alexis marie chute – Page 19 – Alexis Marie Chute Productions

Writing about Difficult Subject Matter

July 30, 2014/0 Comments/in Creative Writing Inspirations, Creative Writing Update, Memoir "Expecting Sunshine", Never Give Up!, Social Change, Struggles, The Writing Life /by Alexis Marie Chute

Writers amongst other artists have the amazing ability to challenge, question, critique and explore our society.

They ask:

– What do we believe as a people?

– Why do we believe this?

– Is there another way?

Many individuals have mixed feelings about writing about controversial topics and taboo subjects. There is a part of me that relates to that and wants to keep the peace, not rock the boat, and ensure everyone is happy. That’s the boring side of me though and she often takes backseat to the other part that’s BOLD and COURAGEOUS.

I want my work to matter and because of this I need to write about what matters to me first and foremost. My topics often seen unpopular or reflect a concealed part of accepted human behavior. For example, for the last two and a half years I have been writing about the death of my son, managing grief and finding healing. It never fails to amaze me how these topics make people uncomfortable – unless they have lived through them. People who have lost a loved one speak my language and I to them. Those are the people who I write for with this focus on bereavement.

The Three Minus One anthology features an essay I wrote where I reveal my raw state of sorrow in the early days after my son died. Read more about Three Minus One.

The different topic I’m embarking on with my new writing at the moment is also somewhat taboo yet equally important I believe to bring into the open. That’s what I care about: opening up topics that should be talked about, breaking the silence. I ask myself all the time: Why are these things hidden? Should they be? What will happen if I talk about them? Will I tarnish my reputation? Spontaneously combust? Will my work be accepted? How can I change the world?

Here are four principles that provide internal navigation for me in writing about difficult subject matter:

– When you are just beginning to write, do not think about who will read your words. Write from the heart.

– Tell the truth. The truth is scary but needed in our day and age. Your work will matter and stand the test of time if it reflects the time it which was penned.

– If it matters to you, it will likely matter to other people. They are who you write for.

– If it crashes and burns, who cares? You only live once and might as well give it all you’ve got.

What helps you when you have a challenging topic on your mind? How do you get your thoughts down on paper and out into the world?

Art in Public Places: Thank you The Arts Initiative

July 29, 2014/0 Comments/in Art Inspirations, Exhibitions, Fashion & Art, Photography Inspirations /by Alexis Marie Chute

These photos of artwork were not taken in a gallery…

They were actually taken in a mall.

When I visited Chicago recently to speak at The Compassionate Friends of America National Conference (presenting on Healing through Visual Art) I visited the Art Institute of Chicago and the Museum of Contemporary Art Chicago – but I also spent an hour at the outlet mall in the hotel district near the airport. What I found there were colourful and stimulating creative sculptures and 2D artwork at every turn.

First of all, I love that a commercial space invited such unique and eye catching art. Well done Fashion Outlets of Chicago.

Secondly, this just goes to prove that you never know where you’ll find inspiration.

It turns out the mall has paired up with The Arts Initiative (Twitter: @artsinitiative1), a collective “dedicated to placing highly interactive visual art in public spaces.” The Work on show was curated by Miami-based Primary Projects Gallery. The mall features the work of many contemporary artists such as Daniel Arsham, Jim Drain, Friends With You, Bert Rodriguez and Jen Stark for example.

Personally, I look for inspiration everywhere. That’s just who I am. Yet, I loved being totally surprised when I walked into the Fashion Outlets of Chicago. Fashion inspires me in its own right, but the mall truly was like walking through a place of cultural fusion. And I like that.

More about The Arts Initiative in the Fashion Outlets of Chicago

MFA Reflections: I’m a Booklover at Heart

July 24, 2014/2 Comments/in Books, Creative Writing Inspirations, Memoir "Expecting Sunshine", MFA in Creative Writing, Novel, Reflections /by Alexis Marie Chute

There are so many things I love about grad school. The keener in me jumps for joy, for one. I absolutely cherish the immersion in my passion for creative writing and the challenge to improve. The interesting thing I’ve discovered is that this improvement has seeped into every area of my creative practice as writer, artist and human; how I read books, the way I appreciate art, the descriptions I chose when telling my friends about a really amazing experience.

The reading part is one indulgent pleasure of school. Oh boy, I sound like a nerd – but I love that I have an excuse now to brush off other things to curl up like a cat and read (although I’m more of a dog person). At my school residency in June, a friend introduced me to the Harvard Co-Op Bookstore. It was two levels of row upon row of books. Pure eye candy.

