We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Georgianne Cowan a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.
Georgianne, looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. Did you always know you wanted to pursue a creative or artistic career? When did you first know?
When I was young, I never had an epiphanic moment where I knew wholeheartedly what I wanted to do with my life. I hope this may be instructive for others who follow their nose, one step at a time, and don’t come up with a fully mapped out, grand scheme to abide by.
The question came down to, “What do you love?” “What brings you pleasure and joy?” “What do you keep returning to?” “What makes you feel the most connected to your true self, beyond societal and family pressures?” These are important questions to ask in uncovering one’s passion, sense of belonging and a key to locating home base. It’s an inside job, a sort of ongoing quest, to ascertain these age-old questions of, “Who am I?” and “Where do I belong?”
My path took me first and foremost to nature as a source of inspiration and solace. In the wild, inherently, I belong. Everything is in perfect balance. When I slow down to absorb and take in the elements, right before my eyes and under my feet, a perfection of interactive cooperation and reciprocity displays itself. It nourishes my soul. Not to mention, in this beauty, I am energized and feel wholly alive. No one is offering approval, advice, or judgement. It is a form of communion and being part of a complex web — something so much greater than me as an individual. I am part of a living, intelligent and sacred story. Just like a climbing plant, mountain or animal, we are native and related to the large, expansive swath of this earthly garden.
Nature is the ground of my being. Here everything has a perfect kind of symmetry. My prayer is, may we be inspired and heed the wisdom that is omnipresent in the natural world, to caretake the preciousness, and not (further) disrupt its delicate balance. May we adhere to nature’s laws. As indigenous author, Robin Wall Kimmerer (Braiding Sweetgrass) recently said, “We need a change in worldview, from the fiction of human exceptionalism to the reality of our kinship and reciprocity with the living world.”
A creative person, (we all are, just remember yourself as a child, with never ending inventiveness and experimentation), may follow seemingly circuitous, uneven routes that make no sense at the onset. We might ask, “Why did I take this or that road that seems so off the beaten path?” Sometimes, only years later does any of it make sense, though at the time, there might have been warnings that we were completely “off task,” or going on a wild goose chase. I have come to trust the side paths, detours and obstructions that unexpectedly instruct us to be fluid, flexible and inventive. Breaking the rules can be quite informative. Perhaps even germinating novelty and innovation. I say, follow the geese. They have an inner compass that takes them farther than we can even imagine. They know how to navigate home.
The symbol that most resonates for me as an artist, as a woman/person, is a tree. It’s taken years to recognize and appreciate the many root tendrils that I’ve sent down through hard work and tenacity. Ironically, I’ve also sailed in many directions, swept by fluctuating wind currents, and taken different tacks, both for survival and vocational interest. I’ve come to regard all these forays like branches reaching out from a sturdy trunk. The tree is my symbol and metaphor for a creative life. Some people follow a straighter line in their professional pursuits. Perhaps a path that has been laid out before, with the steps already firmly in place. Or, like my husband who told me recently, he changed professions at age thirteen from architect to composer. That was that. The rest is history. Not so for me. I’ve bumped along, realigning and course correcting each step of the way. Though thankfully, through it all, my tree has continued to root, creating a coherent, underground network for balance, and a sturdy foundation from which to grow. My tree is a living representation of all the readjustments and realignments that have been made along the way. Trees always move towards light, bending, twisting, overcompensating, under-performing and realigning to continue, on their growth trajectory. A tree is a living sculpture of flexible optimism. Each branch relates to, and in fact, is necessary to the integrity of the whole. I wonder, “Aren’t we all this multi-faceted?” Even the seemingly, one pointed, “straight as an arrow” individuals?
Trees are instruments of all the stages of creation which include dormancy, incubation, flowering and casting off seeds. They stand proud and unabashed while providing a canopy of shade, home to other creatures and stability in the soil. They are the giants among us. As creators, we must trust these cycles, including darkening into the void for a spell, (regrouping and dreaming), to the rising of the sap (inspiration) and the expansiveness of bursting into bloom (manifestation). All metaphors for the creative process.
“But when I lean over the chasm of myself—
it seems
my God is dark
and like a web: a hundred roots
silently drinking.
This is the ferment I grow out of.
More I don’t know, because my branches
rest in deep silence, stirred only by the wind.”
-Rilke
Artistic imagination and the pursuit of the mysterious and ineffable require the freedom to knock into unforeseen discoveries and the wondrous mistakes of, “Oh, that wasn’t quite right, but I didn’t know until I was in the thick of it.” Then, inevitably, the so-called mistake or disappointment leads to the next rung up the ladder of discovery and/or invention, subsequently opening us to reorienting our original plan.
