CAREN HALVORSEN
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Artgurl Articles

Because... When arts fail, I gotta use my words.

The UPLIFT:Take 2

5/28/2020

7 Comments

 
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On Wednesday this week I was a guest on Capitol Public Radio's" Insight" hosted by Beth Ruyak. When Beth floated the invitation, it took me by surprise. When she called  a day later, offering me a slot for the very next day, I was terrified. Still, I said yes. Something about stepping outside my comfort zone…

Tuesday afternoon, Beth followed up with  a “chat map” with questions that would guide to our conversation. I read Beth’s  questions and wrote clever, thoughtful responses to each and every one.  Who could predict that,  when that techno-curtain lifted, foot-in-mouth would meet brain-in-fart?

Historical Flashback: At the beginning of each and every performance I’d ever been in, I always fumbled my   lines.  And, of course, there was that painful  appearance during a KVIE art auction...

On Wednesday morning at 9:50 a.m.,  Beth began with this : "Have you ever been in those conversations where you find yourself thinking of the silver linings of the stay-at-home experience  or those unexpected plus-times and good that come from unexpected outcomes? UPLIFT,  every day, celebrates  that kind of spirit. Today's guest, Sacramento artist Caren Halvorsen, seems to be in the midst of that part of the experience. Joining us by phone from her home studio today…”

​Somewhere between “Hello, Beth,” and “Thank you for inviting me,” the adrenaline hit. Inexplicably, I couldn’t seem to wrap my head around Beth’s first question. A question  I already knew!  A question I had a pretty solid answer for!!!


Allow me to describe the experience: in the moment, it feels like being perched on the rim of a gigantic blender while an unseen finger pokes “frappe”. There’s a momentary free-fall right before the blades…
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But then I remembered. I ALWAYS falter out of the gate. It’s part of my “process”. I admit it’s a flawed process, which I call "frappe or fight". 
​

Beth Ruyak was amazing! Sensing her guest was about to self-liquify, she pivoted her approach,  which got me out of the blender and lurching toward topic. Because of Beth, the rest of the interview went better. Beth gets an A+ for her performance; I'll stick with pass/fail.  

​Retrospectively, this is where I goofed:  “me” got in the way of the message.

And this is the message: 
If  an #artgurlartifacts no-strings, free donation could help your business, contact me.

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Here's the backstory: full disclosure, Beth Ruyak and I live on the same street and, in a recent  and perfectly appropriate socially distanced conversation last weekend, I mentioned I’d been making so much jewelry during our shelter-in-place time that it would be great to do something helpful with  it. I might have even have floated a “Bling-it-Forward-” hashtag.  I confided to Beth that, in the prior week, I’d sent out letters to seven or eight self-employed and small business owning friends asking if I could donate some of what I'd been making, but hadn’t heard much  back. That’s when Beth suggested a wider audience…

My sincere thanks  to Beth "The Bridge-Builder" Ruyak,  and the amazing "Insight" team : Cintia Lopez Montes, Kyle S. McKinnon, and Aram Sarkissian. 
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The bridge-building is working! These beauties are going out today!  Stay strong Delta Mind Body Center . Click the link to learn about this dynamic women-owned  business.

​

And, ​If you'd like to experience what it sounds like to free-fall into a whirring blender  you can listen here.
7 Comments
Jeanette Locker
5/28/2020 08:17:02 pm

This was great Caren. You are so talented in so many ways.

Reply
Holly Ragsdale
5/28/2020 09:01:31 pm

Karen you are a Renaissance Woman; your mind gathers and strikes with a hidden clarity and you are off creating before you even know it. Nothing is too much for you and your gift is time when in your own space those small decisions will twist and turn metallurgy where each stone and color is enhanced in the reshaping. Your keen mind is not happy without these gifted moments in retreat where thoughts can weave and insights deep will emerge.

Proud to know you, to still hold in my hands your crafted sparkles of adornment...actually too pretty for most moments. They still hold your beauty and their fate shines...Like you beautiful girl.

Reply
Beth Ruyak
5/29/2020 01:53:17 pm

Oh, Caren ... this is so funny and humble. To me, you were brave, understandably nervous, greatly hoping to help others and absolutely authentic about all of it. Thank you for your kind words and I’m glad you listened to the segment later online. The results are usually better than what a person experiences in the moment. I’m thrilled to know that you have your first recipient and I look forward to hearing more of these stories ... your work carries light and life wherever it goes! Cheers to you!
Beth

Reply
Greta
5/29/2020 06:39:12 pm

What a beautiful generous spirit you have (and so talented). You have a great voice for radio and I didn’t hear the blender once. Thanks for inspiring me to be more hopeful during this pandemic. I miss my friends too.

Reply
Kim McKenzie
5/30/2020 08:29:53 am

I miss you so much! You made me laugh out loud. With the unicorn & blender. Brought back so many memories we've shared and laughs we've had.
You are and always have been such a beautiful woman with beautiful soul and talented beyond words. Love you!

Reply
John David link
10/6/2022 11:35:37 am

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Above fund each analysis management rather. Prepare nothing purpose pull.

Reply
Martin Evans link
9/2/2024 03:18:44 am

Very thougghtful blog

Reply



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The content provided by www.artgurl.com unless otherwise noted, is copyrighted © 2016 Caren Halvorsen. All use of www.artgurl.com website is subject to the terms and conditions set forth below.All materials contained on www.artgurl.com, including all text and images, are copyrighted and are protected worldwide by applicable copyright laws and treaty provisions.
  • home
  • galleries
    • jewelry >
      • what's new ?
      • made for you
    • painting >
      • abstracts
      • landscapes
      • portraits
    • sculpture >
      • ceramic sculpture
      • glass and ceramic >
        • fused glass
        • swimming with the fishes
        • mosaics
        • pet projects
    • illustrations >
      • The cat and fairy tale
      • the tale of the time dragon's treasure
      • time for change
      • warmth of snow
      • no trump cards
  • blog
  • store
  • about
  • contact