When I wrote my dissertation... the one that was supposed to be an MFA thesis paper... I conducted a series of interviews to compliment my research study. One of these interviews had a lasting impact on me. Creative, professor, and author Richard Wilde told me, "every thing is figureoutable." And I believe it! It's how I approach anything, from the standpoint of: I may not know the answer, I may not have all the skills, but I know I can figure it out, somehow.

And when I thrust my hand in the air and said, "pick me! pick me!" I knew I was signing up to learn a lot of lessons.

That's important to me, to learn and grow. Although, it can also be so difficult, no? I wanted to curate the exhibit The Incredible Intensity of Just Being Human. I felt I could bring some important things to the table.

Looking up: swings. HuffPo article on what happens when you look up

I am so very grateful and excited that the Department of Neighborhoods saw the potential in this project and awarded us a sizeable grant!

I am so very grateful that I'm working with engaged and serious artists committed to their craft and this mission.

I am so very grateful that many people are moved by the mission and want to help.

This project was simpler before the wonderful grant opportunity came up. I'm learning a level of complication I never imagined. I never imagined the amount of administrative work this grant requires. I never imagined managing a small army of volunteers as part of this project. I never imagined how complex this art and social change exhibit would become.

I'm learning that some things just won't get done, no matter how good the intentions.

I'm learning that people can be more fragile than I previously perceived, have less resilience and they often tend to be hard on themselves.

I'm learning more leadership skills, trial by fire.

I'm a person with a strong internal drive and compass. I'm learning that too.

I'm learning a good deal about mental illness, the stereotypes and that my own paradigms need to shift, that I buy into the stereotypes too and need to unlearn them. I also learned that's quite normal. It's part of the human condition and comes from wanting to protect ourselves.

I expected to be challenged. I expected to drop the ball from time to time. I expected to have some personal lows...crisis of confidence. All that is true as well.

And I'm learning to accept that... even though people want to particiapte, contribute, volunteer, help...often their intent and their abilities do not align. That's okay. As long as we get to learn about that together, we can figure it out.

I'm in that place now, in this project, that I do not know how the work that needs to happen in order to fulfill the mission of the exhibit is going to happen. That place before it comes together where things get dark and murky and incongruent. It doesn't feel so great, and I am having difficulty sleeping tonight (it's almost 4 a.m.) The good news is, I've had lots of practice being in this place. I know that even though I can't currently see the way up and through...there is a way and it will be okay. 

By the way, if you're in Seattle and you're reading this...we could use a little help. Here are some areas of need:

1. researcher, someone to gather the names, addresses, contact name and email of the HR person at Seattle companies.
2. hanging posters in December
3. Working on the food prep crew the day before the opening
4. Being on the art handling committee on Jan 7, and moving artwork.
5. proofing and editing
6. The simplest job is the social media committee, where over the course of 4 months you follow, get notifications, like and share facebook and twitter posts from our sites.

You can contact me or sign up on our sign up page if you can help. kvrijmoet@hotmail.com or http://www.signupgenius.com/go/9040b45a8a7292-theincredible

I'll be reporting back how it all turns out. Wish us luck!