What Are You Creating For?

There's an underlying current in any creative venture that's best known as motivation. It's the reason why we're doing something. Treated simply or in the moment it may be of little consequence, but looking back at a history of choices (strictly in the creative sense) you have to be a bit curious as to what motivated you to do some of the things you did.

I've questioned time and time again whether maintaining this blog or uploading videos was worth it. Despite the fact that I enjoy it, there's always been a personal debate about the purpose. I don't want to just be entirely self-indulgent, ultimately I'm also trying to fill a need to be heard and to be expressive. While I've created a variety of projects that I'm happy to have just for myself, this experience would seem flat were it not for the feedback, reviews, reactions, etc. that artistry demands. Without obstacles and differing opinions how does one stand out or improve after all?

On closer examination I'm still at a loss in many ways. I create to be seen, to reaffirm my passions, to escape, to learn, to make a personal statement in a community of statements. While this can be seen as generic or expected, there is something fantastic about the body of work that a single person can create in a lifetime. Many of my individual videos have a small message or point, but it's really when viewed as a collective that you can see a substantial part of my personality, my impressions, and style - this story only grows with each passing year. In the end I'd hate to think that my personal experience could be too easily summed up.

What or why you create is as vague a question as why we decide to move around or why we communicate. We all do it, the real concern is how much we care about the impact we're making on each other - accidentally or on purpose.

What are you creating for? I don't know exactly, but I say do it for all the reasons you can possibly think of.

Wipeout Canada

With Wipeout coming to Canada I've seen my share of audition tapes for the up coming series. It's been getting a lot of attention on local radio, Facebook and YouTube in particular where everyone has been campaigning for attention throughout July. Among these folks have been two good friends of mine, Tyler and Darcie, who each uploaded a submission tape of their own.

Even more exciting, so far Darcie has received a callback for a chance to be on the show - we still have our fingers crossed that Tyler gets one too. But no matter what happens, I'm pretty impressed with both of their efforts to get noticed. It would be pretty cool watching (and ultimately laughing) as they got battered along the Wipeout Canada course - and hey, they'd have a chance at $50,000! This could be them on the big balls!

Fingers crossed for both of you! You can see their submission tapes below.

Summer Road Tripper

Taking to the open road has been a staple of my summers since childhood. Whether traveling across the Canadian prairies or heading south to the States, I think the days spent behind the wheel to see the country is something quintessentially North American (who else has this much wide open space?).

As we're now well into the summer I've been wrestling with several ideas to travel. Immediately I was reminded of the previous trips that I'd filmed and shared here on this blog and wasted a good chunk of time reviewing those. I have a feeling that these clips are going to have some influence when it comes time to make up our minds again this year.

What I love about a good road trip is that no matter how much you plan, you're bound to run into something you never expected. Not to mention, there's no better way to feel connected to where you are.