10/24/2015 0 Comments People I Admire: Adam J. KurtzSo as you all know my first three posts have been interviews of my friends. Don't get me wrong, I LOVE my friends and admire them with all my soul, but I also felt myself being called to something bigger and something greater. Some thread was pulling me out of my comfort zone and into the unfamiliar. I was blessed with the opportunity to interview Adam J. Kurtz, the author of the book that is always in stock at Urban Outfitters, 1 Page At A Time. Adam's book is an inspiration to me as a creator, an artist, and as an individual in general. I am so excited about this interview and again so grateful for the chance to connect with someone who has made such an impact in the creative world. Let's meet him! What is the importance of writing every day? A little writing or other creative exercise every day helps keep that flowing, even if you're not sure what you are making or accomplishing. It's just nice to create something new even if it doesn't seem like it needs to exist. It's good for you. Do you think that most people who use your book already consider themselves creative or are trying to reach that part of themselves? I think my book appeals to a huge range of people. I have to admit I didn't totally know what I was doing when I made it. I knew what I wanted to accomplish but I did not ever think it would be as popular as it is. I just made a nice weird thing that I liked and I'm grateful others like it too. This openness I think makes it accessible to anyone, from a seasoned artist who got it as a gift from their aunt and is like "oh great a journal wow another one" to someone who saw it at Urban Outfitters and was like "oh this seems neat" and then remembers it a month later and tries it out. Going off that question, do you think that creativity is found, made, or something someone is born with? Creativity is a part of daily life. Drawing is creative, sure, but so is picking out an outfit to wear or making a sandwich. Creativity comes in all forms. Everyone is creative in varying degrees. This is not a "oops you weren't born with it sucks to be you" sort of thing. One of your sections allows the person using the book to “check in” with how he or she has been feeling for the past few months. Is the point of this to see progress over time, become aware of patterns in one’s life, or something entirely different? It is all about growth! The whole book is about getting through a period of time that seems impossible. A huge book. A full year! It's so thick and then slowly you are on the other side. The check-ins help you take note of the things you know you would like to improve. They're for you. What difference do you want to make with this book? I just want people to find what they are looking for. Whatever you put into the book will come back to you. It's really just paper and you make it what you want. Like I say in the beginning, THIS IS JUST PAPER, and like I say at the end, THINGS ARE WHAT YOU MAKE OF THEM. How did you come up with the prompts for your book? Just following my gut and writing and drawing ideas as they popped into my head. Writing lists of the things in life that make me feel good, or bad, or scared, or anxious, or "better" but not necessarily "perfect." Also real life experiences, like the taxi cab receipt or eating a tuna melt and two coffees while drawing at a diner. A huge benefit of journaling is becoming aware of what you’re thinking and feeling. Why do you think people need to be aware of these things? Our thoughts and feelings are who we are. It would be great if we all had a better idea of who we are. Simple as that. How would you change the mind of someone who says that they’re too busy to journal? I wouldn't! It's not my job to make you journal. It shouldn't be a chore. Maybe you document differently. Maybe instagram is a journal. Maybe twitter is a diary. We all preserve in different ways. The nice thing about a book is that it has a cover on it and the whole world isn't judging you instantly. One sentence in a book holds a larger context, and documenting over time creates a whole that becomes it's own object. A journal is just paper until you say it isn't. What is your favorite page of your book? I like the pages that are all alone, where the intention is just to remind you that you deserve to have space and that you are alone and it's fine. "FREE SPACE" is a cute joke to me, like the center tile on a bingo board, but also feeling free, giving yourself space, and knowing that space is yours to take. Who inspires you? Fucking everyone!!!!!!! Every day I want to make fifteen things because of a conversation, a stray tweet, a feeling or thought I had or perceived from someone else, something I wanted to say but wasn't sure how to say, or an everyday object or sign that could be art in another context. Everything is inspiring and everything can be art if you say it is. Be sure to check out Adam's Instagram where he documents his own journey through 1 Page At A Time at @1pageatatime or check out his website adamjkurtz.com/book. If after all that you're still craving more Adam you can check out his blog at jkjkjkjkjkjkjkjkjkjk.com.
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