Bottle Art
I ran into one of my kid’s class mates when I was out the other day and he asked me if I had seen his new facebook profile pic. He knows I like horses so he wanted to tell me he found a pair of cowboy boots and western style shirt which he modeled in his new photo. He likes country music and it was fun for him to dress the part. Another friend was with him so they started to talk about what is considered ‘normal’ dress at school. They agreed the cowboy boots and shirt would not be considered normal.
I told the boys there is no such thing as ‘normal’. They went on to say that ‘normal’ dress would be the hoodies and tee shirts that everyone wears. To not wear what everyone else wears then has to be not normal. I gave them another word. ‘You would be non-conforming, which is okay’, I told them. To do what everyone else does is conforming. To not conform is to find your own way, to see differently.
I watched the TV show ‘Hoarders’ this evening. I watch that show with horror and amazement. On one hand not believing someone could live like that and on the other hand feel like if I don’t get a grip on my disorganized ways that could be me. A psychologist came on the scene as part of a team to help a man who hoards to clean up his home and yard. She went on to explain that this man fits the S-I-C-K model of someone at risk for anxiety disorders, which is the classification for Hoarding Disorder. The S-I-C-K stands for Sensitive, Intelligent, Creative and Kind! OMG! That could be me!! At least I know I am 3 out of the 4! Probably 4 out of the 4, depending on who you ask.
What does this have to do with the question of what is normal on an art community blog? Well it got me thinking about creative people in a world that loves conformity where it would be oh so nice if we all fit in neat little boxes. So where does hoarding come in? Isn’t a hoarder a whole lot like a gatherer? You know, hunters and gatherers??? He gathers. Usually a gatherer (I am not sure this is even a word but just hang in here with me) gathers to produce. They gather materials to produce a meal, a tool or a shelter. In other words they gather and then create.
So in my estimation this poor, kind, creative, intelligent hoarder got stuck in the gathering stage. He is stuck in the creative cycle with no outlet! Maybe it got bottlenecked inside of him because somewhere along the line someone didn’t think being creative or artistic was practical or valuable??? Maybe. Next time this show is on listen to the hoarders talk… they speak of their ‘treasures’ with sentiment and creativity. I can use that! They are gathering inspiration from their things but can’t move on to the other phase of the cycle to create for whatever reason.. Maybe they can’t find their tools or lost their materials…. can’t find their scissors? I know this feeling. They run to the store to buy more scissors and find MORE inspiration! They get started on ya project and in the process see even more possibilities but it doesn’t come to fruition because there is a missing piece. The hunt goes on!
I propose these people need to enroll in art classes. Altered art maybe for the garage sale junkie. Mixed media and collage for the paper hoarder. Sculpture for the junk heap guy. I just saw an amazing exhibit at the Canton Art Museum titled ‘Something From Nothing’. Recycled materials were used to create beautiful sculptures. These artists gathered, collected and created because somewhere along the line someone told them it is okay to be non-conforming, to take chances and just dive in an tinker with the odd pieces of whatever. People need to be told that to do so opens up that bottle neck inside that can trip a person up and get them stuck in a gear they don’t want to be in. Create and be unstuck! I’ll even go further… create, be unstuck, sell artwork and hire a maid! Its even good for the economy.
So what is normal? If normal is what everyone is not, than normal is not normal. At least at Second April. 
Come on down and join the fun! We even have art books and Open Studio days to get you unstuck!
Art 'How To' Books
Thank You Sue for such a delightful blog posting! I love it! I relate to you and others who ‘collect’ treasures they simply cannot release from their care. My thinking is that it’s not that I have so many things, I just have a house that is too small.
I love this… and share your concern that there might be a hoarder in me if I don’t keep an eye on this place.
thanks
have fun
su
Just keep creating Su then you’ll be alright!
Keep that bottleneck open.
Wow – Super article Sue – really impressive! Keep ‘em coming!
Thank you! Appreciate you stopping by!
