Climbing your Hidden Ladder | Hidden Ladder Collective | TEDxHumboldtBay

[Music]

[Music] [Applause]

we are rainbow intricate the Stars and

we are rainbow intricate the Stars and our heads pulsate and we create our

our heads pulsate and we create our

our heads pulsate and we create our minds are our hands our tools our food

minds are our hands our tools our food

minds are our hands our tools our food in the distance is a city that is always

in the distance is a city that is always

in the distance is a city that is always as far as the horizon a mirage that

as far as the horizon a mirage that

as far as the horizon a mirage that keeps moving I think this city is a wish

keeps moving I think this city is a wish

keeps moving I think this city is a wish the Stars expand brilliantly they play

the Stars expand brilliantly they play

the Stars expand brilliantly they play chess with the sky and ask if they can

chess with the sky and ask if they can

chess with the sky and ask if they can stab their dagger raised through the

stab their dagger raised through the

stab their dagger raised through the soft wool of clouds the stars dance and

soft wool of clouds the stars dance and

soft wool of clouds the stars dance and tangle with stolen antlers they ride the

tangle with stolen antlers they ride the

tangle with stolen antlers they ride the carnival of wormholes from galaxy to

carnival of wormholes from galaxy to

carnival of wormholes from galaxy to galaxy then back to me hello everyone we

galaxy then back to me hello everyone we

galaxy then back to me hello everyone we are members of the hidden ladder

are members of the hidden ladder

are members of the hidden ladder collective a rapidly growing tidal wave

collective a rapidly growing tidal wave

collective a rapidly growing tidal wave of creative energy based out of Portland

of creative energy based out of Portland

of creative energy based out of Portland Maine can culture does not create us but

Maine can culture does not create us but

Maine can culture does not create us but instead we create our own universes

instead we create our own universes

instead we create our own universes through art we bring art out of the

through art we bring art out of the

through art we bring art out of the cages of the Moon and onto the street

cages of the Moon and onto the street

cages of the Moon and onto the street where it’s interactive and accessible

where it’s interactive and accessible

where it’s interactive and accessible art belongs to all people and it belongs

art belongs to all people and it belongs

art belongs to all people and it belongs to all of our senses the boundaries

to all of our senses the boundaries

to all of our senses the boundaries between mediums have been shattered

boredom is unacceptable inside of

boredom is unacceptable inside of everyone is a hidden ladder that leads

everyone is a hidden ladder that leads

everyone is a hidden ladder that leads to a universe of their own creation we

to a universe of their own creation we

to a universe of their own creation we are compelled to keep climbing our

are compelled to keep climbing our

are compelled to keep climbing our hidden ladders and to help others find

hidden ladders and to help others find

hidden ladders and to help others find theirs our mission is help you climb

theirs our mission is help you climb

theirs our mission is help you climb your hidden ladder which is the bridge

your hidden ladder which is the bridge

your hidden ladder which is the bridge between possibility and reality the

between possibility and reality the

between possibility and reality the first step towards doing this is to

first step towards doing this is to

first step towards doing this is to simply value your ideas no matter how

simply value your ideas no matter how

simply value your ideas no matter how small they are the second step is to

small they are the second step is to

small they are the second step is to just nurture and share those ideas with

just nurture and share those ideas with

just nurture and share those ideas with others to allow them to grow and third

others to allow them to grow and third

others to allow them to grow and third once you’ve grown them to let them loose

once you’ve grown them to let them loose

once you’ve grown them to let them loose into the world so my name is William

into the world so my name is William

into the world so my name is William session and when I was young I was

session and when I was young I was

session and when I was young I was extremely shocked and words just we’re

extremely shocked and words just we’re

extremely shocked and words just we’re not my form of communication for me

not my form of communication for me

not my form of communication for me drawings and sketches were a much easier

drawings and sketches were a much easier

drawings and sketches were a much easier way to put my ideas down and I realized

way to put my ideas down and I realized

way to put my ideas down and I realized pretty quickly that these drawings ideas

pretty quickly that these drawings ideas

pretty quickly that these drawings ideas we’re very important for me to hang on

we’re very important for me to hang on

we’re very important for me to hang on to and to keep with me and so what i

to and to keep with me and so what i

to and to keep with me and so what i would do is take those one and keep them

would do is take those one and keep them

would do is take those one and keep them in a shoebox and that shoebox eventually

