Magazine
R HODE ISLAN D
vol. 4 issue 9
#NOTONEMORE
A DAY IN THE PARK A Day in Remembrance of Jayce “The Healer”
www.jaycethehealer.org
RICM’s Founder and President, Kimberly Sherman Leon. Photo taken by RICM’s Jorge Leon.
THE
CREATIVE IN YOU inventive leader imaginative educator innovative visionary experimental original gifted ingenious productive inspiring motivating passionate daring entrepreneur maker prolific mentor unique inventive leader imaginative 119 Vol. 24 Issue Issue 114 || Vol.
The official publication of KS Designs, LLC
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from the founder The official publication of KS Designs, LLC With this issue, Volume 4 of Rhode Island Magazine comes to an end and begins its 5th Volume. We have reached our five-year milestone, and it is amazing to see how far this magazine has come. We are proud of the RICM community we have created. This small state has so much to offer, and this magazine has become a creative resource to highlight and appreciate what lies within Rhode Island. Don’t let others underestimate our talents or our hospitality — welcome them here to experience it themselves. That is how many visitors have become residents and why they continue to do business here! There is nowhere else like RI; we are one-of-a-kind, and that is what makes this magazine so unique.
Founder and President Kimberly Sherman Leon
In this issue, we have highlighted southern Rhode Island, Newport to be exact. It started with a journey around downtown to capture public ‘street art,’ which can be found in multiple configurations and many places. It’s like beauty and manifests in the eye of the beholder. We interviewed the Executive Director of the Audrain Automobile Museum to discuss Classic and Fantastic, its summery collection. Then we share the Century and a Half of Work-in-Progress story of restoring the breathtaking architecture and designs of historical Newport Congregational Church, in downtown Newport since 1857.
Assistant Art Director & Designer Lisa Malm
Kim
We also discuss important topics for your business and your health: Public Relations and what you need to know; What is Innovation?; What is Creative Commons?; and How to tap into our creative selves and clear mental clutter to be better performing human beings. There is so much great information in this issue for you. As I always say, the more we know, the bigger difference we can make in our community, our businesses, and ourselves. I hope you enjoy this issue and that you have enjoyed the fourth volume overall. Continue with us as we enter our fifth year of storytelling and creating awareness of all things creative in our state.
Assistant to the President Pnina Pressburger
Assistant Editor/Writer Kate Strassel
Assistant in Creative Communications/Designer & Writer Joseph Shansky
Designers Kate Hanley Michael Ricci Sandra Ristau Lillian Ferranti
Contributing Writers In this Issue Sara Cline Kim Celona Ned Connors Devon Landis Kristin MacRae Nancy Thomas Ronald Shapiro, PhD Guisela Pinto Caballero
Remember to surround yourself with amazing people, warmth, and inspiration. Sincerely,
Kimberly Sherman Leon KS Designs, LLC President & CEO Founder & President, Rhode Island Creative Magazine
Rhode Island Creative Magazine Cranston, Rhode Island 401.440.3911 kim@ksdesignsri.com
c 2012-2016 All rights reserved. Rhode Island Creative Magazine is a KS Designs, LLC production. Reproduction in whole or part without written permission is prohibited.
Connect + Communicate + Collaborate = Create
Cross-pollination brings greater awareness, appreciation and understanding of our industry. FACEBOOK ONLINE TWITTER @RICREATIVEMAG RICREATIVEMAGAZINE RICREATIVEMAG.COM
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contents 4
From the Founder
5
In This Issue
6
Contributing Team
14
What is Innovation?
