Lynn Mizono: A Life of Fine & Fun Design

Meeting Lynn Mizono was like entering an exquisite new and paradoxical world that I was somehow already familiar with in my DREAMS. Ms. Mizono IS the essence of all the finest art and design I experienced while living in Japan cultivated in a west coast USA context; all the while being a totally unique creatrix unto herself. While being tastefully refined and even formal; everything she devises also contains a playful smile of whimsey and humor. All in all it is difficult to contain in words and must be experienced. Her ART of daily life is consistent and connected to her essence even in the most deep & intimate areas of space behind the bed, inside the bath and closets. A short list of some most remarkable parts of her decor include poetry etched in the glass of the front door, unmarked bottles of multi-colored liquids, puppets hanging over the bed and life sized metal mesh bodies floating over the living room; a bathroom sink that colorfully responds to voices, a posing kitty, the most orderly closet & studio full of mysterious art-garments that I have ever seen, stairs that change colors and a see-thru second floor landing to name just a few. Her delicacy, simplicity, specificity to every tiniest detail, luxurious economy and whimsey all inspired my butoh dance to have a similar essence.

TRY THIS: Take time to be with and examine your own lifestyle & design choices. How are they consistent with your essence/soul or not? How can you align your creativity and action choices more congruently with your essence and soul?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=55xPff0iLpU (this film has a little edit glitch that I am fixing now...pretty sure you will enjoy watching it anyway)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BfVhwJ31VV8

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R_jAhrTKnZs
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M3TWZiOMQ8c

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RRhzLur7Ttg

I share these images & film to offer a taste of how I was touched, moved, nourished, entertained and changed by our collaboration. The time here was particularly striking because Lynn's home is nearly the polar opposite of the brilliant colors and small space packed with decorative items that I had just experienced earlier that day at Victoria's place. (Victoria & Lynn are very close friends). Lynn and & I had so much fun during this 2 hour spontaneous exploration wherein I entered her home, interviewed her, put on her clothes & danced in her space. We hope to co-create a good deal more together in the near future.

whose style?

"Were I called on to define, very briefly, the term Art, I should call it 'the reproduction of what the Senses perceive in Nature through the veil of the soul.'"

Edgar Allan Poe

While walking on this clear but very chilly evening just before sunset, I came across an abandoned building in the park that was 'trapping' the warmth and golden light of the sun. As I approached the building, a fallen sumac branch was laying on the grass, and my first thought was to do a spontaneous dance of connection to other via this stick... dancing 'stick style.'

In viewing the film later, I realized how much assimilation there is, unconsciously, of other dancer's styles simply by witnessing them - I could see moments of Momo, Misty, Carolyn, Rev, Melinda... within this short dance attempt of dancing 'free-style.'

I could appreciate so much Patricia's 'copy-cat style' post (here) - and through this embodied practice I was able to witness how I am a conglomerate of what I view... This made me think that, potentially, how we are also made up of what we hear, what we touch, what we taste, and what we smell and how that all that we bring into our beings through our senses becomes part of us and can directly affect our 'style' and what is expressed outwardly....

Feeling grateful for this practice of connection with you all! Appreciate those that may be viewing our blog collaboration - and hope that you may be be inspired to join us!

Music: Satowa

kiddie style

I had a bad cold and felt horrible and was feeling sick and tired of being sick and tired :~) To get out of my 'funk', I headed to the park for a walk and was inspired to dance 'kiddie style' at the abandoned playground where Momo has had me dance in the past.

I remember in mentorship sessions with Momo she would encourage me to pay attention to children and how they move freely without abandon, and on this quest to dance freely, children are such wonderful role models!

In the last two years I have danced and played as a child as inspired by Momo's teachings... my favorite experience was dancing in the footsteps of an adorable little girl and her dog while dancing on the beach... imitating her movements and dance / play - see my blog description here: 'dat dere at the beach' (Ricky Lee Jones' song).

I included the film here as the little girl squealing with fun at the end is priceless and always makes me smile :~)

It is hard to break out of the movement habits that have embedded themselves deeply. On that quest, I was challenged to play on the inside with the idea of not thinking too much - just being open to move and be drawn to whatever was 'calling' me to play with it on the outside...

This spontaneous dance play is great medicine for feeling better - thank you, Momo! It is so fascinating to me how bringing 'joy' into the body (kiddie style) can effect so positively the mood and the mind.

Feeling grateful for this practice that allows you to experience all aspects of yourself... the ancient one, the child, the baby... and all the other beings we share this precious earth with...

Feeling grateful to be able to view all the posts here - sharing our practices - am feeling nourished and inspired by you all...

Music: Philip Glass