I found your blog because I was looking up the S-I-C-K model—I had watched Hoarders the other night. I tend to collect things to “one day” use in my artwork…but I usually don’t get around to it… I deny myself what I have felt called to do since I was a little child. My mother would tell me not to tell people I wanted to be an artist because “artists are crazy”and people would think I’m crazy..and who did I think I was…somebody special?..and that art was a waste of time because I would never be able to earn a living.So I tried for years to tamp the urge down…it’s taken along time to get to the point where I can create without feeling bad about it…but it’s a struggle…I identified with what you said about the guy being bottlenecked because someone told him it wasn’t “practical or valuable”. Sorry to run on and on,but thanks for what you wrote!
Jet, Thank you for writing. I can without a doubt say that your mother was wrong. Some people are born to create and it should be considered a gift. There is not a thing wrong or crazy about it– it is just who you are and it is absolutely a good thing to do. There are people who celebrate creativity… maybe not everyone will get everything that you do but that’s okay. You don’t have to do it to please anyone but yourself. It is your expression and no one can take that away from you. Being creative really is a gift so if your mother could not recognize it as something special, find people who do. There are people who will. You’ve already found one because you found me!
I am a later in life artist… I missed a big chunk of my life not knowing this about myself and could have regrets but thankfully I did find out and now I am making up for lost time. Its not too late for you to be who you were meant to be. I know that sounds cliche but its true. Give yourself permission to experiment with your art and I can guarantee in time you will be so glad you did. I’ve talked to more creative people who say they feel less stressed, less depressed and a whole lot of other good things when they create. Have fun with it! I’d love to hear how it goes for you.
Take care and thanks for reading and commenting.
Sue,thank you so much for the kind words. I am working hard to change the negative -mix-tape -loop in my head,and your positive words will really help. One of my favorite quotes is “It’s never too late to be what you might have been”and for you to have echoed that means a lot.Thank you.
Jet,
I write this stuff as another creative expression when I can’t paint… not really expecting anything to come from it other than I get to have some fun. You writing a reply to tell me how my words effected you has meant alot because I see that my ‘expression’ has some value to others. Thank you! I love artists and creative people because they get it!
Keep creating!
Loved your article. What I find most disturbing is that the psychiatric community would actually use an acronym like “SICK” which definitely has negative implications; to describe someone who is sensitive, intelligent, creative and kind. What on earth is this society coming to when those things are a ‘disorder’ to be ‘treated’? I could rage all day about the fraud that is psychiatry…but in this case, I do think they’ve done a good job letting folks know that they are all about destroying creativity, intelligence, sensitivity and kindness in our culture with their mind altering drugs. For all Sue’s readers, take her advice…the next time you feel depressed, CREATE SOMETHING! You’ll feel better and your body won’t be poisoned with drugs!
I also wondered how insensitive, dumb, uncreative and unkind to use that acronym for qualities that should be valued.
thanks for reading Ruth.
My take on the SICK acronym: I am one of those creative types who has accumulated far, far, far more inspiration than I need. I think the SICK part comes into the picture when the accumulations get in the way of personal safety, peace of mind, and hinders normal everyday activities — here, picture me and my cat both having to scramble over boxes and stacks of books to get to “the good stuff.” So while I have no problem with collecting inspirations, I do have a serious problem with safety in my home, and with learning how to “just say no” and repurpose what I have already accumulated.
I think your brilliant original idea about the blocked gatherers has
deep meaning. You can’t save or preserve or stockpile things that
you are willing and able to use – today and not Someday. I would love
to see a study where they offer hoarders art therapy, using their own
stockpiled items. And could even trade with each other in the workshop
sessions. Hoarders are said to have a high proportion of creative people
amongst them. Again, I would love to see your idea implemented where
therapists use that creativity in service of managing/licking the problem.
Hi Sue, and thankyou for you post ….even though you wrote this over a year ago thanks to this amazing WWW I can get linked to it today, read it and feel the ‘Ahhhh … Haaaa’ moment rattle up from the back of my brain and burst forth into my eyeballs as streams of coloured rainbow light, weaving and dancing and, …..
Gee, I never realized my ‘Ah-Ha’ moments were like that, ’til I tried to type out the feeling …..
or is it the repressed creative side wanting to create with words ……
I’m hoping you don’t mind if I take some ‘quotes’ from your blog to re-post in the Yahoo group [H-C ... hoarders-clutterers] which is a ‘closed’ group’ but another member has posted the link to your article and I feel a lot of insight will be gained if we start to discuss this viewpoint …..