16
Four Movements To Tap Into Your Creative Self
22
Public Relations - A Wonderous Woven Magic
25
6 Creative Ways to Clear the Mental Clutter
30
What is Creative Commons?
featured articles 8
The RICM Maker’s Event Recap
11
Using Your Eyes As Your Guide; A Newport Street Art Adventure
18
Driving Into Summer
26
More Than A Century and A Half Of Work-In-Progress
on the cover The artwork on the cover was created by Sandra Ristau using two separate images. One image is of the Newport Pell Bridge to capture the island feel of the Ocean State, and the other is of her friend Jacy Haekler. Using her illustration skills, she created this one-of-a-kind vector image to give you a feeling of what summer is like in Southern RI! Sandra is a recent graduate of Johnson & Wales University and has joined our creative team to showcase her amazing design and illustration skills.
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contributing team writers and designers in this issue
Ron
Kim
Ronald G. Shapiro, Ph.D.
Kim Celona
Independent Consultant & Speaker in Human Factors & Ergonomics Writer
Prolific Artist &Writer
in
Krist Kristin MacRae
Organizing & Efficiency Expert Owner, Organizing In RI, LLC Writer
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n Devo Devon Landis, Esq.
Arts & Entertainment Attorney Writer
Sara Cline
Sara
Writer & Photographer
e
Mik Michael Ricci Writer & Designer
Pnina
Lisa Lisa Malm
Assistant Art Director & Designer
Pnina Pressburger Assistant to the President
“The team of creative contributors. Each and every month, they provide our readers with amazing business tips as well as creative and unique articles and designs which perfectly capture the inspiration of our very talented makers here in Rhode Island. Page by page, they take content
Joe Joseph Shansky
ShanskyWorks/Founder & Creative Director Assistant in Creative Communications, Designer &Writer
Kate
Kate Strassel
Assistant Editor &Writer
and bring it to life using their own style of artistic expression, helping to build a stronger foundation and maintain the creative flow from one issue to the next. They stand behind me, fully support the hard work this publication entails, and believe in my mission for Rhode Island. I am grateful for all of the new relationships and the positive results that have come from RICM.
Lily Lillian Ferranti Designer
Kate
Together,
we make this happen…
we bring the vision to life. - Kimberly Sherman Leon
Kate Hanley Designer
You can learn more about these amazing and talented individuals on “The Team” page at www.ricreativemag.com.
a Sandr Sandra Ristau Designer & Illustrator
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Bacchanalia for the Senses. The Maker’s Event June 25, 2016 Written by Joseph Shansky Design by Kimberly Sherman Leon
From an exhibitor’s perspective, coming into the exhibition space for the Maker’s Event was like entering a painting by Hieronymus Bosch. And like his “Garden of Earthly Delights” which contains complex, highly original, imaginative, and dense use of symbolic figures and iconography, artists in all styles of clothing, carrying strange and exotic works of art and artistic objects to and fro, seemingly walking without purpose, are actually setting up their Makers Booths before the public at large comes pouring through the doors at the Park Theatre in Cranston. Local musicians were setting up in a corner of the room, trying out their varied instruments, playing snippits of songs, tuning up, and getting ready to entertain the myriad folk who soon will be browsing, schmoozing, and hopefully buying what this vast accumulation of artistic souls has to offer. Photos taken by Ronald Shapiro, PhD.
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SUPPORTING THE
OF Rhode s Island Craftsmen and Artisan A cacophony of sound surrounds and permeates the electrically charged atmosphere, adding to the tension of the evening, but these folks are professional and have prepared for meeting their buying public before. Each exhibitor set up their allotted space with precision and a minimum of wasted effort. The smell of food suddenly wafts through the room as samples from Hope & Main Food Incubator, Fellini’s Pizza, and Diversi Pizzeria begin making their way through the exhibition space. Models from Donahue Models & Talent, in stripes, polka dots, plaids, feathers, and black light incandescent rings are rushing to assemble for a run-through before their four scheduled runway extravaganzas during the evening. There was quite a variety of artists in attendance. Reimagined and repurposed jewelry from Deb’s Designs showed that you should never throw anything away. Exotic, hand-painted shoes and women’s apparel were showcased by Cosmic Unicornz. Coloring Books and Stress Relievers for Adults of All Temperaments were on display at Curly’s Mojo’s table. Phlash Fotography & Artistry took individual and group portraits “on the go.” FabNewport provided alternative pathways to science, technology, engineering, arts, and math, while Alex Toj featured an acrylic collection of vibrantly colored whimsical paintings. Design by Chiara showed wonderful, wearable, handmade pieces of art, such as shawls, scarves, bowties, and ascots, while Kent Stetson Handbags asserted that practical doesn’t need to be boring. The night was filled with music, art, fashion, mayhem, and even a little bit of mischief as befitting the artistic merriment prevalent throughout. (A little girl who sat coloring for a while actually sold her drawing to one of the shoppers for a dollar.) But all good things must come to an end. See you next year!
