Rick has returned from Sabbatical

Grab the corner to flip the pages.

Rick Valicenti has returned to the United States with a refreshed perspective. He spent the 35 days in Italy creating new personal work and exploring his curiosities. Read more after the jump.

On May 25, 2009, at 11:30 PM, Stefan Sagmeister wrote

I am putting a talk together for TED on sabbaticals.

Besides talking about my own experience, I’m giving examples of people who
have done successful sabbaticals in the past. I have heard, but don’t know
if its true, that you did a mini-experimental time every day.
The timing that I’ve heard is that you do client work until 3:00pm and then
do your own experimental work after this.

Could you tell me about it? Yes?

Stefan

Your note comes on my first day returning to the domestic studio and as you can imagine, I am pinching myself to see if indeed I really was away.

I return to this reality with is not so much a body of work, but a renewed sense of being centered in who and what I am. it did not take long to re-learn that I am prolific, curious, and incredibly talented once fully immersed. this in and of itself was a very healthy reminder for this soul that is often misplaced during the day to day of this (sur)real world.

In the mornings I would begin the day with a drop of black sumi ink on a 9 x 12″ piece of Yupo (plastic) paper. I would then relax, take a breath, and hold the sheet in front to of me allowing this drop, located at twelve o’clock, to move and draw a complete circle. I have never really created an exercise for myself that would force me to be so in the moment, and save for an EKG exam, this two minute drawing records every seismic pulse—each exhale, twitch and pause my body experienced while turning the smooth paper yielded a indelible bend in the line.

Like a tarot card reading, these circle glyphs provided me with a visual glimpse into my relationship with the day.

—-

Only on a few days I did work the ‘second shift’ with a virtual double dutch in the chicago time zone which was after drinks, dinner and socializing, but for the most part, I held my time for myself. now that I am on the cusp of re-entry, I know I will do it again next year and the maybe year after… for knowing so beats wishing (it could happen).

take care and thank you for the continued inspiration.

Rick