Let's build your creative committee
On the importance of having a list of artists and ancestors who inform your work.
Vancouver friends: My upcoming birdwatching and art-making event is taking place on Saturday, June 13th at 9:00 am. All details here. Your ticket enters you to win the sailor hat by Bohéme, one of my favorite Canadian brands. Thanks to the team for kindly sponsoring the giveaway! Bring your friends, and see you there :)
Let’s talk about why you should have a creative guide!
Today’s newsletter is about something I have been thinking a lot about lately: the role of creative guides in our lives. We’re used to the idea of mentors, people we look up to, often further along in a career we admire. But creative guides are different.
From my point of view, they are someone whose work you keep going back to as a reference and as a source of inspiration because something in the way they approach their craft and their process resonates with you and moves you. But this pull towards their creations goes beyond aesthetics. It’s a recognition of the self, kinship. No matter if you’ve never met them, or if they existed centuries ago…
Some people grow up surrounded by artists or creators, mirrors that reflect what’s possible, but a lot of us didn’t have that. I didn’t grow up around what you’d call ‘traditional’ artists. There weren’t many mirrors to look into. So in adulthood, finding mentors, and especially creative guides, has helped me a lot to figure out my voice.
An artist I really admire, Cody Cook-Parrott, often speaks about having a “Spiritual Committee of Creation,” a personal list of artists, writers, and ancestors who inform your work.
In the words of Cody, “This exercise is to help you remember that while creation is often a solitary act, we have a lot of help we can call on beyond this realm.”
HERE ARE SOME OF THE ICONS IN MY SPIRITUAL CREATIVE COMMITTEE ↓
Octavia Butler
Nathy Peluso
Leonora Carrington
Yoshimoto Nara
Paloma Elsesser
Cindy Sherman
Lady Gaga (specifically the energy she channels on the Marry the Night music video. I truly always go back to it when I’m feeling down)
Tove Jansson
Devonté Hynes
Sofia Coppola
Patti Smith
Phoebe Waller-Bridge
A PERSONAL ARCHIVE THAT YOU CAN REVISIT ANYTIME
I keep track of the some of favorite work by my creative guides in a log that I revisit anytime I’m feeling uninspired, sad or stuck. There is an abundance of information and content online, but I love going back to a mini library of materials and resources that I know are valuable to me and at the same time bring me a lot of comfort. I’ve added my log below, you can make a copy and start your own log this week!
Do you have creative guides? If not, who would you be adding to your list? I want to know! Please let me know in the comments <3
Thanks for reading this issue of apartamento 710, it means the world to me. It would help me a lot if send it to a friend (or enemy) who you think might enjoy reading it as well!
Follow along on Instagram or email me at florenciaornelas.f@gmail.com if you are a brand and are interested in collaborating or hosting an event together!
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Love and gratitude,
Florencia
More from apartamento 710:
Paid readers get access to snail mail! Here’s how to join ↓
My website is up! I’ll be adding new offerings there, including merch, prints, and other surprises. Making it a bit easier for those of you who want to support my work but can’t do a monthly subscription <3
I uploaded a vlog about my experience hosting events in Vancouver! Speaking to the camera is way outside my comfort zone but it’s a fun, silly challenge. Hope you can watch it!
I have that copy of Apartamento on my shelf and think about Solange’s home in it alllll the time
Love this idea. I'm trying to finally get some physical moodboards started, might as well incorporate my creative committee...