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Using Your Eyes as Your Guide; A NEWPORT STREET ART ADVENTURE by Kim Celona
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So begins a new segment in the Rhode Island Creative Magazine (RICM), an art adventure of sorts. Kim Sherman Leon, the founder of RICM and I will be traveling to different areas of our state to seek some cool and unconventional street art. When one initially perceives the phrase “street art,“ artists like Banksy, Keith Haring or Jean-Michel Basquiat may arise. They are the masters of this form; however, we decided to embark on a different genre of street art, in which the premises becomes the adventure of seeking and finding something you would have never noticed otherwise. Peering through uncharted territory with a fresh eye, we will search for beauty, mystery, intrigue, color, light, shadow, and of course, visually compelling content. We will find it, in whatever form that strikes. Street art can be found in multiple configurations and many places. It’s like beauty and manifests in the eye of the beholder. The only way to find street art is to walk around and discover it or let it come to you. Trashing siteseeing handbooks is a great idea for this exercise. All too often, one will lean heavily on online research or within books prior to going anywhere. Kim and I went old school in Newport, RI for this adventure, following our internal compasses and street smarts, allowing our instincts to be our guide. Along the way, we discovered some unexpected places and spaces for art. We found a metal sculpture of a gigantic lizard on an artist’s William Heydt’s rooftop, stone fantasies in a coffee courtyard, ship shapes, mother-daughter art, surreal window displays, and of course, the infamous “Wave” of Newport. Kim and I documented our street art of Newport escapade for you, in the hope that you also may become inspired to do a little street art sight seeing of your own. Just imagine what you may find and even more interesting, what could find you. The possibilities of exploration are endless when we choose to look with a creative eye. Here is our street art adventure....
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Layout Design by Kimberly Sherman Leon Photos taken by Kim Celona www.linkedin.com/in/kim-celona
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STOP THINKING ABOUT “that is the way we have always done it.” INSTEAD THINK ABOUT “we have never done it that way. Let us try it and see what happens.” HERE IS WHERE INNOVATION AND THE CREATIVE COMMUNITY COME INTO THE PICTURE. Our RICM community is composed of creative and observant people.