in a shoebox and that shoebox eventually

in a shoebox and that shoebox eventually was overflowing with it with those ideas

was overflowing with it with those ideas

was overflowing with it with those ideas and i decided okay i need more than one

and i decided okay i need more than one

and i decided okay i need more than one she box I’ll go ahead and have multiple

she box I’ll go ahead and have multiple

she box I’ll go ahead and have multiple shoe bottom and then began separating my

shoe bottom and then began separating my

shoe bottom and then began separating my ideas out and I’d have one shoe box that

ideas out and I’d have one shoe box that

ideas out and I’d have one shoe box that had my fantasy ideas and I creature

had my fantasy ideas and I creature

had my fantasy ideas and I creature drawings and another one for my science

drawings and another one for my science

drawings and another one for my science fiction ideas and we mentioned a number

fiction ideas and we mentioned a number

fiction ideas and we mentioned a number one for comic book ideas and another one

one for comic book ideas and another one

one for comic book ideas and another one that was just a box filled with old

that was just a box filled with old

that was just a box filled with old playing cards with drawings a robot now

playing cards with drawings a robot now

playing cards with drawings a robot now eventually even these boxes were

eventually even these boxes were

eventually even these boxes were overflowing and I had to upgrade two

overflowing and I had to upgrade two

overflowing and I had to upgrade two suitcases look like this over point

suitcases look like this over point

suitcases look like this over point cheering and so my ideas we come within

cheering and so my ideas we come within

cheering and so my ideas we come within perform suitcases from Minnesota to New

perform suitcases from Minnesota to New

perform suitcases from Minnesota to New England and all around the country and

England and all around the country and

England and all around the country and as of this moment I’m up to nine

as of this moment I’m up to nine

as of this moment I’m up to nine suitcases filled with my idea hey

suitcases filled with my idea hey

suitcases filled with my idea hey everybody I’m abbath Russell and when I

everybody I’m abbath Russell and when I

everybody I’m abbath Russell and when I was a kid I love bugs so I filled

was a kid I love bugs so I filled

was a kid I love bugs so I filled sketchbooks with drawings of bugs and

sketchbooks with drawings of bugs and

sketchbooks with drawings of bugs and poems about bugs and since then I’ve

poems about bugs and since then I’ve

poems about bugs and since then I’ve carried a sketchbook with me everywhere

carried a sketchbook with me everywhere

carried a sketchbook with me everywhere I go I really want to make sure that I

I go I really want to make sure that I

I go I really want to make sure that I can catch every idea I have before it

can catch every idea I have before it

can catch every idea I have before it flies away like a bug over time I

flies away like a bug over time I

flies away like a bug over time I graduated from mostly drawing bugs to

graduated from mostly drawing bugs to

graduated from mostly drawing bugs to drawing all sorts of strange creatures

drawing all sorts of strange creatures

drawing all sorts of strange creatures from my imagination some of them still

from my imagination some of them still

from my imagination some of them still resembled bugs a little bit about ten

resembled bugs a little bit about ten

resembled bugs a little bit about ten years ago I was sitting in a coffee shop

years ago I was sitting in a coffee shop

years ago I was sitting in a coffee shop in Cambridge Massachusetts and I was

in Cambridge Massachusetts and I was

in Cambridge Massachusetts and I was drawing in my sketchbook and I drew a