I also relate to the idea of a “tracker.” One who reads the signs. The writer, Annie Dillard in her book, Pilgrim at Tinker Creek, first introduced this practice to me as a writer. The question is posed, how can I open my perception to listen to, and feel into what is in my path, then later, or better yet, in a moment of instantaneous clarity, fit all the pieces together. A tracker is observant. She pays attention, and discovers through intuition, association and memory what might be later identified as a “divine plan.”
The clues to answering the questions I posed at the beginning of this discussion are within reach, especially if you fine tune yourself to being “clued in” to embracing the unexpected. As the saying goes, “The signs are everywhere.” The next step is fidelity to what is authentic to your authentic self. It takes courage to forge a life in one’s own image. To not discount, but rather honor, the millions of steps, missteps, and decisions that built the scaffolding of your unique structure.
My “tree” with its many branches is a dancer, performer, artist, poet/writer, teacher. As I mentioned, nature was and is, my first teacher. As a visual artist, certainly so, but also in these many years dancing and facilitating others in movement, I return to nature’s laws and never-ending inventiveness for inspiration. The pursuit of teaching/performing was an organic experience. The desire simply arose through enjoyment, even passion about what I was studying. Then, a thought, image or idea catalyzed the desire to learn more or develop a practice. Also, from being around others who were dedicated in their chosen fields, or teachers that I wanted to emulate and innovate from. Look down and see where your feet have taken you.
As artists, we are translators. The question is, how can I express a multiplicity of feeling and insight into a specific art form? The desire is to communicate something evocative, even beneficial or eye opening through our distinctive lenses. It takes, as we all know, practice and discipline. Because of my propensity and interest in many creative outlets, I segue from one to the other with true delight. A polyamorous affair with artistic expression! Each discipline makes love to the other.
The nature of creativity, as expressed in the natural world, as I mentioned is, we flower, die off, go dormant and lo and behold, spring inevitably comes again. There is resurrection from emptiness. There is a seed of hope inside despair. We begin again and again. Every day is different. Hence, each breath is a treasure. Each vision a possibility.
In a sense, for me, any “knowing” about following the artistic path was really a “non-knowing.” It was more in “allowing” the thing that ignited my passion and interest to reveal itself. I always loved research, following my intuition, reading and taking in ancient texts as well as modern poets and writers. And with movement and dance, I’d sniff out performers, musicians, dancers who invariably supplied the protein for this hungry tracker. It’s in the wonder of experiencing something, as if for the first time, admittedly, not an easy task, but it is a worthy discipline. We have become jaded, believing we’ve seen or experienced everything before. We categorize what is familiar then discount it rather than inspect and notice some new quality, heretofore unnoticed. The truth is, every moment is different and unusual in some way as are animate and inanimate things. The cast of light, oscillating shadows, the myriad of colors, sounds and music, the posture of passersby are all part of the mood of the day. Observation is witnessing the ephemeral, yet what we experience imprints indelibly in our senses and memory.
The many faces of ART, or life for that matter, is in the power of astute perception. Then in processing what we take in through our senses, as the sap migrates up the trunk to the branches — nourishing the many fruits and flowers sprouting from its outstretched arms.
Back to the question, “When did I know my creative path?” All I can say is, try asking that question to a tree.
Great, appreciate you sharing that with us. Before we ask you to share more of your insights, can you take a moment to introduce yourself and how you got to where you are today to our readers.
I have been dancing since I was a child including studying modern dance at Merce Cunningham’s and Daniel Nagrin’s studios in New York. I was a student of somatic movement pioneer, Emile Conrad (Continuum) for many years and was a Continuum teacher. I have studied and performed Middle Eastern dance with teacher, Tamra Henna. Directed, performed and produced performances both in the environment and on stage including the Festival of Sacred Music initiated by the Dalai Lama and Somafest.
My book, “The Soul of Nature, “an anthology was published by Doubleday. It came out of the Spirit and Nature Program I was a director of at the EarthWays Foundation, (producing/directing conferences and workshops for visionaries and authors in the environmental/spiritual fields). My poetry has been published online and in print form.
Currently, I am a member of and Chair of the LA Dance Collective. I facilitate a free form dance event at the LA Dance Collective’s Saturday Dance along with several other inspired and excellent facilitators. This happens every Saturday, 10:30 am – 12:30 pm at the Culver City Masonic Lodge, 9635 Venice Blvd. It is an open dance space where people from all levels of movement experience are welcome.