WHAT IS
INNOVATION? by Ronald G. Shapiro, PhD Designed by Sandra Ristau
You may have heard the expression “better, faster, and cheaper.” Frequently this comes from management describing what they feel they need to do to make their business more profitable (or to stay in business). You may have also heard the common retort from a variety of employees who feel that they have been pushed to the limit, “Pick 2 out of 3.” Both parties may be correct. If management is pushing for people to work longer hours, work faster, and take fewer breaks, they may achieve 2 of the above… but the third will get worse. So what to do? The answer is really to innovate. Stop thinking about “that is the way we have always done it.” Instead think about “we have never done it that way. Let us try it and see what happens.” Here is where innovation and the creative community come into the picture. Our RICM community is composed of creative and observant people. You have seen efficient operations. One of your many talents is to develop a vision. When you observe a well-run process, you have the ability to visualize it being used somewhere else. When you see equipment positioned, you have the ability to visualize it arranged in a different manner. So, you are perfectly positioned to be the innovator in any business you happen to be working in. All you need to do is document these visions. Prepare a business case to show how the business would be better off implementing these visions rather than the status quo, and you have become an innovator. Innovators are really valuable to their business, as they permit businesses to develop better product, more quickly, perhaps costing less to make. Remember, innovation does not need to be “rocket science.” To take a simple example, an organization may be spending considerable time moving parts around to assemble a device. Parts may be broken in the process of being moved, too. By rearranging the manufacturing area to reduce this movement, assembly may be faster, there may be less breakage, and as a result, the product may cost less to make. If you don’t already consider yourself to be an innovator, you might start by setting aside some time on a regular basis to “think outside of the box,” and keep a written record of your innovative ideas. You may derive solutions to implement during these innovation periods because you have allocated time to “think outside the box.” I would like to thank Dr. Margarita Posada Cossuto for helpful comments. www.linkedin.com/in/drronaldgshapiro
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F O U R T O
M O V E M E N T S TA P I N T O Y O U R
CREATIVE SSSELF by Guisela Pinto Caballero design by Michael Ricci
There are times in our lives when we feel stagnant, unmotivated, or plain Blah! And these feelings don’t always help those of us who really want to be feeling energized and in the highest vibration possible for ourselves, for those who mean the most in our lives, and for those we want to impact with our gifts. As women entrepreneurs, the greatest disservice is not honoring our creative selves. Oh yes, we all are creative individuals in one way or another. With that said, I want to share with you four types of movements that can help you tap into the part of you that is right there waiting to come out; that creative part of you that wants to shine and be seen and sometimes heard! The premise of these Movements is based on my belief that we are Physical, Mindful, Spiritual, and Emotional beings. These are the components in each and every one of us. To live a more balanced and full life, being in tune and in touch with each of these four areas of our beings is essential.
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P P P H Y S I C A L
S S S P I R I T U A L
Anytime I am feeling stagnant, I take a br isk walk or jog to get my juices flowing. This is a quick and easy way to get your body centered and moving for one main pur pose —to feel one with yourself. When your body is feeling as one, it gives you the physical and mental power to be in ac tion. Consequently, you end up in a higher vibrational mode than when you star ted. Another wonder ful way to get those creative juices flowing is by dancing! Put on a favor ite playlist and dance like no one is watching. Dancing is, in my opinion, one of the most complete for ms of movement. I t taps into all aspec ts of your being: physical, mindful, spir itual, and physical. I t can be ver y exhilarating if you choose it as your “go to” movement!
O f tentimes we need to take time to just be with our highest self. This is the time to quiet our minds and focus on our spirit, our soul. M editation is one of the most beautiful ways to do this. I t helps ground you and get you in touch with that par t of you that is really your essence, your life force, your power. Begin by tak ing some deep belly breaths (your body will cue you on when to stop), and then begin to silently give thanks. I call this my gratitude meditation. During this meditation, I give thanks for all that I am and all that I have in my life, even if I don’t have it yet. This is ver y power ful. There are really wonder ful meditations you can find via YouTube. Just in case, I’d like to provide a link to a guided meditation for your reference done by my wonder ful friend and colleague, Elysha M aughan. I hope you find it helpful.
M M M I N D F U L I f you are feeling in a funk , anxious, distrac ted, or unmotivated, don’t star t THINKING, because this will get you to star t OVER THINKING ! I nstead, get up and star t doing something totally different. Star t cleaning, organize your room, hop in your car, or take a quick shower (it helps tap into your head chak ra), and then begin to say the following words to yourself (and if you say them out loud, that ’s even better): I AM ENOUGH. I AM ALIVE. I AM LOVE. I AM LIGHT. You can also choose your own mantras. The point is that they empower and inspire you. M y other tip for mindfulness is being aware of the thoughts you are having. I f you are moping around think ing, “I can’t do this,” “ Why can’t I figure this out?” or “ Why can’t I just be more produc tive/creative?”—just STOP! R ecognize that the negative self-talk is leading to negative think ing, which is inhibiting your creative flow. I nstead, begin to say (similar to the M antras above), “I got this!” “I can create anything I choose,” or “I am always creative and produc tive.” You get the gist. O ur words and thoughts are that power ful. Prac tice this positive self-talk and mantras, and let me k now what happens.
