CreativeConfidential (New York)
Creatively, I got what I needed from my recent trip to New York!
Not only did I get beautiful sunny days during a relentlessly dreary weekend of rain in California, but I also got to completely refill my creative cup. Traveling a bit will always provide you with the opened eyes that your day-to-day will have you missing.
But we’ll circle back to travel…
I mention “Creative” a lot but never say what that means so, for the purpose of this post, I’ll give a definition. We know I love a definition:
“relating to or involving the imagination or original ideas, especially in the production of an artistic work.”
“a person who is creative, typically in a professional context.”
As a Creative myself I find my most fruitful moments to be those that assist in my own creation. Those moments typically involve being moved, inspired or in awe of someone, something or someone else’s creations. For me, without inspiration, there is no creation! Luckily enough, I can find inspiration in an array of spaces (except, I’m learning, the ones that I’m in daily).
In New York, not only did I do my usual round of museums but I also explored the street art, went to pop-ups and chatted to people within the arts themselves. I stopped and talked to artisans of all types: those creating art with food at Tiffany’s, those creating the art of inebriation at bars and those drawing, sculpting and painting within studios.
New York was truly an artist’s dream. And this post isn’t to ignore the absolute struggle that comes with having a dream, of any sort, in this city — because it’s a tough city. It’s just to say that creatively, New York may be as good as it gets.
I MEAN, PICTURE THIS:
You’re walking up the steps of The MET, it’s a bustle of people entering and exiting or simply sitting to enjoy the kiss of cold air against their cheek. A man sits at the bottom of the stairs playing a jazz tune on his saxophone — something you’d swear belongs on a record.
You take in the lights of the entryway that illuminate “The Met” in the night. And finally, you walk into that beautiful lobby of beige stone. You see the stairs, you see the visitor’s desk in the dead center, you hear more live music from up above, you see the steps (Which steps? You don’t know, but you assume it’s the steps)… You’re in heaven!
The vibe of that place is everything that anyone who goes to it could need it to be.
It’s just a beautiful place and truly an artist’s dream.
Main Character
Apart from my beautiful friend hosting me, the main character of this New York story happens to be the hosts of the popular podcast, The Read.
Now I’ve been to a live show put on by Kid Fury and Crissle before in Los Angeles, but this experience was different because I was essentially within their stomping grounds exploring and simply experiencing.
CAN I ADD THOUGH:
Audiences at live shows, y’all have gotten weird. There’s something that’s clicked in the minds of many that says, “pay to see someone else but make it about you” and I can’t quite figure it out.
If you’re not heckling, then you’re just yelling nonsense when it’s quiet just to be heard. If you’re not doing that then you’re using opportunities for listener letters or audience questions to promote your business that has nothing to do with the business that you paid to come and see.
Or, you’re completely unhinged and go so far as to throw things at the very people that you claim to love enough to go see and support. I don’t get it…
But I always love to echo the reminder:
NOT ALL ATTENTION IS GOOD ATTENTION.
And with that, I can move on.
I made a silent vow at the beginning of this year to travel more and have been venturing to some place each month.
With this, I hope to not only enmesh myself with different types of people, I also hope to redefine the ways that I connect with people. New York gave me a short lesson in just this!
During this trip, artist’s had a sort of gravitational pull to me that resulted in us talking for too long about whatever it was that we were creating. I legitimately got to explore The City, walking and talking to whoever I met. The best part was: I guess I looked the part because too many people asked me for directions — mind you, I was lost the whole time!
On my long laundry list of places to see and visit, I probably made it to 3, but they were worth it.
Also, I got to reconnect with a very cool creative friend over dinner at the one and only Blue Box Cafe, a Tiffany & Co. restaurant with a Michelin Star chef!
I keep saying that, this year I know that something exciting is coming my way, and little trips like this definitely help me to see glimpses of how great it’ll feel once it’s here (whatever “it” is).
Anyway! New York is certainly for the Creative who just wants to get lost in the bustle and creativity of the city, so what are you waiting for… ? Book that trip!
Forma Pasta Factory (P.S. A little overrated)
Best [travels],
Bree 🛫