I never thought I’d compare the spines of books lining the walls to a great work of art – but they are sublimely beautiful to me.

I’ve always loved reading, from as young as I can remember. Summers were spent cradling the pages of novels throughout the warm days till I went cross-eyed every night. And what else is there to do in winter for someone who hates being cold? I have an almost photographic memory and because I imagined all the stories I read, I can still see many of them, like movie clips in my mind.

As a memoir and personal essay writer, I read a lot in these genres. There are many sad stories out in the world. Maybe this is because the challenging moments define us and reveal the people we are, that at the core of the human experience we want to become our best, most happy selves and thus we search for meaning. My first memoir, which is so close to the finish line in editing, is a challenging story. What I’ve starting to work on now is more cheeky and definitely more scandalous (wink, wink) – but in the end they are two stories that connect. One could not have been without the other.

Right now I’m taking a needed break from reading memoirs to delve into short stories. I love the short story form. There are so many craft techniques that jump out at me. Currently I’m working my way through The Best American Short Stories of 2013 and up next is the Best of the 21^st Century… which is a mighty large volume.

Writing speaks to the reader, it calls to the child in us who read for pleasure before life got busy and complicated, it plants new ideas and waters the old ones. Writing sings.

What does good writing or your favorite book do for you? And please, please tell me about your favorite book stores and which worn spines decorate your walls like art.

Happy reading day!

What you see is not always what you get at the Art Institute Chicago

July 22, 2014/0 Comments/in Art Inspirations, Mixed Media, Reflections /by Alexis Marie Chute

I recently visited Chicago to speak at a conference about the healing properties of visual art. Of course spending hours in the renowned Art Institute of Chicago was top on my list once the conference was over. I will write more about my visit to the Art Institute in next week’s post, but for now I want to share a fun moment I had while perusing the different galleries within the museum.

This one particular artwork caught my eye. It was brightly coloured and stood out because of its texture. It looked like used chewing gum stuck together on a surface and the overall effect had a pixilated appearance. My first reaction was to walk up to it so my nose was a foot away and inspect.

“What is that? I don’t think its gum but what… Hmm…” I said to my husband.

I took a step back. And another step. Then my eyes grew wide.

“There’s a face in there!” I said loudly in the joy of discovery. Some other art patrons leaned back as well and then nodded.

It turns out the artwork is called, “Woman with Halo and Sceptre,” (1972) and the strange textural effect is created through acrylic, cotton and Rhoplex on canvas. Rhoplex is an acrylic emulsion for sealing the work.

What I find so interesting with this piece is that the material choice beckoned me closer and closer, to become intimate with the shapes and textures. At the same time, while standing so close the image of the woman was impossible to decipher, thus allowing for the aha moment later on.

I love aha moments.

Surprises are good in art; they keep the viewer from getting lazy, maintain a visual dialogue and stimulate creative logic.

What you see is not always what you get – sometimes it’s more.

Once I stepped back from the artwork and saw the woman, I could no longer approach the piece without seeing her. My mind had assimilated the colorful acrylic cotton balls and made sense of it. Still, I loved the early observations where my eyes searched for meaning. And it was wildly satisfying when I found it.

Find out more about this artwork by Joe Zucker.

Unfulfilled Precognition Exhibition in Calgary

July 18, 2014/0 Comments/in Art Update, Exhibitions, Gallery Openings, Photography Update /by Alexis Marie Chute

Last night was the opening reception of my exhibition called Unfulfilled Precognition at the EPCOR CENTRE of the Performing Arts in Calgary. My fine art photographs are hung in a window gallery alongside two other artists; Tia Halliday and Natalie McDonald.

Unfulfilled Precognition is a series of photographs I took around the birth and death of my second child. The images were created with the Holga camera and expired film, two deliberately selected tools to convey the helplessness and wonderment of that time. I’ve titled this work Unfulfilled Precognition because, as a mother, from the second I discovered I was pregnant I had visions of the life of my child; I imagined what he would look like and saw him growing up, playing and going to school. When that future became permanently out of reach, those visions were somehow suspended in my mind like memories. I had believed in that future so wholeheartedly. Thus, the photographs reflect this vacant and ghostly yet sensitive psychology.

To view Unfulfilled Precognition, click here.

Unfulfilled Precognition will be exhibited at the EPCOR CENTRE in Calgary, Alberta, Canada from July 11 to September 28, 2014. The opening reception takes place Thursday, July 17, 2014.