E E E M O T I O N A L Check in with your inner self and ask , “How am I feeling?” and begin to jour nal what comes to mind. Then proceed to wr ite down how you want to feel. The third step would be to list the things that would help you feel the way you want to feel. Lastly, pick one of those things you just listed and begin to do it. I n no time, you should begin to feel motivated, focused, power ful, or however it is you want to be feeling. Another great way to tap into your emotions is to reach out to someone. Call a fr iend or mentor, and express your feelings to him/her. This will help you get out of your head. G ettin g in touch with your feelings can be one of the most difficult yet essential ways to help yo u get back on your path of joy, love, and peace with yourself. R emember to say, “I am feeling” or “I feel ” when you are talk ing to your fr iend/mentor/coach. This will help you focus on expressing your feelings, and not your thoughts. To conclude, the key component in helping you move forward in each of these areas of your life is SELF-AWARENESS! facebook.com/groups/Guisela Th a n k s to E l y s h a M a ug h a n f o r h e r g u i d e d m e d i t ation.
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Driving into Summer Written by Sara Cline Design by Kimberly Sherman Leon
People mark the start of summer in different ways. Maybe it’s by the first ice cream cone they get to eat that slowly melts down the fresh waffle cone. It could be the first beach trip where you get to start working on your golden tan. Or maybe it’s gathering together for cookouts, complete with hamburgers, colds beers, and games with friends. But for others, it may start with the deep purr of Vroom! Vrooooom! Cars are a staple of many summer memories; especially in New England when the temperature is finally warm enough to take the top down on the convertible, unroll the windows, and enjoy the car trips as the sun shines through the windshield.
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De Muzio is the executive director of Audrain Automobile Museum in Newport, Rhode Island. The museum, which opened in 2014, has hosted over 200 of some of the most rare and extraordinary cars for people to see. “Our current exhibit is Classic and Fantastic,” said de Muzio. The exhibits range anywhere from 15-20 cars. This one happens to focus on “summery” cars from the 40s-60s that you could find in Newport. The exhibit runs from July to October. “These are cars that you may have seen if you were walking down the street (Bellevue Avenue) in 1955,” said de Muzio. “There are big convertibles, Cadillacs, Chevys, Fords, and even a 1948 Tucker Model 48.” The cars are all colors—light pink, baby blue, black, and deep red. They have been shined until you can see your reflection and look as if they are brand new waiting to cruise down the coast. Although the museum only opened up less than two years ago, it has already found success, drawing in people not only from Newport, but across Rhode Island and New England. De Muzio said this year, they are on track to have over 30,000 visitors. “Our exhibits are important, but the other half of our mission is participating in the car community of Southern New England. We hope to become a hub for car enthusiasts,” said de Muzio, who aims to bring enthusiasts together to enjoy their interest of cars.
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“Everyone has car memories. Whether it’s your first car, your car from college, family road trips, or working on a cars,” said David de Muzio. “I know one of mine is fixing up cars with my dad.”
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The museum is located in the infamous Audrain
“Here we really are about collecting cars that have
Building on Bellevue Avenue, and although the inside
Newport or Rhode Island history associated with them,”
of the building is filled with unique cars, the outside
de Muzio explained. “We use the cars to tell a story.”
of the building is also incredible, said de Muzio. With its elongated windows covering the red brick walls on
For a dose of summer memories, or just to reminisce
front, it attracts people who are just walking along the
about history and culture through cars, visit the
street. It has proven to be a respectable “garage” for the
museum which is open daily from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
visiting cars.
