V is for Vanish: Disappear Within and Renew Yourself

Mountains Vanishing into Mist, near Payson, AZ, Photo by Niamh Savani

I feel compelled to write about “Vanishing” because many of you may have noticed that I haven’t been posting anything much to my blog lately (thanks for your patience and understanding during this disappearing act!).  I had many good reasons not to write including foot surgery, teaching a community college class, and other things that I described in a previous post.   To tell you the truth, even before all these outward events and things collided at once, I had already started going within and felt like “hibernating” for the winter.  In a way this need to withdraw and reflect was partly due to the change of seasons, and mostly due to my own need to gain clarity on some aspects of my life.

“I feel the necessity of deepening the stream of my life.  I must cultivate privacy.  It is very dissipating to be with people too much.  …You think that I am impoverishing myself by withdrawing from men, but in my solitude I have woven for myself a silken web or chrysalis, and, nymph-like, shall ere long burst forth a more perfect creature, fitted for a higher society”.    ~  Henry David Thoreau, Journal

As an artist, time for retreat, reflection, renewal, and re-invention is essential.  All artists, whether they be writers, painters, sculptors, or devoted to another art form need to take time to “vanish” from time to time.  Yes, some people may be a bit ticked at you, since you are not social like you usually are, don’t call or return calls, and cannot help them like you usually do.  A side benefit of this is that time away from people will help you see if they are still important in your life and still worth your time and investment.  What is no longer necessary for your continued growth will naturally fade away.

Your family might want more of your attention and be upset that you seem lost in your own world, or absorbed in your work.  Stand your ground.  This withdrawal is essential to your creative soul and growth.  You will re-emerge a stronger creative person, with so much more to share with your loved ones, friends, and the community at large when you re-engage in your daily life.

Artist’s Retreats and Colonies

“I lived in solitude in the country and noticed how the monotony of a quiet life stimulates the creative mind”.  ~  Albert Einstein

It is well known that creative types sometimes need to physically retreat and vanish from their everyday life in order to renew their creative juices and maybe find a new direction for their work.  Perhaps one of the best ways to do this is by attending an artist’s retreat or spending time at an artist’s colony. 

Two years ago, I attended an arts conference held in Prescott, AZ.  It was a weekend spent in a retreat center in the northern pines, and all one was required to do was create art, connect with other artist educators at various workshops, eat (scrumptious food prepared by a chef), and sleep.  You could also participate in early morning hikes in the mountains if you so desired.  I also threw in some personal early morning yoga and meditation for myself.  Even though it was only a weekend retreat, it totally recharged my batteries, and re-energized my joy in creating and teaching art. 

Artist’s colonies are also a great idea if you need to escape for a while and renew yourself as an artist, or work on an extended body of work.  An art colony is a place where creative individuals can live and connect with each another for various periods of time.  Usually the colony is in a rural location away from major cities and the retreat is fully or partially funded.  The main goal of an artist colony is to offer the artist the luxury of time, space, and collaborative time with other creative people away from the usual work demands.

Often, artists must apply for acceptance into a particular colony or program, and are selected through a formal process.  Some stays at a colony may last from a few weeks to over a year.  Some of the best known colonies in the United States are the MacDowell Colony and the Yaddo Colony on the East Coast.  Minnesota in the Midwest is well known for the Grand Maris art colony.  The West Coast also boasts many great colonies including Dorland, and the famous Idyllwild program.  Here in Arizona, Jerome, Sedona, and Bisbee, although not artist colonies in the traditional sense of the word are well known as havens for artists and creative endeavors.

There are also many other opportunities available, some in the most unexpected places.  When I was hiking through Zion National Park earlier this year, I noticed a beautiful little cabin at the bottom of a canyon.  When I went over to investigate, I read a plaque that described this as a retreat for artist residencies.  National Parks also offer opportunities for artist-in-residence programs.  If you feel that you need to get away and reconnect with your art, investigate what artist colony and/or artist-in-residence opportunities would meet your needs and follow through. 

Vanishing Act[ion]

“Meditation in the MIDST of action is a billion times superior to meditation in stillness”.  Hakuin Ekaku, Japanese Zen teacher and artist

Usually the words “retreat” or “vanish” conjure up images of someone heading off to a cabin in the woods to be alone.  Although this is one way to disappear for a while, sometimes you can retreat or vanish by doing the exact opposite.  Although it sounds contradictory, becoming totally engaged and involved in your work or other everyday activities can result in a spontaneous “retreat” of your mind and total absorption in the present moment.  This resulting stillness and clarity of mind might be just what you are looking for. 

My recent vanishing act was a balance of being totally engrossed in my teaching commitments during the week, balanced with lots of yin yoga and withdrawing from any social commitments during the weekend (apart from spending time lounging around the house with my husband on his occasional days off).

Teaching adults at the community college level is a new experience for me.  This teaching opportunity was not something I went looking for, and I hesitantly agreed to teach the class when asked to do so by a fellow educator.  I was rather reluctant at first, thinking it would be a lot of extra work on top of teaching high school all day (which it was!).  I was afraid I would be tired and burnt out some days (which I was).  However, like many unexpected events in life, it turned out to be a transformative experience for me (and I think some of the students too!).  So many synchronous events happened with that class right from the beginning, and there were many magical, transcendent moments both inside the classroom and outside on field trips.  It was a blessing in disguise.

The point of this story is that sometimes what you seek is right there under your nose if you just totally commit yourself to whatever you are doing. When I did decide to teach the class I set a clear intention for myself that I would exceed all expectations [student, education administration, and my own].  You can vanish in your work, your passion, or your family and find rewards and miracles that were there all along.

Staycation or Vacation?

“What’s the need of visiting far off mountains and bogs, if a half hour’s walk will carry me into such wildness and novelty”.  ~  Henry David Thoreau, Journal

Sometimes the best way to retreat is to stay at home.  Around this time last year, I was also feeling the need for renewal (Hmmm …I’m beginning to notice a pattern here!).  So I decided to retreat by creating a winter staycation for myself.  At that particular point in time, enjoying the comforts of home while simultaneously resting and renewing myself was exactly what the doctor ordered!  During winter the natural shortening of daylight hours and general sense of decomposition is a perfect opportunity for turning within, disappearing for a while and setting the foundation for new growth in the spring.     

Later in the year the energy of summer was quite different and an outward road trip allowed for my continued growth and development.  The expansive nature of summer required an outward physical journey, constant movement, adventure, and exploration. 

Decide how the seasons and different energies present at various times of year affect your individual makeup and mindset, and experiment with either a staycation or a vacation as needed and see what helps you “vanish” and lose yourself in your art!

How do you vanish or retreat when life gets too stressful?

What activities do you engage in to renew your artist’s sensibilities and soul?

How do you re-ignite your creative passions?

Resources:

Websites (Artist Colonies):

MacDowell

Yaddo

Grand Maris

Dorland

Idyllwild

National Parks

Editor’s Note:  Usually the “V is for …Visionary Artist” series is posted on the third weekend of each month.  Since I “vanished” for a while this month’s post is published a little late.  Beginning next month (and year!) the “V is for …” series will  resume on the third weekend of each month.  Thank you for your understanding and patience!