EPCOR CENTRE

205 8th Avenue S.E.
Calgary Alberta, T2G 0K9
Phone: 403.294.7455
Fax: 403.294.7457
info@epcorcentre.org

Walk-up Hours
Monday – Saturday: 10am – 6pm
Sunday and Holidays: Closed

Click here to see the visual arts page of the EPCOR Centre.

If you visit the show, please drop me a line and let me know what you think.

Also, if you are going to miss this showing of Unfulfilled Precognition, it will be exhibited next at the Kiwanis Gallery in Red Deer, Alberta, Canada from October 21 – November 23, 2014. Click here to see all 2014 exhibition dates.

Rejection as a Badge of Honour

May 29, 2014/0 Comments/in Never Give Up!, Reflections, Rejection Letters, The Writing Life /by Alexis Marie Chute

Not many people I know talk about how many rejection letters they’ve received. It’s not a popular topic. People would much rather discuss areas of their life that are going well; the job promotion, the award, the scholarship, the blossoming relationship… And who would blame them?

I, on the other hand, want to talk about rejection. Silly me, I know, but I’ve got rejection on the brain since my latest one arrived. When I was a young writer, rejection was a dirty word, a word I avoided at all costs in hopes of self-preservation. Now, after many years as a professional writer and artist, I have learned that rejection letters are a badge of honour. Let me tell you why.

Rejections reveal perseverance.

The writer is writing, words are being put to paper, there are ideas being explored. This is the first hurtle of every creative person, to believe enough in one’s own work to create in the first place.

Rejections reveal courage.

The writer is brave enough to submit and query which in itself is a terrifying process likened to a blind date. The palms sweat but there is hope and curiosity – and who knows how it will turn out? It takes vulnerability and belief in one’s self to put the work out there. It’s admirable, commendable, and just plain heroic actually.

Rejections reveal humanity.

Most writers curse the form letter that arrives in the mail or, heaven help us, the email (I loathe rejection emails by the way – unless the query was sent by email in the first place.) I remember feeling terribly down, and shedding a tear on occasion, after receiving my early rejections. They stung – but that in itself was evidence of loving the craft, profession and the calling of being a writer. If it didn’t sting, it would show a writer cared little for their work.

Rejections reveal determination.

What is the writer’s response? Determination rises up in the face of the lost opportunity. It says, “Screw it. I’m not done yet!” and get’s back to work. It asks, “What can I do to improve my writing? Where should I send this query next? What of my writing would better fit this particular publication? How can I become even better at what I do?”

When I was a kid, Mom repeated a phrase to me over and over until I ate, slept and breathed it: If at first you don’t succeed, try and try again.

I am proud to announce that I have received over fifty (5-0!) rejection letters for my writing and artwork as of this week. I’m actually at 52 and that is just my record over the last few years where I’ve kept track. Fifty. 50. It’s an accomplishment. I stopped fretting over rejections at around the 30-mark and now just swear, sit once again at my desk and continue on.

The fiftieth anniversary gift is traditionally gold but for now a pat on the back will suffice. Yes, it’s my own hand doing the congratulating, it’s a good arm stretch really, a needed break from all the typing. Writing is a solitary act and if you can’t give yourself a pep talk, you’re in for trouble.

If I were to time travel back to my earlier self and offer encouragement, this is what I would say:

Keep writing. Never give up. The rejections will always bite but eventually you’ll learn to bite back. It does get easier. One day at a time. Success is for those that believe in themselves and their work. Good luck!

How many rejection letters have you received? How do you cope?

Method Art Gallery representing Alexis Marie in Scottsdale, AZ

May 20, 2014/0 Comments/in Gallery Representation, Photography Update, The Life of an Artist /by Alexis Marie Chute

My latest three photographs represented by Method Art now grace the walls of their gallery. Have you ever been to Method Art? The gallery is in the heart of Old Scottsdale, Arizona on the ‘Gallery Walk’ district. The area buzzes with activity, gallery shows, tasty restaurants and boutiques. The staff at Method Art blow me away with their friendliness – they are not the snooty, off-putting types. If you are in the area, they are absolutely worth a visit.

My relationship with Method Art began when I won first prize in their “The Ultimate Composition” photography competition and, shall I say, the rest is history.

MFA Creative Writing Reflections

May 7, 2014/0 Comments/in Creative Writing Inspirations, Creative Writing Update, MFA in Creative Writing, Never Give Up!, Reflections, The Writing Life /by Alexis Marie Chute

How do I feel finishing my first year as a creative writing MFA grad student? Thank you for asking.

