Feeling stuck? Robin Motzer wants you to "rewild" yourself.
Creative Dialogue #5
Creative Dialogues is an ongoing project to learn from fellow artists. I’ve interviewed an astonishingly wonderful variety of creative individuals about their art, creative practices, and how they make it all work (interviews are ongoing — DM me if you’d like to participate).
How it works: I send every participant a list of questions about creativity and the creative practice. They respond to the five questions that resonate most, so every interview reflects the artist’s own curiosities and interests.
Today’s interview is with
, a writer, artist, naturalist and restoration-conservation project lead with an astounding list of advocacy accomplishments including, but not limited to, helping ban wildlife killing contests in Arizona, getting the first female appointed as an Arizona Game and Fish Commissioner, helping keep waterways clean and free, and designing healing gardens for hospital patients.
Robin is the author of Wildlands, a culmination of decades of work in environmental justice, restoration, conservation, health, community, design, regarding the importance of Self-Reliance for restoration and conservation of the body-mind-spirit-nature. Her great grandfather was a farmer and friend of a U.S. President, her great aunt babysat the daughter of the President, and another ancestor fought in the American Revolution. She and her partner, a Physicist and a Citizen of the Cherokee Nation, own farmland that his family has owned since 1902 that they are now rewilding, planting thousands of native flora and food for biota, with plans to protect it in perpetuity as a park. She leads a Habitat Restoration group that designs, plants and receives funding for native pollinator gardens at schools, parks and other community locations.
She describes herself as a “Poet with a Purpose" and was asked to run for office after reading one of her poems, "Bloated Border". Her poem, "I AM Nature/ We Are Nature" has been compared to Ralph Waldo Emerson's work. Food, farming and freedom are infused in her life and restoration-conservation are a part of her Soul.
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If you were a piece of creative work, such as a book, song or painting, what would you be?
I am a combination of Mowgli of Jungle Book, with an Emerson, Rumi, Monet- education-restoration-conservation-healer Soul because I walk in magical, mystical, natural worlds.
When did you first realize you were an artist?
Since I was able to hold a pencil, crayon and pen.
I walk in magical, mystical, natural worlds.
Have there been times when you felt out of touch with your creative self? If so, how did you rediscover your creativity?
Yes, when in trauma. Nature and creativity (writing-doing art) restored me every time. Now I help others heal trauma with the lessons I used to heal myself.
Talk a walk and use nature to shed your conflicts and fears, to embrace the sublime, the harmony that welcomes the divine into our lives.
What encouragement would you give to someone who’s struggling to get in touch with their creative self?
Talk a walk and use nature to shed your conflicts and fears, to embrace the sublime, the harmony that welcomes the divine into our lives. Talk with a tree(s), cacti, flowers, water and her beings, a rock, an insect, a bird — any being in the flora-fauna-fungi world — and tell them that you are leaving your troubles behind with Mother Nature, and ask them to please help you transform/ transmute/restore. Tell them that you “are grateful for them, and may the actions bless and prosper them, their nations, kingdoms and relations, as well as yours.” Trust that you are healed, loved and that you Know Thyself (your creativity and all that is true, good, and beauty-full).
This is also about connection and action. We're called upon to be stewards for the more than humans, nature, the wildlands, humans, including ourselves: restore-conserve mind-body-spirit-nature is sustainable protection. Celebrate your renewal with nature.
Trust that you are healed, loved and that you Know Thyself.
Do you have a creative routine? If so, what is it? If not, why not?
I spend time in and with Nature. I take a solitary walk every day and learn by observing nature. When “home” (for the past year, I’ve worked on the road), I spend time writing, drawing, and painting (writing mostly).
What is one thing this community can do to support you and your work?
Read, share and if inclined, support my work at Wildlands.
And, if you are able to go to one of the art shows that displays my work, please do!
Any final thoughts on creativity you’d care to leave us with?
Creativity is essential for health and well-being. Be yourself and express who you are using your imagination. Do not judge your endeavors and enjoy the journey! You are a precious piece of peace, beauty and good in our world. Love yourself, nature and all her beings and give back to them in your own expression — that is love in action.
You are a precious piece of peace, beauty and good in our world. Love yourself, nature and all her beings and give back to them in your own expression — that is love in action.
I really love this interview :-) So honest, genuine :-) It also highlights that human beings we are part of this universe, and the more time we can spend in nature the more content we will be. Thanks to both of you, guys :-)
Hello, Everyone! Please share my interview for A HUGE Thank You to Robin Cangie of Creative Letters! Thank you for reaching out to me, Robin C., and offering your services--you did a wonderful job!
Her service shares an opportunity for you- so contact her at Creative Letters!
Your work allows a great opportunity on the art of self-promotion: my art and poetry have been in shows every month this year, including two current shows: (May) through July 12, at The Fitton Center for the Arts: https://www.fittoncenter.org/
and,
June 17-July 17: Art Academy of Cincinnati: http://www.artacademy.edu/
The people who asked me to run for office are a now Vice Mayor of a City and a former Congressman. Art and Advocacy for Transformation are my preferred service!