Admission for an adult costs $12. For business hours and events, visit AudrainAutoMuseum.com.
Photo courtesy of Audrain Automobile Museum Vol. 4 Issue 9 |
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PubLic ReLations A Wonderous Woven Magic... by nancy thomas • PR MARKETING PROFESSIONAL
W
eaving a tapestry involves a coordination of effort, skill, materials, and a clear sense of desired outcome — what will the “whole” look like? — will it be the right size and serve the function you want it to? Like weaving, approaching a public relations or marketing campaign begins with asking questions that will result in determining your desired outcome, too. So, what are those questions you’ll want to address?
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First, what do you want your finished product to be, to do for you? Are you going for a singular hit or a multileveled result? What materials do you have available to you? How is your skills base in both human resource and technology areas? Have you identified a comfortable budget range?
Step one (and it’s not to write a press release). Rather than rushing to do your press release, or write out your marketing plan, first — assess and plan. This shouldn’t be a lengthy plan or one that will take you long to do. But setting your basics will be your first step in creating a customized purposeful tapestry — and you will also have a measure for how you are doing along the way, so you can adjust and pivot if what you are doing isn’t working for you. So, here we go...
your look. branding. What is your company name, and does it work for you? How does it look in print? Is it in all your visual formats, such as social media sites? How does it sound when spoken? Does your logo, slogan (do you have one?), and color treatment define you and separate you from others? How are you set for photos/videos, and are they effective, current, and accurate? When people hear you and see you, are you set apart from your competition? These are your basic and strongest threads on which to build — your foundation (for weavers, that is your warp).
your public platforms. These are your brightest fibers — the ones people will see first; your website, social marketing (Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, LinkedIn, YouTube), and the tools to use them efficiently and effectively. Take a look at what you have now. Do you use photos and other resources to make your posts ‘pop’? Are your messages outwardly centered? Are you updating regularly, and is information current? Do you know how to establish yourself as an authority in your field? Are you responsive to those who comment or ask questions? (This is the weft of your tapestry — your threads running through.)
What is your community footprint? How are you involved in the community? What causes speak to you, and how are you contributing back? Do you have a philanthropic partner? Beyond donations, are you selecting affordable corporate sponsorships that match who you are? Where do you volunteer; are your employees encouraged to do so, too? Are you maximizing the benefits of your community footprint? And, after doing all this good work, are you promoting the cause to others? There is a wonderful business phrase, “doing well by doing good” — and beyond that, think of all the earned media you will accumulate, too. This is the gold thread in your tapestry.
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advertising and marketing. When you reach out to attract others, how do you do this? Are you in the right venues, those matched as close to your intended audiences as is possible? Are you sure, or are you just guessing? It’s a changing media world, oversaturated with messages. Have you talked about placement, and value-added opportunities? If you are placing advertising, where is the ad on the page? Can you get some free promos? Can you be added to a media outlet’s special events, expos, or fairs? Are you showing your full tapestry of colors, while focusing on that special thread or two that is timely and important?
events. Have you had a grand opening, or an open house or annual event such as a holiday party? Think about hosting a networking group. They are always looking for new places to go, and you will be bringing new people right to your doorstep.
networking. Conversely, are YOU networking? Do you have business cards or rack cards with a special offer or promotion on them? Do you know what your elevator speech is — because today, that’s about as much time as you’ll get to talk to a new potential client, customer, or partner. What happens the next day, after you’ve met people and have a collection of business cards? It’s all in the follow-up.
news and media relations. Are you speaking with authority on your topic, or telling the good news about your company? Do you take photos of your attendance or speaking at community groups? Do you have a blog and are you engaged with others to talk about the work you do?
