Category: creativity

creativity

Wonder: Kennedy Center Arts Summit today

Christa Avampato

I’m spending today at the Kennedy Center Arts Summit presented in association with the Aspen Institute Arts Program and Citizen University.

“The Arts Summit is an annual spring convening, hosted by the Kennedy Center, designed to bring thought leaders from the arts and related fields together for conversation and connection. Set to be held in Washington, DC on April 25, 2016, the 2016 edition of the Summit will focus on Citizen Artistry, the idea of using the arts to influence positive change in people’s lives. Together, we will examine this idea, and its application in today’s society, through the lens of ideals John F. Kennedy set forth for our country during his Presidency: courage, service, justice, freedom, gratitude, exploration, and innovation. The program will serve as a blueprint and launching pad for both the Kennedy Center’s celebration of JFK’s 100th Birthday during the 2016-17 season, and for new collaborations and initiatives among participants.”

There are many ways for you to participate today, even if you can’t be at the event in D.C.

The agenda for the day can be found here.
The livestream will screen here.
Follow along on Twitter via the hashtag #artssummit.
I’ll be sharing what I’m seeing and hearing here.

creativity

Wonder: Going to Cuba

Christa Avampato

People have asked me what I’ll be doing in Cuba next month. I just got the rundown of my itinerary. I can hardly believe that this is really happening! I’ll be taking pictures and sharing stories while I’m there (provided I can access wi-fi), and I’m hoping I can convince many of you to travel to Cuba, too! I’m so grateful to Yolo Travel, a local D.C. business, for organizing everything! http://www.yoloworldtravel.com/cuba/

Arriving in Miami a day early to enjoy one of my favorite U.S. cities! The flightto Havana leaves very early the next morning so I’ll be relaxing and resting up for the week ahead.

Day 1: Arrive in Havana early in the morning via charter flight. Spend the day and evening exploring Old Havana with dinner at a private restaurant. Then exploring the nightlife that the city has to offer.

Day 2: History tour of Old Havana. Visit to the fishing village Jaimanitas and the home of artist Jose Fuster, who has turned most of his home and most of the surrounding neighborhood into a work of art with mosaic tiles.

Then we’ll take a 4-hour drive to the scenic village of Vinales. Caving, hiking, and exploring the many agriculturally-rich fields are all on tap. Vinales is known for its local music scene so I’ll make sure to check that out!

Day 3: Tour of an organic farm in Vinales and meeting local farmers in the area. We’ll also learn the art of cuban cigar making from an expert cigar maker. In the afternoon, we’ll take a traditional Cuban cooking class with local chefs using all local ingredients.

Day 4: Drive to Cienfuego to tour that city and then make a visit to the Bay of Pigs. We’ll check out the museum there and then go snorkeling.

Day 5: We’re off to the colonial city of Trinidad, the best preserved city in Cuba. We will be able to sit with and learn from the caretaker of the Afro-Cuban temple to Yamaya. Trinidad is known to have the biggest live music scene and we’ll be exploring that along with taking salsa dance lessons.

Day 6: Hike to waterfalls outside of Trinidad in the Valley of Sugarmills – the perfect white sand beaches I’ve been dreaming about in Cuba for so long! Options to go snorkeling, scuba diving, and horseback riding. Then it’s back to Trinidad to relax and explore. That night we’ll have a bonfire on the beach and a meal prepared by local chefs in Trinidad.

Day 7: We’ll visit Manaca-Iznaga plantation in the Valle de los Ingenios where we will learn more about Cuba’s slave trade. Then we head to Santa Clara to learn about the life of Ernesto Ché Guevara, one of the most famous Cuban Revolutionaries. We’ll have lunch at a small family farm near Santa Clara and head back to Havana to enjoy a fun evening in the city.

Day 8: We have all day and night to explore Havana and take in everything that the city has to offer.

Day 9: We have breakfast and say goodbye to our guides and drivers before heading back to the U.S.

creativity

Wonder: Latest draft of my novel, Where the Light Enters, is complete

Christa Avampato

After several months, I’ve finally finished the latest round of handwritten edits for my novel, Emerson Page – Where the Light Enters. Once I get them all transcribed, I’ll finally have a version that I can work on with an editor before beginning the journey of submitting it for possible publication.

Writing a book is a long and winding road, and I am so happy and grateful to be traveling this route. I remain very grateful to so many of you who always support my writing and creative projects. We may write a book one word at a time, but it takes a village of support to keep going.

I can’t wait to introduce you to Emerson and take you into her world. She has taught me so much already, and I’m sure the best is yet to come.

creativity

Wonder: Further thoughts on simplicity

Christa Avampato

“Simplicity is the most difficult thing to secure in this world; it is the last limit of experience and the last effort of genius. “ ~George Sand

It takes a lot of time and talent to create something simple, elegant, and intuitive. It should be easy for those who consume it. So easy and effortless that it seems that anyone can do it. The truth is that simplicity and elegance aren’t simple to create at all. It’s difficult and mind-bending work but it’s so worth it. To see the delight of the people who consume whatever you’ve created, to have them instinctively understand its value, is an enormous accomplishment. It’s something I strive for in my work and my life. I rarely get there, but when I do, it’s a magical feeling.

creativity

Wonder: House of Sweden Handicraft in Washington, D.C.