I feel:

Exhausted
Excited
Proud
Motivated
Educated
Ready for a vacation!

When I reflect on my first year at Lesley University, it’s apparent that I like to challenge myself. Oh the leisurely life of a slacker… that has never been me. In my first year I have experienced creative and craft breakthrough, honed my voice and forced myself to edit like a samurai. It has really has paid off. I have developed an awesome work ethic when it comes to my writing. It’s not always fun, but I sit my but in the chair (or stand at my make-shift standing desk) and get to work. I love being productive and that is a reward in itself many days.

My MFA program has not been all work and no play. I LOVE (love, love, love) my school residencies and count many of my peers dear friends. Sometimes I daydream about them, wonder what they are up to in their part of the world, hope that their writing is going fabulously and of course eagerly anticipate seeing them at the next residency.

Over the last year, as a writer I have learned:

To never give up
Following your passions involves sacrifice
Sleep is often optional
The harder you work the better you become

Over the last year, as a human being I have learned:

To see the beauty in every person and hope for the best
When busy with your passions, make every moment with loved ones quality time
Regular, boring life can inspires greatness
Family time is never optional

The craziest part of my exhaustion after the first year? I am already considering my PhD options. Go figure!

This coffee mug was given to me by my second semester mentor, Pam Petro. It’s become my, “I’m a writer” mug, and I love it.

Kids in Art Galleries

May 6, 2014/2 Comments/in Art Inspirations, Exhibitions /by Alexis Marie Chute

I’ve encountered some pretty frustrating situations when visiting art galleries with my kids. I’ve been stalked by security guards who glare at my children, been hassled because of my stroller (it’s small, I promise), and been booted out over a lollipop.

Seriously people, our children need to be in art galleries from a young age. It is so important.

I have always brought my kids into art settings. They are loud and run around but they feel comfortable there. We stop and look at artwork for twenty seconds before moving onto a new piece. The attention span is short but their memories will be long.

My four year old daughter has actually made many observant comments about the artwork she sees. And she is not afraid to speak her mind and tell me when she thinks something is ugly. I love this. Sometimes we adults get stuck in trying to be polite or thinking art must be viewed and understood a certain way. Kids don’t get stuck in these sticky issues.

My kids are always laughing, smiling and having a great time in art galleries; I think they are fueled by the colours, images, shapes and open space. Of course they want to touch everything, heck so do I, but I’ve taught them to be respectful and if they misbehave they know they’ll be carried or put in the stroller.

As a mom I love it when art galleries have areas for kids. Our regulars, the Art Gallery of Alberta and the Phoenix Art Museum, have child friendly and interactive areas. The Institute of Contemporary Art in Boston, another favorite of mine, does something brilliant. When my husband and I visited there with our kids last summer, they gave my kids a pencil and a little stack of paper taped together like a book. My kids felt honoured. My daughter in particular was sketching the entire visit.

I believe art is such an integral component of a healthy culture – and family. It’s tougher to make an art lover out of a resistant adult, but a child – they are wide open, curious and creative. I encourage art galleries to welcome children with open arms. If you are scared kids will break something, put the work on higher plinths – but do not discourage children from visiting and please do not make parents feel anxious with their kids in your space. And parents; please expose your children to as much art as possible, it is one of the greatest teaching opportunities you can give them.

Here are some photos from my family’s recent visit to the Art Gallery of Alberta.

Art Gallery of Alberta

My daughter watching a floating wig in ANDREW FROSST: Instinctive Break on exhibit March 29–June 8, 2014 at the Art Gallery of Alberta

My hubby, Aaron Chute and I in front of Jill Stanton: Strange Dream, March 5–December 31, 2014 at the Art Gallery of Alberta

Art Gallery of Alberta

Kids love to touch and experience art.

Family time visiting Lyndal Osborne: Bowerbird, Life as Art, February 1–April 27, 2014 at the Art Gallery of Alberta

The children’s room was a little creepy for me but the kids didn’t seem to mind. BMO World of Creativity: Cabinets of Curiosity, July 1–June 30, 2014

How to Become an Unplugged Parent, Flurt Magazine

April 30, 2014/0 Comments/in Flurt! Column /by Alexis Marie Chute

Check out my latest article on Flurt Magazine, “How to Become an Unplugged Parent.”

As parents we are bombarded with choices about technology and our children. It’s not easy to find balance but there comes a point where both child and parent must power-down in order to get the most out of life.

What do you think about technology in the schools?

Should little kids having their own iPad?

Where do you draw the technology line with your children?

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