“Life is a journey, not a destination.” ~ Ralph Waldo Emerson
“Beginning with the end in mind is about examining why life is worth living and being true to your own values and dreams,” says Acton’s MBA Entrepreneurship. “If you have trouble uncovering these fundamental goals and values, it is time to go back to your basic foundations. Query people you trust and admire. Read great literary works and books on philosophy. Spend time alone in a quiet place. If you are religious, reexamine the fundamentals of your religion. Question, examine assumptions, reflect, and question again.”
In recent weeks I’ve listened as artists and non-artists spoke on the subject of embracing failure as it relates to success; the conversation began at last month’s Culture Front forum. It’s so in the air! How do we stay afloat? It’s so easy, even comfortable, to allow our values and true wishes to take a back seat to daily demands. We want the public to invest in us, yet we often avoid digging in to the very problems we must solve in order for that to happen. It’s a conscious effort every day, and it’s a tough go. I’m reading a wonderful book that says the typical mindset of “success” is about “getting.” And “getting” is a fight.
A friend recently said that Jackson is full of wonderful people, and she’s right. We’re a persistent, well-meaning, cause-driven population. In all things creative, we’re on the hunt for that “groove,” and the unknowns are…unknown.
A positive development: Vertical Harvest was unanimously supported by Jackson’s Town Council! The next step is sending that proposal to Teton County’s Wyoming Business Council Representative Roger Bower, Wyoming’s West Central Region Representative. Bower’s office is in Riverton, Wyoming. Word is, he does not like the project. However, he’s the man who will approve appropriations. I’ve emailed Mr. Bower a question or two; if he responds, you’ll see it here. If not, assume “no comment” by post time.
Vertical Harvest is a superb example of a project with a clear, clean mission and plan for implementation. Feed people, feed them sustainably year-round, and employ members of our community who otherwise may have a very poor shot at securing jobs.
We’re a population packed with entrepreneurial personalities. The key to successful entrepreneurship is to know where you want to be several years down the road—the place that has meaning for you. Define it for yourself and advance towards that destination. What do you want from it? There are no guarantees, but planning is not an entrepreneur’s enemy, as we tend to believe.
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Okay, one more tiny mention of a topic SFMOMA’s Janet Bishop broached: Documenta. Bishop asked her audience if anyone knew of or had attended Documenta, an all-city arts immersion in Kassel, Germany. It takes place during the same time as Art Basel, which might be why we’ve never heard of it. The festival totally takes over Kassel, Bishop said. Exhibitions happen in all museum, art, and city park spaces, abandoned bakeries, deserted train tracks, outdoors….EVERYWHERE.
“It’s absolutely fascinating and impressive to see how artists respond to the [sites], history and context,” said Bishop. “I really, really loved it.”
Jackson’s Fall Arts Festival is closing in on that concept, I think! It’s only February, and I’m already anticipating September’s events!
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Calendar Item:
The Murie Center has announced its 2013 Holdsworth Photography Workshop schedule. Here’s the data:
Dates: June 19-22, 2013; October 2-5, 2013
Location: The Murie Ranch – A National Historic Landmark in Grand Teton National Park
Description: Join the Murie Center and nationally renowned local photographer Henry H. Holdsworth for a long weekend learning how to capture the essence of beauty in the valley.
Price: $1,595 includes lodging for 3 nights in a Murie Ranch cabin, all meals and tuition; $1,295 includes all meals and tuition only.
Tammy Christel 