Christa Avampato

On Tuesday I went to House of Sweden, an extension of the Swedish Embassy here in Washington, D.C. Their exhibit Next Level Craft – Cutting Edge Handicraft from Sweden is a compact and perfect combination of art, craft, fashion, and history. From shoes made of woven thatches of wood to glass beavers to led-faceted fashion accessories, this exhibit blend tradition with modern times in a way that leaves me wanting to finally take the Lapland adventure I’ve been dreaming of for years.

The exhibit runs through this Sunday, April 24th, at House of Sweden. See it.

creativity

Wonder: The genius of simplicity

Christa Avampato

This week I’m thinking a lot about simplicity and am inspired by this quote:

“Any fool can make things bigger, more complex. It takes a touch of genius—and a lot of courage—to move in the opposite direction.” — E. F. Schumacker”

Here’s to finding the genius within each of us to get to solutions in our lives and in our work that are simple, elegant, and effective.

creativity

Wonder: Looking for a home in D.C.

Christa Avampato

That’s it. I’m buying a home in D.C. After investigating my rental options, I discovered that buying is both less expensive and makes better long-term financial sense. In some ways it’s scary to put down these kinds of roots. In other ways, it’s freeing and comforting. I’ve decided to not be afraid and to channel all my energy into the excitement of becoming a homeowner for the first time. It’s one of the main reasons I moved to D.C., and now it’s time to make it happen. I’m madly in love with this city and I’m so glad I chose to move here for a thousand different reasons.

I have an amazing agent (Sharif Ibrahim) and an equally amazing loan officer (Mark Eigenbrode). I hit the jackpot with this combination of real estate talent and knowledge. I’m lucky beyond belief, and I know it.

So here’s to finding a home this week and making an offer. That’s my big goal, and I’m going for it!

creativity

Wonder: I’m baaaaaack…

Christa Avampato

Hello all. It has been over a month since I’ve published to this blog and I want to tell you why I so abruptly took the longest break that I’ve taken in the 9 years since I’ve been writing it.

In March, I received a letter from a photography website threatening to sue me for using an image on a blog post four year ago. That’s right – a single picture, that I got from Pinterest, for a single post, 4 years ago, and I had attributed it to the artist. They never sent me a takedown notice. They just skipped right to suing me for thousands of dollars. By the grace of the universe, my friend, Amanda, connected me to a wonderful attorney who agreed to represent me, and it seems that the issue has evaporated. I haven’t heard a word from them since.

So, I’m back. This has been a wonderful time for me to creatively reflect on my writing and I’ve plowed a lot of time into a number of wildly creative projects including finishing a working draft of my novel, Where the Light Enters, getting one of my paper collages displayed in a gallery in D.C., continuing my writing for The Washington Post, planning a trip to Cuba (yes, CUBA!), and joining a film production company here in D.C. as an associate producer. All while keeping my day job at an education technology startup and being in the process of buying a condo here in D.C.

What I do want to make abundantly clear is that I’ve missed you. A lot. I miss the conversations back and forth. I miss hearing how you’re doing. I miss updating you on what I’m doing, seeing, and hearing. I’ve missed this outlet and I’m thrilled to be back. So here’s to you. Here’s to me. And I’m so glad we’re back together.

And to speak to the unfortunate photo incident of March 2016, all photos that you see on this site were either taken by me or for me. If you want to use any of them, you are absolutely free to do so. No questions asked. Just add a little attribution with my name and this website URL http://christaavampato.com. Let’s never be apart for that long again, okay? Okay.

creativity

Wonder: The two choices we have in every moment

Christa Avampato

“In any given moment we have two options: to step forward into growth or to step back into safety.” ~Abraham Maslow

I’ve been thinking about this quote a lot lately. It seems that the older I get, the more often I have to make this choice. I’m about to enter my fearless 40s so there will be nothing but stepping forward for me. I’m sure this is going to make my life more challenging, and I’m also convinced that it’s going to make it more exciting and more rewarding in every way. No turning back now.

creativity

Wonder: Bitter or better

Christa Avampato

Next week I turn 40, and this is my greatest lesson in life so far: if something doesn’t go my way, I’ve got two choices – I can choose to let it make me bitter or make me better. In my life, most things haven’t gone my way. They went the way they had to go to turn me into the person I am. And no, that’s not necessarily fair. Sometimes it’s downright unfair, but those are the times I learn the most – about myself, about others, and about the world. And yes, that learning can be painful and disappointing, but I’m grateful, in hindsight, for every ounce of it.

On the cusp of 40, I’ve made a decision – from here on out, I’m only getting better. I don’t have time for bitter.