W
eaving your message takes skill, caring, and strength — it takes a plan, and a multifaceted approach. When done correctly, each project strengthens the one you did before, building on your solid messages, and adding uniqueness. the Next time you think you should “buy an ad” or “go on the radio,” stop for a moment. Talk to a skilled public relations expert who can give you independent information and feedback. Pretty soon you’ll be weaving with a solid rhythmic sound, creating your own rich, magical tapestry. Nancy Thomas, of Cranston, is president of Tapestry Communications, a holistic, full service, public relations and marketing company. Her work specializes in working with creative companies, artists, authors, and nonprofit organizations, as well as small businesses in Rhode Island, Massachusetts, and the New England region. “Own your story….own your success…” is their slogan, and their website is www.tapestrycommunications.com. Layout Design by Lisa Malm
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Ways to Clear the Mental Clutter by Kristin MacRae
Does your mental clutter make you feel anxious, exhausted, stressed, or overwhelmed? Does it make you feel like you are running a mile a minute in 10 different directions? You can’t think clearly and focus when you are consumed by mental clutter. When our minds are clear, it stimulates creative thoughts. Those thoughts can’t get through when there is mental clutter in the way. It will deplete you of your energy and decrease your productivity.
Here are 6 tips to help you with mental clutter: Exercise. It helps clear the mental clutter, and it’s good for you! You can put on your headphones and have a great heart-pumping workout, or you can take a quiet walk without any music and just enjoy the scenery and fresh air.
Just Breathe. Think of stressful situations that arise in
your work day. How do you recover from them? Did you just get back to your desk after a stressful situation, and you sat down and can’t seem to relax? When you find yourself getting stressed, just stop and breathe for 30 seconds.
Empty Your Mind.
If you are carrying heavy mental clutter, sit for a few minutes, and write down everything that is on your mind. Don’t worry that it’s not organized; you can figure that out later. Just let your thoughts flow onto paper. After you do this, then you can put together a to-do list of everything you need to accomplish. Once everything is written on paper, you will see that some things really aren’t that important. It just felt good to write them down and get them out of your mind. Now you can let it go. If the thoughts aren’t related to things you have to do, keep a journal and jot down what you are thinking.
Destress Before Bed. Are you waking up in the
middle of the night, thinking of things you need to get done the next day? Keep a pen and paper by the bed. If you wake up in the middle of the night, jot down your thoughts to have a restful sleep.
Unplug.
Now more than ever, we have information being thrown at us from all types of media. We didn’t have this form of mental clutter 20 years ago, and it’s something many of us struggle with throughout the day. If this is adding to your mental clutter, unplug from the media for a day or week and recharge.
Take a Vacation.
Sometimes we need to step away from the day-to-day mental clutter. Try taking a vacation. You don’t have to go anywhere elaborate or expensive. It can be a day at the beach, a picnic in the park, or a relaxing day trip. Practice doing one or more of the above to release the mental clutter. Take note of how you feel after you do this. You will feel energized and revitalized. Don’t we have enough stress already? This is a stressor that we can control. Get your thoughts organized, and clear the clutter. www.linkedin.com/in/kristin-macrae Layout Design by Lillian Ferranti
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More Than A Century and A Half of Work-inProgress Written by Ned Connors Photos by Aaron Usher III Photography Designed by Kimberly Sherman Leon
Maintaining active congregations in historic churches in changing urban areas is no small challenge. This can be insurmountable when the church itself is an architecturally important—and costly—building. Add to that interior murals and stained glass by John LaFarge, a major 19th-century American artist, and you begin to see the magnitude of the problem faced by the dwindling congregation at the 1000-seat Newport Congregational Church, tucked at the corner of Pelham and Spring Streets in downtown Newport since 1857. The roof and towers needed serious reconstruction; wind blew in around windows. A tired interior spoke as much of its magnificent design as it did various campaigns of well-intentioned renewal and modernization in trying to keep up with changing trends in 20th-century Christianity. How to address all of these challenges and continue to provide a spiritual home for a small congregation? These circumstances led to the formation in 1995 of the La Farge Restoration Fund, a non-profit tasked with repairing and stabilizing the church exterior and restoring La Farge’s murals and stained glass windows.
