After a week of rock climbing in the Ozarks, a group of participants visited Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art. They explored diverse artworks, engaging in collaborative art-making. Highlights included a gallery on dreaming and identity. The author left with inspired souvenirs, reflecting on how adventures can extend beyond physical locations.
Media of the Mind: The Gateway Experience (Part 2)
In 1981, the Monroe Institute released The Gateway Experience, leveraging Hemi-Sync audio technology to synchronize brain hemispheres and enhance consciousness. Tourmaline .'s experimentation faced modern challenges in accessing original recordings and maintaining focus amidst technological distractions. Balancing artistic intuition with scientific rigor, they pursued genuine exploration of these psychic methodologies.
The Architecture of a Compressed Dreamscape
After years of personal challenges, including health issues and a divorce, Tourmaline . resumes creative endeavors by exploring dream research through photography. They examine the interplay of diagnoses like Multiple Sclerosis and ADHD in shaping their dreams, and how physical discomfort influences the narratives they create. This work captures the essence of their unique neurological experience.
The Weight of His Absence: Grief, Voice Notes, and Freudโs Free Association
Tourmaline . mourns the loss of Wolfgang, a beloved family member who greatly impacted her life. Struggling with grief after three months, the author reflects on their deep connection and the void left behind. They explore coping through a voice note, discovering parallels between their emotional experience and Freud's free association technique.
Tiny Adventures in the Ozarks: Toy Photography Between Climbs
Tiny figures, big adventures! A little toy photography in the Ozarks, featuring the companions I tucked into my climbing bag and photographed between climbs.
Techniques of the Surrealists: Controlled Dreaming
Remedios Varo utilized whimsical recipes and psychological rituals to prime her imagination for active creativity. Inspired by philosopher George Gurdjieff, she engaged in structured activities to access her subconscious. Tourmaline . experimented with Varo's methods but found mixed results, contemplating their effectiveness and potential for future exploration.
Fallible Memory and Beloved Toys
Tourmaline . reminisces about a childhood toy, the 1989 Mattel Disney Storyshine Theater, which sparked memories but proved elusive to identify for years. After discovering its true nature, they purchased one to photograph it authentically. They emphasize the discrepancy between childhood memories and reality, showcasing the importance of capturing vintage toys.
Illustrating the Dreams of Others: Monroe’s Heaven
The passage evokes a serene vision of Heaven inspired by Robert Monroe's words, depicting individuals relaxing on soft clouds bathed in shifting light. Tourmaline . uses simple materials to build this otherworldly landscape, carefully crafting clouds and arranging HO scale figures, capturing the essence of balance and belonging through photography.