Fitting art into life

Frost is a project of love and dreams. The people working on making it possible are not making money off of it - on the contrary some of my own money has gone in to the making of this project. For me Frost is an addition to an already full life. Frost is realized from tiny spaces of time, a 15 minute break here to send some emails, some time in the dentist waiting room to get caught up on some design work, dropping my daughter at dance class and then racing around town to get posters put up and extension cords picked up.

But, even though it may seem like I am seeking gratitude, I am not. What I am seeking is to inspire others to take up the challenge and fit art into their life. You don't need to be a critically acclaimed brilliant artist to create something, or some experience, that is meaningful to others. You don't need to have an outfitted studio and all the expensive materials (though if you continue to build on your skills it is likely that will eventually come). Not everyone will be a great artist, but a great artist can come from anywhere with any background.

If you are a person with a passion for what you are creating and, even if it is fit into the small spaces of your life, are prepared to have your endeavor consume your thoughts. I invite you to charge forward! Bring your ideas and skills to the light! Make connections in our community through expressions of your ideas and emotions.  Anchorage is one of the wonderful places that if you have an idea and are willing to put the work into making it happen - you will be able to find support. If you have an idea, start talking to people about it! One conversation will lead to the next and soon you'll find yourself talking to someone with skills and knowledge to help make your idea happen.

I would like to live in a city of flowing creativity and pop up expressions and experiences of art. My greatest hope is that Frost will inspire others to create and share.

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Gretchen

Frost project hides art throughout Anchorage parks | KTVA Anchorage CBS 11

Frost project hides art throughout Anchorage parks | KTVA Anchorage CBS 11



Ryan and I on the early morning news -- very early on Halloween



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Gretchen

Lintukoto Reflections

A steady stream of the curious made their way to the Lintukoto tunnel this past Saturday. It was too cold a night to stay long but most made their way through the rainbow-twisted-light-tunnel at least twice. I arrived early to see if Ryan needed any extra help. I knew I was at the right spot when I saw the pick up truck with the generator in the back and cords leading off to deep places.
Ryan and Ruby were huddled around a bright square of a computer screen and the tunnel danced in front of them.
As more people arrived it was hard to tell who was who - and I discovered the best part about Frost. In the darkness, everyone bundled and covered, anyone could be everyone. You are free to strike up a conversation with your neighbor without having any visual social cues to hinder you. We were each a indeterminate mass of insulation in the cold dark -- what better way to break through those social constraints and tight Anchorage circles? Age, ethnicity, socioeconomic status -- all lost to the deep frost of the night. Perhaps the stars could tell us apart, but for those experiencing Lintukoto, we could Just Be - in that space - in that moment - and let our shared inner humanity be enough.

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Gretchen