In this ongoing dance offering, one can explore your inner dancer in a safe context, on a large, open dance floor. The recorded music is honed to inspire all varieties of dance expression. The music is eclectic ranging from rock, R & B, electronic, world, instrumental, experimental and everything in between. Often, I bring in live drummers, cello and other instruments including a singer to enhance the movement experience. We also hold seasonal celebrations with live music. It is a dynamic and expressively rewarding experience to dance in this heart-full community of movers. ladancecollective.com
I also facilitate on a rotating basis with two other facilitators on Thursdays, Dancing Mystery Lodge. This is a more in-depth experience that include all of the above but also incorporates meditative movement, expressive and free form movement, and occasionally dancing with partners. This is a place to reclaim intimacy with yourself in a safe and generous container to experiment and explore.
I love and care for the people who join me and enjoy nurturing creativity, stimulating the imagination, and deepening into one’s personal dance. My goal is to create a container that affects each participant positively with a life affirming and meaningful experience. It is a space to experiment and feel all the shades of emotion and life that pass through our bodies every moment, with every breath we take.
Moving Soul Dance for Women is a class dedicated to exploring the sacred feminine through movement and the archetypal imagination, expressively designed and tailored for women.
I put a great deal of time and detail into the environments we dance within, with many “portals” of exploration. Altars and fabric installations are based on the particular theme for that class and are an integral part of the dance experience. I see the class as a full-on journey that is surprising, healing and many times revelatory. I offer a sacred space that is clear, open and ready to receive and inspire the people who enter it.
LA Dance Collective’s free form dance. Every Saturday, 10:30 am – 12:30 $20
Dancing Mystery Lodge, Conscious Embodiment. Every Thursday, 10:30-12:30, $20.
Silent Disco Beach Dance (see ladancecollective FB page or Instagram for info.)
Location: 9635 Venice Blvd., Culver City
Moving Soul for Women (class on temporary hiatus)
Website: ladancecollective.com
Instagram: @georgiannecowan, @losanglesdancecollective
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/people/GeorgianneCowan/100010698976811
https://www.ladancecollective.com/
https://www.facebook.com/dancingmysterylodge
https://www.facebook.com/groups/12504
Is there a particular goal or mission driving your creative journey?
As a teacher and creator, I am aware, at this moment in history, of unprecedented alienation, extreme divisiveness, and generalized anxiety. As if this isn’t enough, another issue that has come to the fore is loneliness. The causes are all too familiar as we take in the news, with political divisions, wars, dramatic climate change, the prevalence of misinformation and a computerized age which oddly fosters connecting on one level but extreme alienation on the other. It took a Harvard researcher, Robert Waldinger, to tell us what we all are feeling , “Interpersonal connectedness, and the quality of those connections impact health, as well as happiness. What happens is, the body stays in a kind of low-level fight-or-flight mode, that means higher levels of circulating stress hormones and higher levels of inflammation.”
Scientists also have recently named this current geological epoch of history the Anthropocene Age, marking the dominance of humanity’s presence and the impact our actions have on the very health and viability of the planet. We are dominant in numbers and reach yet disconnected from the earth, our source of life, and to a certain degree, from one another.
It’s a scary time. So many unexpected curve balls carrying so much weight keep getting hurled in our orbit. I think everyone is experiencing some form of PTSD, first the pandemic, then all the ensuing catastrophes that we read about or experience daily. It’s easy to be thrown off kilter. To walk around in a daze. To not trust what we hear. To be hyper alert.
Personally, I noticed feelings of loneliness when we were isolating in our homes. I continued to offer Zoom classes, which were a welcome alternative to not being able to be on the dance floor together. It somehow worked. Who ever thought we’d be dancing together in our bedrooms inside our small screens? Miraculously we could still dance “together.” Well, sort of.
Through it all, I became increasingly cognizant of how essential it is to be in physical proximity to one another. When I was around friends again, I noticed a silent calibration that happend to my breathing, heartbeat, my entire nervous system as we cohabited physical space together once again. Even more so, when we interact, even touch or simply move together on the dance floor. There is a symphonic sense to movement that happens in waves and patterns as the music shifts or the instruction changes. We are nourishing one another without even trying. We are creating coherency, like bees in a hive or starlings forming a murmuration in the sky as they fly completely in sync, swirling in spheres, planes and waves. Ah, and did I mention laughter, like ringing a bell, or creating a symphony of feeling, leading right away to opening the heart.
This brings me to what my mission is, considering all of this.
To the extent that I am able, I share “a way in” to experiencing feelings, including sensation and focused, embodied-awareness so as to free the body to explore and move expressively and inwardly… . Our bodies are miraculous instruments of life’s imperative to flourish. To dance is to experience freedom. To move is to connect. To feel from the inside out is to be real. To breathe and center into the ground of one’s being is to heal. The overall benefits of optimizing health and increasing longevity are what garners news coverage but there is so more to it than that.