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John La Farge had long contacts with Newport, having studied with William Morris Hunt as a young painter in the 1850s. His early mural work had caught the eye of architect Henry Hobson Richardson who hired him to design the interior of Trinity Church in Boston in 1876. While working at Trinity he conceived the idea of “opalescent” stained glass, an innovation that allowed the artist to control and modulate light. His work came to the attention of Henry Van Dyke, then pastor of Newport Congregational, who was eager to brighten up the austere, monochrome interior of the twenty-fiveyear-old church. Between 1879 and 1880 La Farge set up shop and carried out a stunning transformation of the church interior. In keeping with the church’s 2ndCommandment proscription of “graven images” in the design, La Farge sought inspiration in Byzantine and Middle Eastern designs, creating a seamless interplay of light, pigment and glass—the only surviving example of a comprehensive interior design program by La Farge. The congregation still gathers occasionally for worship on Sundays and the Restoration Fund continues its work of restoring the church building and revealing details of the original paint scheme. The church received National Historic Landmark designation in 2012. Soon the repair and restoration of the opalescent glass windows will begin. John La Farge’s late 19th-century Arabian Nights fantasy is coming back to life in the heart of Newport’s Landmark Historic District.
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| Rhode Island Creative Magazine
Vol. 4 Issue 9 |
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What is creative commons? By Devon Landis, Esquire RI & MA Attorney www.devonlandislaw.com Creative Commons is a non-profit organization that has set up a way for an individual to license their work or creation to the public at large through various licensing options. Creative Commons allows a person who owns the copyright to the work to then give up some of the rights that have been automatically granted to them under copyright. The non-profit’s primary purpose is to encourage creators to share their work with others by allowing the owner of the work to grant specific licenses where limitations can be set on what the other person can or cannot do with the work.
From An Attorney’s Perspective: Creative Commons is a great mechanism for the dissemination of information to flow more freely. However, if you are a business or an artist who has made creative works your career, then Creative Commons (and the licenses they promote) may not be in your best interest. Another cause for caution is that once a license is attached, anyone who subsequently sees it is entitled to use it under the terms, meaning the license cannot be revoked. Using Creative Commons work, even when following the conditions of the license, may also pose legal problems in limited situations. All of the Creative Commons licenses have a disclaimer of warranties attached. This means that the author of the work (original or modified) does not guarantee the work, including whether they own the copyright or have rights in any underlying work.
Brief Overview of the Six Types of Licenses: · Public Domain Dedication: The owner of the work is choosing to waive and forfeit all rights under copyright. · Attribution: A license that allows others to build on the work and use it for any purpose (including commercial use) as long as they give the original author credit for the work. · Attribution-ShareAlike: A license that allows all of the same uses as Attribution, but requires that the person who builds or remixes the original work also allows others to “share alike.” This means they too must grant an Attribution-ShareAlike license on their resulting work in order to allow others to share and change the work as they see fit. · Attribution-NonCommercial: A license that allows others to use the work as long as it is not for a commercial purpose, and credit is given to the original author. The person who creates a work based on the original is not required to have the same license attached to theirs. · Attribution-NonCommercial ShareAlike: A license that allows others to build on the work as long as it is not for a commercial purpose, but they must give the original author credit and must license their work the same way. · Attribution-NoDerivs: A license that allows the work to be shared for both commercial and non-commercial use as long as the original is not changed or modified (no derivatives). Credit must be given.
Disclaimer: This is for informational purposes only and not exhaustive of all aspects of the law on this topic, and it is not to be considered legal advice on any particular set of facts or circumstances. You should contact an attorney for advice on specific legal problems. Layout Design by Kate Hanley
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| Rhode Island Creative Magazine
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