drawing in my sketchbook and I drew a

drawing in my sketchbook and I drew a strange creature i drew a ladder with a

strange creature i drew a ladder with a

strange creature i drew a ladder with a face I never could have imagined where

face I never could have imagined where

face I never could have imagined where this ladder would lead me from John

this ladder would lead me from John

this ladder would lead me from John Silas and as far back as I can remember

Silas and as far back as I can remember

Silas and as far back as I can remember I’ve been planting ideas to be had later

I’ve been planting ideas to be had later

I’ve been planting ideas to be had later in most situations I feel like I can do

in most situations I feel like I can do

in most situations I feel like I can do little more than to catch a fleeting one

little more than to catch a fleeting one

little more than to catch a fleeting one liner and log it on the closest people

liner and log it on the closest people

liner and log it on the closest people piece of a crumpled paper or receipt

piece of a crumpled paper or receipt

piece of a crumpled paper or receipt before it scoots away now in the

before it scoots away now in the

before it scoots away now in the situation in the moment these ideas seem

situation in the moment these ideas seem

situation in the moment these ideas seem useless to me but with faith that I’ll

useless to me but with faith that I’ll

useless to me but with faith that I’ll find them let later I let them grow and

find them let later I let them grow and

find them let later I let them grow and rediscover them ripe and with greater

rediscover them ripe and with greater

rediscover them ripe and with greater insight my organization process is a

insight my organization process is a

insight my organization process is a little bit more trashy than the others

little bit more trashy than the others

little bit more trashy than the others because I literally store my ideas and

because I literally store my ideas and

because I literally store my ideas and trash bags there in no particular order

trash bags there in no particular order

trash bags there in no particular order at all but I always feel like I can find

at all but I always feel like I can find

at all but I always feel like I can find the exact one that I need at the exact

the exact one that I need at the exact

the exact one that I need at the exact right moment so the second step climbing

right moment so the second step climbing

right moment so the second step climbing your hidden ladder is to nurture and

your hidden ladder is to nurture and

your hidden ladder is to nurture and share those ideas now it’s crucially

share those ideas now it’s crucially

share those ideas now it’s crucially important to give those as the time and

important to give those as the time and

important to give those as the time and the space and the energy to allow them

the space and the energy to allow them

the space and the energy to allow them to grow it’s also really important to

to grow it’s also really important to

to grow it’s also really important to collab

collab

collab rate to climb out of your own head and

rate to climb out of your own head and

rate to climb out of your own head and allow those ideas to grow perhaps like

allow those ideas to grow perhaps like

allow those ideas to grow perhaps like larger than yourself and so for me

larger than yourself and so for me

larger than yourself and so for me personally dealing with being shy and

personally dealing with being shy and

personally dealing with being shy and having a hard time really connecting

having a hard time really connecting

having a hard time really connecting with people it was very important to sit

with people it was very important to sit

with people it was very important to sit down with somebody and open up one of my

