The Anticipation Letters No.9 – In These Times
Collecting my thoughts (outdoors!) at Cafe Pascal, Norrtullsgatan, Stockholm, for this week’s anticipation letter, while my youngest son is at a classmate’s birthday party.
In These Times…
In These Times is an album by Makaya McCraven. I’m borrowing his words to find a way to write about the current situation, since I find it hard to even begin. Wherever I go, we talk about the state of the world and the absurdity of the times we live in. While we most certainly don’t agree about everything, people are angry, worried.
It’s easy to loose track of your path, of what you’re trying to achieve, of what you’re doing. It’s all so disturbing. I mean, what will I even write about? Why is it even important in these times? Who is even reading this? What is there really to anticipate in these times? But then the words come. And I realize. We need to stay put in what we’re here for. It’s valuable to open up, share, take part in decent conversations. Inspire each other. What’s at stake is that we get in a state of fight or flight (while helpful for a distinct threatening moment, over times it builds up to anxiety, I know this very well) and we’re unable to move, unable to contribute. We need to feel anticipation. And we need to keep creating.
Une Liste de Cinque
In These Times…
In these times it takes dedication to feel anticipation
How do we make sure, we get enough of the energy we need to create? For me this letter is a way of landing in the good things that’s already there, that I’m part of. That I want to continue be a part of.
In these times it’s essential with community and real life experiences
Many are questioning SoMe. I am too. While we’ve built value around it, many feel the need to more often stay in reality. To take back a local engagement. To be part of real life experiences.
In these times we must support culture
We’ve got to stand up for the values we, as creatives, know culture has for our communities, for the values of our lives, for society and democracy at large. And to take part in the continuous creation of culture.
In these times we need to return to ourselves
It’s more important than ever to check back with ourselves and our values, when our mind constantly gets polluted. Brief moments of calmness, no distractions, meditation, moodboards, writing. Whatever works for us.In these times we have to dare stand for what we believe
And to be able to do that, I find it’s essential to prioritize nr 4.
What’s better suited as an anthem for the times we’re in than In These Times by Makaya McCraven. Since it’s release it’s been rotating on our record player, and we’ve also been to a fantastic concert, so full of pure energy, at Fasching.
From Bandcamp: In These Times is an almost unfathomable new peak for an already-soaring innovator who has been called "one of the best arguments for jazz's vitality" by The New York Times, as well as recently, and perhaps more aptly, a "cultural synthesizer." While challenging and pushing himself into uncharted territories, McCraven quintessentially expresses his unique gifts for collapsing space and transcending borders – blending past, present, and future into elegant, poly-textural arrangements of jazz-rooted, post-genre 21st century folk music.
As you know by now, I’m a hugh lover of contemporary jazz.
The sensation of walking down to my favorite jazz club – Fasching – on a Tuesday evening, instead of watching an episode of a tv-series that don’t really give me anything… That feels right, in these times more than ever. That feels like anticipation to me. Here’s a big YES to IRL experiences. Tonight it was a big band concert, Maria Schneider led Oslo Jazz Ensemble through her own material, and she also shared stories around the music. It was great.
I’m taking a course for a woman who’s long inspired me and my multi sensory vision, Marije Vogelzang, an experimental food designer. The course is called Creative Strategies for Sensitive Pirates. Exactly what I needed.
We were all asked why we were there and what do we want to shift? For me, it’s trusting my intuition. Give it space and nutrition, to see where it leads. Also looking forward to take part in a meditation new to me, Prime Light Meditation.
“The thing about meditation is; you become more and more you.” David Lynch
One thing I’m very much looking forward to is the celebration of the International Colour Day – March 21st – we’re arranging with Stiftelsen Svenskt Färgcentrum, this time hosted by our friends at Dahl Agenturer.
If you’re in Stockholm, you’re most welcome to join us. Award ceremony of Prisad Färg, a talk “Naturens kolorit”, and just a very colorful Friday after work-session.
RSVP to anmalan@fargcentrum.se
Would love to wear something like this to the celebration…
Toogood again. What she’s built is inspirational.
or this..Issey Miyake.
Always true to its foundation and ever creative with it as a starting point.
I actually do have a piece I love from Issey Miyake, but non of these are in my budget at the moment, and I want to invest in pieces, not bye randomly, but I have an idea, involving some red paint…
This week the jury of Prisad Färg met and nominated three very solid contributions to our theme “Colour is Material – Material is Colour”.
The jury sessions with this inspiring group of experienced creatives, led by Catrin Vagnemark, BVD (not in image) are always a privilege to be part of. Lot’s of conversations, different perspectives, and at the end, a choice we all agree on. Looking forward to share it at the International Colour Day!
And yes, I’ve began the substantial work of updating my portfolio, something I’ve just not managed to prioritize for a very long time. It’s not all there yet, but I’ve gotten a good start and there’s now more material around many projects. Do check it out.
This is from the exhibition design of Human Nature at Etnografiska Museet.
A Sunday Note to self (to create anticipation)
In these times it inspires me greatly to check back in with my foundations, my values, and to take time to explore the paths on which it will lead me. To prioritize human interactions, real conversations, honest writing and creating.
What makes you feel anticipation in these times? I would love to hear.
xxx Charlotte Ryberg
In Pursuit of Beautiful Concepts
Thank you for reading The Anticipation Letters – The new Sunday ritual. A more personal and intuitive letter on design, life, work, philosophy, inspiration, creating anticipation for the week ahead. Words by ENTIÈRE founder Charlotte Ryberg. If you wish to receive it in your inbox each Sunday, subscribe below.