What I am about to do…

This post describes what I’m gearing up for, for all of you who’ve been wondering…

(That’s most of you, since I haven’t taken the opportunity to explain it widely. Until now, that is…)

I am moving to Bali in a few short weeks, for an unknown amount of time.

I am going for a number of reasons, but first and foremost <cue the strings, its time to get smarmy!> to pursue a dream.

You may know that I have been running a technology design business for the past several years.  Much of my (paying) work to date has been client-based consulting — with a focus on technology-based creative endeavors and business development — blah blah blah… well, fun stuff actually.  Indeed, I have contributed technology design work to the film, scientific and design worlds for many years, but have never offered up my own private art, technology and design work for sale.

Well collectors of awesomeness, break out your checkbooks and get in line, ’cause this here over-educated, ex-goddamn-NASA, entrepreneurial, art-meets-technology sculpture-design dork is about to go mutha-fuckin’ loco all up in that shit! See, in my secret design studio, I’ve been cooking up some special-sauce — working on several endeavors, not the least of which is a set of ‘light-sculptures’ that are nearing production-readiness.  These will be *awesome*.  They are all shapes and shadows, electronically controlled lighting and cutting edge 3D-printed fabrication.  My goal is to develop, and be ready to fulfill orders on an initial limited run of 20-30 original pieces by mid-late summer.  Hey, there’s other stuff too…an interactive iPad-based publishing platform and new, easy-to-use software for intuitive, expandable, visual organization.

So I am moving to Bali to give these projects primary focus.

In other words, I funsta nurture the god damned hell out of them and kick they-ass off into the world. (in english — to bring to fruition, and/or to market)

Why Bali?

I am no stranger to the world.  I find the experience of being out of my element overseas scintillating, deeply enriching and truly inspiring.  It also makes me thoroughly appreciate everything I’ve left behind.  I am nearing the end of an epic and challenging chapter, and I find myself in unique, and serendipitous circumstances.  I am in the position to put things here on hold for a bit, relocate my design business to a place most conducive to this next experiment, and focus on calling forth the energies and endeavors that the next chapter will be built from.

Put simply, I am going to Bali to have my mind blown at a most auspicious time.

The aspect of Bali that I am most interested in, is its reputation as a local center for the arts.  Apparently in the 1700’s, a now defunct kingdom invested heavily in the arts, acting as patron for a vast workforce of artists of many disciplines.  Since then, artists have migrated and flourished there.  More recently, probably as a result, tourism has taken hold, and Bali has become a crossroads for travelers in South-East Asia.  It doesn’t hurt that its cheap, gorgeous and friendly (or so I’m told), with rich and colorful traditions dating back many centuries.  In particular, I am quite interested in what it would take to focus on making art — set up a studio there, find a full complement of local suppliers, and collaborate with other local artists.  And walk places.  In the sun.  Another reason I am going, is that I have a friend who has been living this dream there, and filling my mind with tales of it, for nigh on 8 years now.  Perhaps you will remember this moment 8 years from now when you are going to Bali?  But why wait??? (hey, at least come visit!)

When I first went abroad many years ago, it dawned on me  — “Hey, maybe I didn’t just randomly happen to be born in the very best place in the world?”  And if not, then seriously… why not go find it??? Now don’t you go getting all ‘Hey, he’s anti-America’ on me — I’m talking  for me, as in full of so many of the things I hold near and dear. I’ve long dreamt of a place like this — an inexpensive island of splendor, a rich local culture to explore, full of world-travelers and artists, next to the warm blue waters of the ocean (surfing!), central to good traveling, friendly, small enough to get to know people… the list goes on, hell, there are even monkeys! (you know, those cute little fuzzy humans)  So, I’ve been thinking… yes, I would like to have such a place to go from time to time, (like, say, during any given Portland winter?), but not acting on it.  Until now.  Yes, for me ‘NOW’ is that time. As I end one chapter and begin a new one, awash in new ideas, and possibilities, on the cusp of big change, Now is just about the perfect time for a big ol’ tropical-island art-safari.  Right, so… I am just going to pop on over there to see what the dealie-o is.  🙂

These are exciting times.  To go abroad open-ended and see where I am led is new to me.  For the first time I can remember, I do not know where I will be six months from now, and it feels good.  I am choosing to substitute trust for uncertainty.

I believe in my ideas.  I believe they deserve to see the light of day.  I believe that their manifestation will beautify, enrich and elegantly empower the world in a way that is uniquely mine to offer.

So I am going forth, to the ends of the earth, to make it happen…

from paradise.

HM

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