down with somebody and open up one of my

down with somebody and open up one of my suitcases or my shoe boxes and kind of

suitcases or my shoe boxes and kind of

suitcases or my shoe boxes and kind of show people what I had and and if I did

show people what I had and and if I did

show people what I had and and if I did do that I’m a real connection and at the

do that I’m a real connection and at the

do that I’m a real connection and at the same time I’d be populating new ideas

same time I’d be populating new ideas

same time I’d be populating new ideas for that box however if I took the same

for that box however if I took the same

for that box however if I took the same box and I opened it up for a room full

box and I opened it up for a room full

box and I opened it up for a room full of people like for instance at one of

of people like for instance at one of

of people like for instance at one of our Sunday night art nights something

our Sunday night art nights something

our Sunday night art nights something much different happens because for

much different happens because for

much different happens because for instance the box that I had that was the

instance the box that I had that was the

instance the box that I had that was the old old playing cards with robot

old old playing cards with robot

old old playing cards with robot drawings on them what happened when I

drawings on them what happened when I

drawings on them what happened when I shared that with a room full of people

shared that with a room full of people

shared that with a room full of people is that everyone kind of got involved

is that everyone kind of got involved

is that everyone kind of got involved they helped transform this box of ideas

they helped transform this box of ideas

they helped transform this box of ideas they became lead playtesters they

they became lead playtesters they

they became lead playtesters they started drawing more ideas coming up

started drawing more ideas coming up

started drawing more ideas coming up with new parts of the game helped write

with new parts of the game helped write

with new parts of the game helped write the rulebook and eventually together we

the rulebook and eventually together we

the rulebook and eventually together we created PBL robots it’s a card in dice

created PBL robots it’s a card in dice

created PBL robots it’s a card in dice game where you have much like my

game where you have much like my

game where you have much like my original ideas this robot card you

original ideas this robot card you

original ideas this robot card you salute there’s a hole in the center you

salute there’s a hole in the center you

salute there’s a hole in the center you slide in a little pilot you actually

slide in a little pilot you actually

slide in a little pilot you actually attach additional cards on to make the

attach additional cards on to make the

attach additional cards on to make the robot stronger you’re building up your

robot stronger you’re building up your

robot stronger you’re building up your robot then you roll dice to try to

robot then you roll dice to try to

robot then you roll dice to try to battle your opponent so through the

battle your opponent so through the

battle your opponent so through the collaboration and being willing to sit

collaboration and being willing to sit

collaboration and being willing to sit down with one person and share the ideas

down with one person and share the ideas

down with one person and share the ideas and then a room full of people to share

and then a room full of people to share

and then a room full of people to share the ideas it grew bigger than I had

the ideas it grew bigger than I had

the ideas it grew bigger than I had imagined and turned into a real product

so I kept drawing these ladders with

so I kept drawing these ladders with faces over and over in my sketchbooks

faces over and over in my sketchbooks

faces over and over in my sketchbooks and I wrote poems about them and I

and I wrote poems about them and I

and I wrote poems about them and I called these creatures the latter people

called these creatures the latter people

called these creatures the latter people and I eventually turned the latter

and I eventually turned the latter

and I eventually turned the latter people into a comic book called legend

people into a comic book called legend

people into a comic book called legend of the latter people which I copied

of the latter people which I copied

of the latter people which I copied thousands of times and shared with

thousands of times and shared with

thousands of times and shared with thousands of human people um sharing

thousands of human people um sharing

thousands of human people um sharing sharing these comic books inspired me to

sharing these comic books inspired me to

sharing these comic books inspired me to build masks and puppets and giant

build masks and puppets and giant

build masks and puppets and giant sculptures of the latter people and I

sculptures of the latter people and I

sculptures of the latter people and I worked with artists and musicians and

worked with artists and musicians and

worked with artists and musicians and performers from the collective and

performers from the collective and

performers from the collective and together we put on an elaborate musical

together we put on an elaborate musical

together we put on an elaborate musical puppet show um so working with these

puppet show um so working with these

puppet show um so working with these with these other artists and the

with these other artists and the

with these other artists and the combination of all of their talents

combination of all of their talents

combination of all of their talents brought the entire universe of the

brought the entire universe of the

brought the entire universe of the latter people to life in ways that

latter people to life in ways that

latter people to life in ways that really would not have been possible if I

really would not have been possible if I

really would not have been possible if I had just kept them trapped between the

had just kept them trapped between the

