Nest

STEWARDSHIP

I chose this photo of the gentleman who is carefully taking the handmade baskets to market. This gentleman is being a good steward in taking good care of the works of his community. He will represent and honor them well at market. The baskets are thoughtfully arranged on the trailer building a graceful collage of the wares. The fellow at the helm is at ease, confident in the value of what he has in tow. He has a look of pride on his face. He carries the load with a sense of ownership and responsibility to his community. He is taking good care of what he has been given. And he is positioned to be generous with sharing the beauty of these baskets with others. The collection of baskets honors his community as well as the individual who made each unique basket. Being a good steward is also taking care of the community traditions and rituals that are woven into the craft of each basket. Honoring these traditions is essential to the health and vibrancy of the community.

AUTHENTICITY

At first glance I see the idea of authenticity in the harvested vegetables on display in the street market. The vegetables are inherently authentic. Grown by nature, unaltered by their environment. The vegetables look very beautiful just being there. Each tomato is slightly different in color but each is slightly different or unique without trying to be. The vegetables were grown for a purpose and their display in the market seems very purposeful in bringing the beauty and nourishment of the harvest to the community. I believe the essence of authenticity is truthfulness. For something to be authentic it has to have substance. Our own natural expression in its essence is our truth. At the core of being this is the level of authenticity that honors the self and others. When things are shining with their light bright, unaltered by the environment, it is very beautiful. You can feel the inherent authenticity and realness in the moment. This level of authenticity inspires others to express their true nature at this level. Respect and acceptance encourages the true nature in everything. Authenticity has a real beauty that shines in this environment. Ugliness can be beautiful when it is authentic. Authenticity can be seen in the truthfulness of our intentions, commitments, and devotion with others.

COMMUNITY

In this photo representing community I see the evidence of life. The individual efforts of the community in coming together at this central meeting place. The concentrated energy at this place feels synchronized by the assemblage of the bicycles. All of the bikes are respectfully arranged next to each other in a highly organized way. The bikes are all lined up in spirit as being the same. When you look closely at each bike it is interesting to see the subtle differences in the details making each one unique. I feel this is the essence of community. Each person brings a unique quality to the greater whole. It is our individual responsibility to contribute individually, respect the differences, and to look at the greater needs of the collective community. We must have a protective, caring eye to building the community, like in the spirit of building a church. Each person is cared for with this protective skin when we look at community as a collective whole. For a place to be a community we must care for your neighbor in ways you observe you can. Take great pride in belonging of something beyond yourself. The collective efforts of a community are greater than the efforts of an individual when organized to produce good for others. We should be generous hearted in extending ourselves in creating the spirit of community. Building on these shared experiences is the fabric of life.

INNOVATION

In the photo I see the evidence of an idea brought to form in a new way. The idea to create intersecting highways in a overlaying graceful form would seem like a marvel is years gone by. The top view of the highway as a system is striking in its innovative approach. It pushes the boundaries of what has been done before and the boundaries of technology. For an idea to be innovative we as designers have to see things in a different way. Innovation is different than the notion of invention. Innovative thinking can come forth from ordinary things. As designers we must open our eyes as observers and clearly see the authenticity in the connections of things to be innovative in thought and careful in our intentions so they last. Slowing down in our daily lives to see the beauty around us and its connections opens our minds to innovative thought. We can image things being different. We should sit quietly and observe the world more closely around us. As designers we should be curious and questions the way things are. Are things working? We should listen to our intuition and imagine how things could be. We should experiment in our approach to new ideas. This environment or greater climate builds a constructive world of new ideas. Innovation touches peoples in a new way that improves the quality of life.