#powersuitcamp

The public presentation and reception for PowerSuit Camp was an incredible opportunity to share what we've been doing all week with our friends, families, and the people who participated in the project -- Flux residents and staff, and our neighbors who we interviewed earlier in the week.

Everyone got the chance to proudly wear their PowerSuits and explain the evolution of the garments. The team walked the brown carpet and strutted their stuff and showed off our moves-of-the-day dances. I can't say it had the same audiences as New York Fashion Week, but we definitely had the the pizazz and glamor of celebrities.

PowerSuit Camp Day 5 Report:

While the snow storm threatened to cancel our last day of Camp, everyone pulled through and made it happen. We assembled, practiced our move-of-the-day, completing each of our individual and totally unique 5-move dances (to be presented at the reception!). Some delicious homemade cookies (made by Denise!) in our bellies fueled the last push and we got right to work, finishing up the dresses, ponchos, skirts, boots, hats, ties, crowns, gloves, and any other last minute additions.

It's been an amazing week and I'm so excited about all that we explored, all the people we talked with, the garments we created. At the reception we will present the pieces we made and talk a bit about the process, and even give you the chance to make your own PowerSuit Pendant to wear and take home.

Fingers crossed, we'll have some Girl Scout Cookies to eat as well....

See you tomorrow, in your most courageous and powerful costume.

PowerSuit Camp Day 4: Today we started off with group critiques of each other's in-progress PowerSuits - each offering up different suggestions or solutions to places where we might be stuck in finishing the prototypes or designs. Rylee from Weeksville Heritage Center came in to speak with us about her Dream Job - and the winding road she took to get there, learning as much from the jobs she knew were NOT her Dream Jobs as much as her current "Dream Job".

And them we went back to gluing, sewing, and taping together our PowerSuits - and such an amazing variety of kinds. They are really taking shape, and some people even started trying theirs on for size, looking fabulous and totally unique.

Today felt like a turning point of sorts. It was the second to last day of Camp and there was a pressure to finish our PowerSuits, some concern over whether individuals would be able to finish. The impending snow storm feels ominous. But also personally, I felt confronted. My eye started twitching. I felt nervous and anxious. As a person who normally thrives when surrounded by people and creative energies, I felt like I needed to be alone.

I think that today I confronted that I don't know what my own Dream Job is. Here I am, being the project facilitator and leading everyone through series of exercises exploring these aspirations, as if I have the answers. But in fact I don't. And I'm just as lost as the next guy.

Except for one thing: I'm doing something. I put my full heart and my full energy into this project to make the best experience I can. So that each participant, no matter how big a role they played, walks away from the project feeling that they themselves dug deep, and uncovered just a tiny piece of their boldest, most courageous, true selves. That each of us sees a bit of what we are so passionate about that we could dedicate our lives to. That each of us is willing to jump and risk for something, even if maybe it isn't the Ultimate Perfect Dream Job.

For the Girl Scout participants in this project choosing their Dream Jobs is easy. They each quickly and effortlessly spoke their futures, confident that they would sort out the details later. Where is the line between that confident and self-assured knowing that this dream will happen, and the the place where you're not so sure how to get there anymore? Do I really want to be an artist? What does an artist even do, anyways?

PowerSuit Camp Report Day 3: today we combined all of the individual moves-of-the-day we've been making each day and saw the dance we've created so far - a crazy mix of air punches, twirls, knee-slides, and butt shakes.

Then we thought about our personal "mission statements" - as if we were a corporation. What would our corporation's mission be in the world? What's important to each us?

Then Moira presented a slide show of different hats from around the world -- amazing creations that each told a different story and gave the wearer a different persona. Inspiration for the next part of the day when we...

Started our PowerSuits! Jumping right in, the team started in on making our own personalized PowerSuit. Including: a pink fuzzy cozy dress with kittens all over it and pockets for more cats; a pair of boots that tell the stories of where they have walked; a iridescent shiny vest that is see-through; a blue mermaid-style dress with silver music notes all over it; a pair of gloves with stories all over them. The garments have just started to take shape, but it's amazing to see how different each is from the others, and how each shares the individual's personality so loudly.

Day two: Molly warmed us up with some moving around and "flocking" (and push ups!) and then we headed out into the 2-block neighborhood to interview local business people about their current and dream jobs.

We talked to Manuel and Fabiola from Mike's Pizza about their dreams to be a lawyer and more. But how for now, they love that they get to work together as siblings at their family shop. We talked to Ruth from Issima Hair Salon about her dreams to have a more glittery and fabulous hair salon of her own someday, and how she got started doing her dream job when she was just a little girl, and following her passion of things she loves. Lewis at the Holiday Inn talked about how he loves creating a great space for people to walk into, being the smiling welcoming face and how he dreams of doing that in a huge hotel, the best of Manhattan. Steve at the U-Haul garage next door talked about his leather-working hobbies and his gardens upstate, but also about how he's made every business he's been a part of more money and more successful. Each person talked about having to love what you're doing, and that you can't just do something to make money - you won't survive. Follow not just what you're good at, but what you love.