MANY years ago, when we barely knew who Anni Albers was, we clipped a quote of hers from a magazine, and have had it on our fridge ever since. It is faded and yellowed, but resonates as strongly as ever:
“Being creative is not so much the desire to do something as the listening to that which wants to be done: the dictation of the materials.”
The idea of “listening” to materials, to what wants to be done, is an essential part of improvising. It can take practice, but we find that as you do it, you cultivate an ability to hear…
…the next step…
…
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View a wonderful slide show of Anni Albers’ work at the Albers’ Foundation site, where we found some other potent reminders…by Anni…
…and by her husband Josef…
Related post: D-I-Y Anne Albers Necklace
more anni albers common-object jewelry
Sally,
FYI: There is an upcoming exhibition on Anni and Josef Albers opening in January at the Yale University Art Gallery in New Haven CT. The curator and design director at the museum are speaking to my class this Friday. I’ll keep you posted….