On Movement and Breath - And the Space Between
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I tried to write this post on movement and the space between thrice - and lost it each time.
Rather than try to again recreate my lengthy notes and thoughts I have decided to put some notes I had written elsewhere below and took this as an opportunity to first share the images I collected for the post that match some of my thoughts and curiousity: do let your imagination go whereever it takes you - and am interested in hearing your thoughts!
Notes:
— I am clear I want to share my (new found) interest in movement and breath, dance and song, and its relationship to my ongoing interest in the positive change and the space between (most eloquently put by Martin Buber "the sphere of the between"), that arises in dialogue, story and conversation…the interaction between us and our contexts…and what goes on between that we can’t see…and well, that which is life - and the interaction of visible and invisble worlds! Sits well with my questions around ‘what happens when we speak?’ ‘what does it look like and what are our words’ impact? And how different would we speak if we could see what we said?’ and ‘what came before the word?’ (am suspecting dance and song/melody)
Indeed, it seems to me that life and human creation is movement and breath…a dynamic dance of inner and outer, taking things in and moving and breathing out things and making of space between in which something new can arise…Certainly movement - dance and so forth - is a language I want to learn more of!
On a personal note I kind of feel like I am learning to walk and breath (again) - though my grandmother, 83, said when I told her this "I am just learning to walk and breath too darling", so perhaps these are life lessons -they come back our whole life?—
—Also want to note a movement in my life - a shift - people seem to be clearer about my interests and who to connect me to professionally of late…perhaps I am getting clearer as I focus on Story? Or else they have been listening to me speak about story, conversation, dialogue, the space between, and healthy/positive change for SO long now that it is beginning to stick!? ;)
And thanks to my uncle for his teasing on my study of ‘air’ and also thanks to a person he connected me to via it who reminded me of the final image, Michaelangelo’s Creation of Adam, and connected to it as a powerful ‘between space’. —
2days later I just re-watched ‘What the Bleep‘ and although has a lot to not take seriously made me think about one more powerful visual image for between spaces: the neuron and synapse space in our brain - one of the creative spaces between inside of us - along with diapragm…and many more…
Images
- Pelicans in Flight (c) Étienne-Jules Marey approx 1882 via here
- Swan Lake - source: National Library of Australia
- Movements in Air (c) (c) Étienne-Jules Marey via his exhibition at the Musee d’Orsay
- Michaelangelo’s Creation of Adam - Sistine Chapel
- Neuron-synapse via source
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June 22nd, 2007 at 11:45 pm
Hi Natalie,
Nice pictures in your most recent post. I can’t quite figure out whether the ballet one is time-lapse or not (kind of hope it’s not ;). You might like this picture - the bottom one (though the top is good too) - of falling paper in a time lapse sequence…
http://martha.mannlib.cornell.edu/charts/?p=97
The simplicity of it appeals to me, it shows something turbulent and complex with elegance. And your post talks about Buber in your recent post: I read a quote from him this very morning that rocked me…
“The world is not comprehensible, but it is embraceable: through the embracing of one of its beings.”
I think I’m a quote-aholic :)
…Kenn
June 22nd, 2007 at 11:47 pm
A note on the space between:
You mention in your most recent post “the space between” that arises in our conversations, dialogue, etc., “the interaction between us and our contexts and what goes on between that we can’t see.”
This concept reminds me of what we call, in graphic design, negative space, or – a term I much prefer in view of its more positive connotations – white space. And in attempting to formulate a visual representation of your thoughts, I thought it offers quite a useful metaphor.
The definition of white space: also know as ‘negative space,’ the portions of a page left unmarked.
White space should not be considered merely ‘blank’ space - it is an important element of design which enables the objects in it to exist at all. The balance between positive (or none-white) and the use of negative spaces is key to aesthetic composition. White space is often used to create a balanced, harmonious layout. One that just “feels” right. It can also take the reader on a journey through the design in the same way a photographer leaves “looking room” in a portrait shot by positioning the subject off the center of the frame and having them looking into the remaining space. When white space is used to lead a reader from one element to another, it’s called “active white space.”
(A great example of active white space – the FedEx logo. Take a careful look, and you’ll find a subliminal white arrow between the E and the X. It’s an intelligent and thrilling use of white space that fits perfectly into their whole branding).
A note on white space: There is a tendency, especially on the web, to fill every single corner with text. But the funny thing is, most of us have been taught since elementary school to use white space. Remember how your teachers would always insist that you draw a 1.5″ margin on the left hand side of every page? They drilled it into our minds, until it became a habit that I have been unable to break, even to this day.
But why is white space so important? Part of the reason is psychological, and part of it is physical: the text needs room to breathe. When text crowds all the way to the edge, it leaves us feeling crowded and cramped. Long passages of text, written edge to edge can actually tire the eyes. White space (which can actually be any color you want it to be, devoid of text) also provides great contrast. It draws the reader in, and enhances their reading experience.
So, on the space between: Just as in graphic design, there is a lot we can do with, and learn from, the space between in life. What we choose not to say, for example, is just as important as what we do. What we don’t know, what we will know, what we want to know is just as important as what we do know. Also, listening – much like white space – often gives us a new perspective on the context of things, the dialogue, etc.
Thoughts?
July 20th, 2007 at 4:12 pm
[...] me to write! and collect stories and make books - and also because I keep talking about the space between. (I seem to be getting sticky with my message aroud [...]
July 25th, 2007 at 8:55 pm
hey nat,
have you heard of a song called The Space Between by Dave Matthews? (http://www.lyricsondemand.com/d/davematthewsbandlyrics/thespacebetweenlyrics.html)
heard it today while jogging and thought of you…a different take on the topic you’ve been interested in.
Also of interest, a photographic online exhibit, another take on The Space Between two people, using only one subject….http://mocoloco.com/art/archives/004296.php
The artist’s website can be found at http://www.kelliconnell.com/.
cheers, and see you soon!