Rest, Focus, Attention, and Deep work

Last night, I had just logged off from a Zoom meeting about the upcoming KCAC auction (can't wait to share more details with you next week!) and grabbed a sketchbook that I gifted my 13 year old son - it's a cool sketchbook with prompts of what to draw on each page. I beckoned him to join me at the kitchen counter and we picked a random page to work on. We then spent the next 30 minutes sitting side-by-side drawing and talking.

It felt important to spend time with my child doing something creative. It felt important to share space and time with an object that didn't light up. It felt freeing to have a simple task that we could get lost in and enjoy ourselves.

Recently, I've had several conversations around rest, focus, attention, and deep work. That we need regular breaks from various media, the demand to be productive, and the constant connection to devices and social networks. The lesson being that we as humans need to invest in offline practices that allow us to replenish and restore.

So, after you read this newsletter, I hope you have a chance log off and open a book or sketchbook, work in studio, watch the sunrise or set, express love and gratitude, and so on.

Happy Holidays - may it be a season of restoration and inspiration!

~ Courtney Wasson, Executive Director