As a ‘creative builder’ ….[ who's struggled within an industry that doesn't like any quick, radical changes] for nearly 40 yrs. I now have a ‘hoard’ measured in semi-trailers [not rooms], and a family I realize I pushed aside so I could ‘relate’ to my ‘stuff’ ….. not very happy with myself after this, the 9th, property I’ve ‘junked’ …. you are so right in suggesting I re-value that creative urge in me that sees value in an item that some-one else has ‘tossed’, now I just have to organize the ‘time-management-team’ to provide 40 working-hours-per-day
and I’ll get it all done ….
… more seriously, I find your suggestions relevant to a comparison to how ‘we-western-countries’ ‘toss’ our junk, while other [less well off] countries [eg; Cuba] is reliant on the society being ‘keen scavengers’ …
Thanks again…. Paul [in Aus., paul.monteith@yahoo.com.au]
Paul, You are welcome to share this blog link and also quote from my article. What an honor that so many people have enjoyed this! I really ended up writing it just during a time of creative overload myself!! LOL!!
I agree with you that expression of creative energy I think is under valued and misunderstood often- by ourselves and others. Creative outlets are wonderful releases so maybe if we keep talking about this we can all feel okay about being creative and sometimes different and get on with our ‘creative’ work. I find I get jammed up most when somehow, in some fashion, I feel my creative contribution is unappreciated- even if that means I am frustrated with myself. I think we can help each other out by voicing the good that comes along with being creative and quit beating ourselves up over it.
Hi Sue, isn’t it amazing that you’re still there, this WWW thing [in my humble opinion] might be worth keeping after all,
guess I’ll have to learn to use it properly,
… below is my reaction to first reading your post ….
<>
… and so here I am now, finding that you’ve continued our conversation, [that WWW thing does work ...!]
… I have just started posting to the group I mentioned, and have included a reference to your post ….
…. if you want to, please say more,
cheers, Paul [in Aus.]
Hi Sue, isn’t it amazing that you’re still there, this WWW thing [in my humble opinion] might be worth keeping after all,
guess I’ll have to learn to use it properly,
… below is my reaction to first reading your post ….
{ … a post had a link, …. I followed and read, and …
…from inside me , with the tears, and the coughing …
[ a week old flu bug had me in its 'icy' grip]
… came a light, a thousand sun’s blinking on in a programmed sequence, shining into bits where, dry, dusty dreams I’d made lay on deserted,
desolate ‘gibber’ plains …..
…. I stumbled forward, crying, typing, focusing on words, letting the story run-with-its-own-energy …
picking up those dry dreams, and seeing a person [me, over all these years] who was trying to live a thousand lives [and more] all at the same time ….
…. was I thinking for all that time “I was that good” …. ?
I turned around, as a soft, slow voice, spoke …
. “You are what all of us, your past dreams,
and those that will whisk into you ….
“as you hear through your dream,
the birds calling out their welcome to the dawn”,
you are all this and more …
.. you don’t need to toss us,
the stuff, yes, give it all away,
and we / us, will do something, ….
… we will create, ….
[with your new friends, in these groups we've been hearing about] …..”}
… and so here I am now, finding that you’ve continued our conversation, [that WWW thing does work ...!]
… I have just started posting to the group I mentioned, and have included a reference to your post ….
…. if you want to, please say more,
cheers, Paul [in Aus.]
Oh Paul that is so wonderful! It sounds so freeing to me to know you don’t have to hang on things because inside of you is the ability to create and express.
I think giving away is good too– I love being generous and I feel it always comes back to the giver in some form or another.
Your words have made my day! You sound like someone on the cusp of a wonderful new adventure! I also love that you don’t feel you need to turn your back on the past because that is what brought you to where you are now!
Keep me posted. I look forward to hearing about your adventure!
Take care!
I also found this blog because I saw Hoarders and looked up S I C K. It is somewhat of an unfortunate acronym, I agree, but it is easy to remember. My take on it is that if you do not have proper outlets when you have these traits then you are likely to become sick. The best thing about this acronym is that it is so easy to remember and it led me to this great blog! I’ll have to see if I can figure out how to share this blog at Flylady’s website. She helps with CHAOS, can’t have anyone over syndrome.