#avivajaye

[avivajaye]

Big (Attainable) Dreams

A few of the many outrageous things I want to do in life that I know I'm capable of:

Pen a book

Produce an independent film (preferably by Sheena Medina)

Score a feature-length film

Have my own multi-disciplinary art exhibit (photography, sound, paper arts, projection)

Build my own custom folk harp

Ok, back to writing, recording and performing music. =)

[avivajaye]

I host a monthly Artist Party as an artist in residence at Two Moon Art House & Cafe in Park Slope, Brooklyn. This is a clip of an original performed at the party in March. (by DocPaterson)

[avivajaye]

Career Stories w/misfortune vs. Stories w/out

The story of a successful artist or entrepreneur or world changer that you find memorable and inspiring rarely sounds reasonable, stable or predictable. How many of the impressive change-makers with great careers do you know have a story that sounds like this: "I went to the right school, picked the right major, gained the right degree, never went into debt, never worked a job that was less than ideal, never wanted for anything, never doubted myself, never lost friends or fans, never received criticism and never faced rejection"? I didn't think so. If it feels like a stormy sea sometimes, yet you're still certain of the impending sunlight, you have a story worth being told. You are extraordinary. Stick with it. It's not about being famous or any rags-to-riches trope. It's about swimming upstream because you know what lies in that direction, and you won't settle for anyplace or anything else.

[avivajaye]

Ambition, Success &...Empathy??

I've seen the look in some people's eyes when they've begun to notice that the frame surrounding my goals and dreams is the shape of empathy rather than hunger... that I'm mapping my course with an aim to give before a desire to attain. Their expressions all seem to ask the silent question "But how will you get ahead? What will you get??" In my life, philanthropy of heart and head is rarely found to be a lack of gain but rather is a fierce determination to tread paths that many refuse to travel, where one can amass lasting success with every single step. Although it should perhaps be standard, right now compassion (the proactive resolve to be insightful), dedication to true connection vs. transaction, and drive to be at the nexus of Real Progress, is one of the most intrepid, subversive and deliberately wise ways to approach building legacy. My empathy is never at odds with ambition, skill, talent or thirst for impact; it is at the helm. For me, giving is necessary for growth because true generosity always leads to worthwhile gain. Always.

[avivajaye]

Cover of "Hometown Glory" from Adele's album 19. I always wanted to try it out on the harp!