had just kept them trapped between the pages of my sketchbooks and on that day

pages of my sketchbooks and on that day

pages of my sketchbooks and on that day ten years ago when I drew what seemed

ten years ago when I drew what seemed

ten years ago when I drew what seemed like a silly ladder with a face I could

like a silly ladder with a face I could

like a silly ladder with a face I could not have imagined that sharing this idea

not have imagined that sharing this idea

not have imagined that sharing this idea with others would allow it to become

with others would allow it to become

with others would allow it to become something so much larger than myself it

something so much larger than myself it

something so much larger than myself it even became the logo for our art

even became the logo for our art

even became the logo for our art collective hidden ladder collective

collective hidden ladder collective

collective hidden ladder collective which is the type of creative community

which is the type of creative community

which is the type of creative community I had always always dreamed of building

I had always always dreamed of building

I had always always dreamed of building and being a part of so my little scraps

and being a part of so my little scraps

and being a part of so my little scraps of paper and one-liners almost

of paper and one-liners almost

of paper and one-liners almost inevitably turn into songs that I share

inevitably turn into songs that I share

inevitably turn into songs that I share with the collective for example a morbid

with the collective for example a morbid

with the collective for example a morbid nursery rhyme that I wrote while I was

nursery rhyme that I wrote while I was

nursery rhyme that I wrote while I was working at an insurance company and kind

working at an insurance company and kind

working at an insurance company and kind of hating my life goes like this the

of hating my life goes like this the

of hating my life goes like this the clocks can’t rest their tired arms relax

clocks can’t rest their tired arms relax

clocks can’t rest their tired arms relax they’re tired faces the can’t erase the

they’re tired faces the can’t erase the

they’re tired faces the can’t erase the meeting their existence has created but

meeting their existence has created but

meeting their existence has created but with vanity intact these thoughtless

with vanity intact these thoughtless

with vanity intact these thoughtless decorations serve to symbolize the

decorations serve to symbolize the

decorations serve to symbolize the plight of an enslaved imagination not

plight of an enslaved imagination not

plight of an enslaved imagination not only did that become a song and one of

only did that become a song and one of

only did that become a song and one of my favorite songs that everyone actually

my favorite songs that everyone actually

my favorite songs that everyone actually but with the help of the collective the

but with the help of the collective the

but with the help of the collective the idea behind it actually became visual

idea behind it actually became visual

idea behind it actually became visual art too and I’d never imagined that I’d

art too and I’d never imagined that I’d

art too and I’d never imagined that I’d ever be a visual artist let alone being

ever be a visual artist let alone being

ever be a visual artist let alone being really awesome interactive art shows but

really awesome interactive art shows but

really awesome interactive art shows but with the help of the collective the

with the help of the collective the

with the help of the collective the lines between the mediums have really

lines between the mediums have really

lines between the mediums have really blurred and I’ve really been able to

blurred and I’ve really been able to

blurred and I’ve really been able to grow as an artist eventually your ideas

grow as an artist eventually your ideas

grow as an artist eventually your ideas will take shape the stars will expand

will take shape the stars will expand

will take shape the stars will expand brilliantly they will play chess with

brilliantly they will play chess with

brilliantly they will play chess with the sky and when all of your pieces are

the sky and when all of your pieces are

the sky and when all of your pieces are in the perfect position you’ll know that

in the perfect position you’ll know that

in the perfect position you’ll know that it’s time to

it’s time to

it’s time to flood the world with what you’ve created

simply from vowing valuing our small

simply from vowing valuing our small ideas sharing them and nurturing them

ideas sharing them and nurturing them

ideas sharing them and nurturing them with others and letting them loose into

with others and letting them loose into

with others and letting them loose into the world amazing things have happened

the world amazing things have happened

the world amazing things have happened for us over the past couple of years

for us over the past couple of years

for us over the past couple of years like our sunday night art nights which

like our sunday night art nights which

like our sunday night art nights which have been going on now for three years

have been going on now for three years

have been going on now for three years and turnstile thursday which is an open

and turnstile thursday which is an open

and turnstile thursday which is an open mic TV show based in portland maine and

mic TV show based in portland maine and

mic TV show based in portland maine and it provides a platform for creative

it provides a platform for creative

it provides a platform for creative experimentation like hidden ladder

experimentation like hidden ladder

experimentation like hidden ladder records where bands like the bumbling

records where bands like the bumbling

records where bands like the bumbling was miles bolin and the grafted lights

was miles bolin and the grafted lights

was miles bolin and the grafted lights have found a stage and busking on the

have found a stage and busking on the

have found a stage and busking on the street with juggling and live music and

street with juggling and live music and

