TATANKA

Music Reviews (Sacred Bones) PSA: It would be easy to write this album off as simply an album of covers, but that would be a mistake. In an age when the phrase “Taylor’s Version” boasts cultural currency and reboots of film series are as ubiquitous as air and water, the public is well-accustomed to the idea of an artist reconsidering an already released work or generational touchstone. For SPELLLING, which is the sobriquet of multi-instrumentalist and art pop futurist Chrystia Cabral, the malleability and potential deepening of her work had evidently manifested via performances with her live band, leading to songs from her prior albums—2017’s Pantheon Of Me, 2019’s Mazy Fly, and 2021’s The Turning Wheel—to enjoy further attention and subsequent rework.  Having visited the original versions of the songs Cabral selected for SPELLLING & The Mystery School, it’s worth noting that her efforts remain faithful to the originals while enhancing their best

Who and what we think we are can deeply impact what we consider possible, what we actually do with our creative talents and passions, and how much we express our unique voice. Sometimes that voice is our literal one, such as being an actor, singer, speaker, spoken word artist, author giving a presentation and more. Like other forms of “voice” our audible speech can be affected by our self-esteem, beliefs, and other issues. But it is our inner voice or critic that may most encourage or inhibit how much we authentically express ourselves through our creative work. ~~~~ Photographer  Annie Leibovitz  has talked about some of her self-limiting fears: “I am finally doing pictures for myself… “I realized that I am my own worst enemy. “I’m the one, who by doing what I think other people want from me, has held myself back… haven’t let myself grow or listened enough to my own voice. “It’s so important to listen to your own voice.” From my post  How Can We Create More Confidently? [Photo is from

Charlize Theron admires her mother as a role model, and a woman with strong individuality. “It was the greatest thing she has given me. I don’t think she knows that. I don’t even think she set out to teach me that. “That’s just how she lived her life and what she encouraged me to do. She was a great mother but at the same time she was very much an individual. She ran a business. “I always say to my friends who are so torn between having a job and leaving kids behind to go to work that their kids will thank them one day. “That will be the thing that will inspire them, because I remember watching my mom put her suit and high heels on and go into a board meeting with eight guys. “She was running the show and I was like, I want to be like that. She always encouraged me to be an individual, to have my own philosophy.” Continued in my article She Is Running The Show . In addition to her powerful and acclaimed acting, Theron has worked on a number of her films as producer or executive produc

What can creative expression do for us spiritually and emotionally? How can it be healing? Creative expression as a refuge, even a force for healing, is an experience of many people. One of my favorite quotes on that topic is by author Kurt Vonnegut : “The practice of any art isn’t to make a living, it’s to make your soul grow.” Quoted in several articles, including  Missing or Abandoning Our Creative Fulfillment (Part 2) . Others talk about art as healing: “Art opens the closets, airs out the cellars and attics. It brings healing.” – Julia Cameron “At the deepest level, the creative process and the healing process arise from a single source. When you are an artist, you are a healer; a wordless trust of the same mystery is the foundation of your work and its integrity.” – Rachel Naomi Remen , MD From Art & Healing Quotes page on the Arts & Healing Network site. ~~~~~ Kristin Bauer portrayed the deliciously imperious and sarcastic vampire Pam on the HBO series “True Blood.” In

Artist and Mentor Nicola Newman says “My passion is supporting Creative Hearts to build loving relationships with themselves, express their creativity, trust their inner wisdom and carve out a life that’s personally meaningful and fulfilling to them.” Here is an excerpt of one of her podcast episodes: From the Show Notes for Ep.20. What does it mean to “Trust the Process”? by Nicola Newman: Often when we begin a new creative project, we have a vague, or sometimes very upfront, fear of failure attached. We don’t want to “get it wrong”. We don’t want to look like a fool or be embarrassed by what we create. We want people to be impressed! And we want to have the reassurance that it will all work out. However, what I’ve found after years of making things, whether it’s been producing documentaries, renovating a house, making a website, writing a book, building a heart-led business, or making a painting is this, you’ve got to trust the process. But what does that mean – trust the process? I

Romance in the media “Gifted children and adults often try to repress the real needs of the Self in order to maintain connections with others. “They feel they must choose between loneliness and the negation of the Self.” Linda Kreger Silverman , Ph.D., head of the Gifted Development Center, referencing Deirdre Lovecky’s article “Creative connections: Perspectives on female giftedness.” So many commercial interests, so much of mass media and entertainment, emphasize relationships – pursuing them, celebrating them, making ourselves fit and competitive enough to have a “good” one. Especially for young women. Not that a romantic relationship isn’t a good thing – even for us men – but is it the height of fulfillment and a primary path to self-realization for everyone? [The image is from The Phantom Of The Opera.] The romantic industrial complex In a post by Laura Barcella of AlterNet, she interviews author Jessica Valenti : In “Full Frontal Feminism,” you write about how the “romance indust

“Say what you think, ask for what you want.” [Life magazine: How did you rebel growing up?] Annette Bening : “I recommend rebellion – it’s healthy. “But I didn’t really. I protected my parents a lot. “One of the great things about being in my forties – so many women I know have said this – is you really do come into your own. “I spent a lot of time trying to please other people and have everybody get along. There are some ways in which that’s a virtue, and some it’s not. “You can’t really get your needs met if you’re constantly gauging what everybody else is going to be most appreciative of. Trying to find a way to do both is what one would hope for. “Say what you think, ask for what you want. “As I’ve gotten older, I have a quicker access to that. I like that about myself now.” [Life mag., Oct 20, 2006] ~~~ More of her perspectives: “I remember hearing someone say that good acting is more about taking off a mask than putting one on, and in movie acting, certainly that’s true. “With th

Jenna Gavigan had a role in the William Inge play “Come Back, Little Sheba” as the “vixen” Marie. (At the time, Gavigan was on academic leave from Columbia University to pursue acting. She later graduated with a B.A. in Creative Writing.) A newspaper interview [Shedding the wings, by Amy Kaufman, Los Angeles Times, July 9, 2007] noted that “she wants to major in something ‘basic, like English,’ rather than garnering further training in the arts.” “I didn’t like being around that competitive energy that comes with that,” she said of one summer spent in an acting class. “All those musical theater kids that think they’re gonna be the next Kristin Chenoweth. “They’d sit there and they’d prep their songs endlessly with so much thought. I just knew what my song was about and I came in and sang it, and the teacher went, ‘That’s what you all should be doing, right there.’ And I didn’t outline the song or this and that. You just have to stop thinking sometimes.” ~ ~ ~ That perception was also

“Following your curiosities and waking up feeling inspired are some of the wonderful things about creative living.” Creative mentor and business coach Nicola Newman continues: “For me creativity is a doorway into mindfulness, authentic self expression and self compassion. “So my personal passion is helping aspiring creatives, creative professionals and creative entrepreneurs to dissolve creative blocks, be kind to themselves, and express their creativity.” The Art of Creative Living: Free Introductory Course You’re invited to paint a beautiful painting on canvas, dissolve creative blocks, nurture your creativity and follow your heart so you can flourish in your creative life, with professional artist Nicola Newman. You’ll gain exclusive access to these free video trainings, plus early-bird offers for Flourish: The Art of Creative Living – A Year-Long Creativity School. In this free mini-course you’ll receive: A painting workshop to paint a beautiful abstract painting. Nicola’s #1 favou