progress plunge – encouraging students to embrace action

Detail from multimedia sculpture progress plunge.

Because I teach expression and engagement with technology, there can be a high level of frustration and fear of failure that the students feel. So much of this is brand new and things can go wrong that are unseen or misunderstood and out of the control of the student and the instructor. We joke about having tissues on hand in front of the computer because we take these problems personally.

I often remind students that I reward effort. They need to just do something! We learn by participating, not sitting on our hands at the edge of the education abyss with our eyes closed and ears plugged. I encourage my students to take the plunge because they might find out they know how to fly and soar higher than they ever expected. And, it is okay to fall and fail once and a while to be grounded, gain perspective, and take the hand of another to help launch someone else who is ready to fly.

About the artwork progress plunge:

How do we embrace ideals of action, adventure and change with the safety of contentment? Take on a decisive manner with faith in creating change on your own. Not much happens unless you toss a metaphorical stone into a pond to cause it to ripple. Create waves. At the same time, navigate predicaments with the hopeful view that there are no dead ends, only U-turns. Hurdles are placed before us to create opportunities to show how high we can strive. Energetically select paths that challenge to reach humble gratification. Find comfort in choice.

The square spiral is an ancient symbol of homecoming. The maze means movement, decisions and the path of life. Knots intertwine to illustrate continuous connections and your part of an infinite legacy. Woven structures express collaboration of many single parts bound together stronger than alone. The ripple demonstrates the reward of action.