being callous, detached, or malicious, instead, I see it as a proactive stance against agitation (human and non-human) under the premise that one’s conviction will not waiver to fleeting or irrational emotions. That’s the gist of this illustration.

Grapes

Since getting back into designing/drawing/painting, I’ve noticed that I’m much more inspired by everyday life than I used to be. Daily objects become ideas for future projects.

I watched a documentary last night on Jean-Michel Basquiat (Jean-Michel Basquiat: The Radiant Child). When asked what his studio was like in terms of work-space, he mentioned always being surrounded by magazines, records, and other objects from which he drew inspiration from. I totally understand this behavior. I was on the train from work reading this week’s New York magazine and came across a picture of grapes. I thought this would look great with a stylized approach. And above you see the result. 

“Stop and smell the roses” is such a sad notion to be absorbed by the list of cliches, since it is marvelously true and not trite. If you take a closer look at what seems mundane due to routine/jadedness/familiarity, you find that there’s a little beauty in everything.