street with juggling and live music and the creative community coalition which

the creative community coalition which

the creative community coalition which we formed to protect the rights of

we formed to protect the rights of

we formed to protect the rights of artists to sell their work on the street

artists to sell their work on the street

artists to sell their work on the street in portland maine like our 12 12 hour

in portland maine like our 12 12 hour

in portland maine like our 12 12 hour marathon events where we create a new

marathon events where we create a new

marathon events where we create a new unique piece of art every hour for 12

unique piece of art every hour for 12

unique piece of art every hour for 12 hours straight with anybody that walks

hours straight with anybody that walks

hours straight with anybody that walks up off the sidewalk and end our

up off the sidewalk and end our

up off the sidewalk and end our interactive art shows where literally

interactive art shows where literally

interactive art shows where literally anybody that walks into the art show

anybody that walks into the art show

anybody that walks into the art show becomes the art show itself and art

becomes the art show itself and art

becomes the art show itself and art classes where we can share our passions

classes where we can share our passions

classes where we can share our passions with people of all ages ppl robots where

with people of all ages ppl robots where

with people of all ages ppl robots where our game that we design has actually

our game that we design has actually

our game that we design has actually become a legitimate business and hidden

become a legitimate business and hidden

become a legitimate business and hidden ladder press which you all should have

ladder press which you all should have

ladder press which you all should have in your bags which is a newspaper where

in your bags which is a newspaper where

in your bags which is a newspaper where we take the ideas and the projects of

we take the ideas and the projects of

we take the ideas and the projects of the entire collective and we put them

the entire collective and we put them

the entire collective and we put them together in a newspaper to share all

together in a newspaper to share all

together in a newspaper to share all around the country so you can start

around the country so you can start

around the country so you can start climbing your hidden ladder right now

climbing your hidden ladder right now

climbing your hidden ladder right now think about your own ideas dreams and

think about your own ideas dreams and

think about your own ideas dreams and passions no matter how small they are or

passions no matter how small they are or

passions no matter how small they are or how impossible they seem and those ideas

how impossible they seem and those ideas

how impossible they seem and those ideas that you’re thinking about may have had

that you’re thinking about may have had

that you’re thinking about may have had for a long time this is actually also a

for a long time this is actually also a

for a long time this is actually also a perfect opportunity like right now today

perfect opportunity like right now today

perfect opportunity like right now today to share those ideas and climb the

to share those ideas and climb the

to share those ideas and climb the second step of the ladder it might be

second step of the ladder it might be

second step of the ladder it might be mentioning it to somebody that you’re

mentioning it to somebody that you’re

mentioning it to somebody that you’re sitting next to now or somebody across

sitting next to now or somebody across

sitting next to now or somebody across the room or today but the idea really is

the room or today but the idea really is

the room or today but the idea really is just to be willing to share those ideas

just to be willing to share those ideas

just to be willing to share those ideas and see what happens because your ideas

and see what happens because your ideas

and see what happens because your ideas might take you for a ride very similar

might take you for a ride very similar

might take you for a ride very similar to the way that like our ideas have been

to the way that like our ideas have been

to the way that like our ideas have been taking us for a ride coy

taking us for a ride coy

taking us for a ride coy literally in Mookie our big green van

literally in Mookie our big green van

literally in Mookie our big green van with the main play it’s out front you

with the main play it’s out front you

with the main play it’s out front you can see him um and and Mookie’s taken us

can see him um and and Mookie’s taken us

can see him um and and Mookie’s taken us from Maine to California for this talk

from Maine to California for this talk

from Maine to California for this talk and hopefully he’ll take us all the way

and hopefully he’ll take us all the way

and hopefully he’ll take us all the way back to the east coast so we’re speaking

back to the east coast so we’re speaking

back to the east coast so we’re speaking to you right now well in the middle of a

to you right now well in the middle of a

to you right now well in the middle of a two-month long tour around the country

two-month long tour around the country

two-month long tour around the country featuring our artwork music and games

featuring our artwork music and games

featuring our artwork music and games we’re doing our best to spread our

we’re doing our best to spread our

we’re doing our best to spread our mission into every nook and cranny of

mission into every nook and cranny of

mission into every nook and cranny of the country and who knows where our

the country and who knows where our

the country and who knows where our hidden ladders will lead us in the next

hidden ladders will lead us in the next

hidden ladders will lead us in the next few years once you have opened your

few years once you have opened your

few years once you have opened your floodgates remember there are always

floodgates remember there are always

floodgates remember there are always more hidden ladders to climb