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You have come upon a meeting ground for creative spirit on a transformational path. We invite you, dear "Storyteller Of The New Millennium," to share a tale and offer a suggestion to nurture creative spirit. What techniques do you use to overcome the challenges of our rapidly changing and complex world?

Posted by Natalie Surace on December 06, 19100 at 09:18:46:

In Reply to: LA Weekly Article: FEBRUARY 18-24, 1983 posted by Peter H. Rosen on November 29, 1998 at 23:07:37:

: ARTICLE FROM LA WEEKLY: FEBRUARY 18-24, 1983

NETWORKING

Peter Rosen, a photographer/artist/musician, left New York City in 1975 because "I needed a place to nurture my spirit, my heart. As an artist, I found it intolerable to live in the world the way it is, and I wanted to find people I could relate to."

Rosen found such people in L.A., but not right away or all at once. As a photographer, he felt -- acutely, he admits -- the need to bring together others in the visual arts, in order to share projects and experiences. "Visual artists spend so much time in self. contemplation, and it's by nature an isolationist way of life. And I asked myself, where can they go to meet others like themselves?"

In answer, Rosen formed what he calls Visual Artists Resources Including Other Unique Services (V.A.R.I.O.U.S.) Media Ink. Inspired by the Garden Theater Festival in Barnsdall Park, a free performing arts festival that flourished from 1970-1979, and by Songwriters Resources and Services, which provides a network for its songwriter clients. Rosen rented a theater space and a slide projector in July of 1980 and advertised an evening during which artists could show up and display slides of their work.

"As photographer for the Garden Theater Festival," he recalls, "I had the opportunity to see my slides projected on a large theater screen and was blown away by the impact of the greatly enlarged images. Then realizing that not only photographers but also artists document their work on slides, I thought, wouldn't it be wonderful if we could all get together to share our images and ideas?"

Thirty people showed up to see the work of eight artists. Rosen encouraged audience participation, and artists exhibited a variety of art forms, from fine art to costume design and computer graphics. "It was a joy," he smiles, "to see strangers getting together for
the first time-talking with animation and laughter as though they were old friends." Owing to the overwhelmingly positive response to this first effort, Rosen re-booked the theater for a total of 13 events representing more than 70 artists, and in the fall of 1982, acquired the support of the Hollywood Arts Council.

Currently, V.A.R.I.O.U.S. is having regular large-screen events at Coffeehouse Olio, the .next one scheduled for February 22. "Usually eight to ten people present their work and I get the slides in advance.

The only no-no is work that is poorly photographed. Otherwise, I'm not here to make judgements. If someone says he's an artist, I'll put it on the screen." Rosen's future plans include the opening of an Inspirational Art Center that "will have a public gallery, Artists Synergy Space where artists can get to know each other in a creative environment," as well as a computer network that will link artists together nationwide for both spiritual and financial support.

"One of the best things that's come out of V.A.R.I.O.U.S. is the exposure, the connections," he says. "People have sold work through it. And this appeals to me, because I was in a number of professions.that I didn't enjoy and I finally decided to devote myself to work that comes from the heart. And it's taking off, it's blossoming. Because it always does."

Rosen may be reached at V.A.R.I.O.U.S. Media ink, 1809 S. Westmoreland Blvd., L.A., 90006, or by calling 731-3694.

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