To be an agent of engendering the simple act of coming home to the animal intelligence of our body’s propensity to heal, celebrate, thrive and play in nonfunctional movement through dance is what I might call a “goal,” or better yet an “invitation.”
To foster the sensitive instrument of our multi-sensorial aliveness is certainly something that makes me feel most alive and what I hope to instill — igniting expressiveness and affirming presence. Settling into one’s own rhythm through meditative inquiry, expressive movement and improvisational play invariably helps to create more space inside to feel authentically and sense into what one’s body is asking of you.
My mission is to stimulate wonder, to open doors that have been closed, and to reacquaint our entire body/being with its own deep, intrinsic knowing. The body is a conduit, messenger and partner to consciousness. We are both subtle, finespun creatures that contain the universe inside our cells, as well as broad stroked physical athletes performing the functional labor of being human. Both attributes go hand in hand in completing the sculptured body of humanness.
Sometimes it takes a welcome alteration of perception to have the experience of feeling connected to life in a new way, by simply trying on different energies and characters in movement. To contact the spiritual dimension of one’s body and psyche , where gravity becomes less an issue and it seems as if you are being danced rather than instigating the dance. To get out the way enough of the thinking, linear mind so that life and spirit may move through effortlessly, is the highest rite of passage into joy.
How can we best help foster a strong, supportive environment for artists and creatives?
Art is the very soul of a culture. When art is sidelined, society suffers, individuals suffer, family and institutions suffer. Life will not be fooled when we have lost the reciprocity of engagement with what inspires and arrests us into a heightened state of awareness. To be rendered by a work of art is to feel something from way back. From primal memory and possibly a connection to the spiritual.
Creativity is an act of birthing new ways of seeing, experiencing and illuminating something that might have been hidden or dormant. Art is sometimes revolutionary and incites riots (Stravinsky’s Rite of Spring). It causes politicians to enact laws to censor and prohibit it (Robert Mapplethorpe, Annie Sprinkle). It is totally banished from authoritarian, and religiously doctrinaire regimes. It is criminalized (PussyRiot in Russia). It creates change and upheaval as well as soothes and illuminates.
Ultimately, it is inspiring, necessary, and vital especially in revealing and giving voice to the imagination of humanity, even when it shocks the status quo. It is about freedom and going beyond the veneer of what society has hand-picked as a worthy or “acceptable” version of “reality.” Art creates another reality. Possibly, many. It allows the mysterious, taboo and neglected parts of the psyche to have voice as did the myths of ancient peoples. Just think of all the gods and goddesses of the ancients with thousands of characteristics and roles. All sprung from the imagination of a culture. A need to express the inexpressible and give it a face and voice.
How to support artists means thinking outside the box and including all manner of creative media into our everyday lives. Galleries, theater, museums, performances are all so important. Public funding even more so. Going beyond the bureaucracy of securing funding and acceptance in more elite settings, I’d say, let’s keep bringing art back into the streets and neighborhoods. Local collectives and grass roots organizations could include art in their offerings. Whatever the organization is, even if it isn’t arts oriented, including an art component in its sphere of influence would create a spark of something different and novel.
Culturally, we are moving further and further into a technological and digital age which cries out for more humanity-based interaction (referencing the loneliness/alienation epidemic). Los Angeles doesn’t have a natural town square but it can be simulated. Luckily there are many public venues that already bring art to the community through celebrations and outdoor dances/music. My desire is to propose art in unusual venues, all kinds of situations (metro, restaurants, parks, sidewalks, hardware stores, grocery stores, etc.) to include art as part of their everyday offerings to the public.
The obvious is to not defund art in public schools. To promote it. Bring art into every sector of life. Promote art in politics, in the government as well.
At best, art creates bridges and honors differences. For the viewer, art asks us to become contemplative, to quiet down and receive an impression. For the artist, it is an essential translation of something personal but also archetypal and universal. Art has been around since the beginning, in cave art, adornment and painting of the body, up to now with an almost endless variety of media. It is a precious and vital expression of human nature.
Contact Info:
- Website: ladancecollective.com
- Instagram: @georgiannecowan @ladancecollective
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/people/GeorgianneCowan/100010698976811 https://www.ladancecollective.com/ https://www.facebook.com/dancingmysterylodge https://www.facebook.com/groups/1250464622403947
- Other: Linkedtree: https://linktr.ee/georgiannecowan Soundcloud: https://soundcloud.com/user-745114269
Image Credits
Painting on altar: Awena Masoud