Chef-Che-Juan
The Famous Blue City.
Found in the northwest of Morocco, it sits upon a local spring that has delivered fresh water to it’s inhabitants for centuries. It is a town of artisans, many working with clay or weaving or painting. As you wander the streets, each sits on their own patch of this inland sapphire, showcasing their wares so that you may pick up your very own slice of Chefchaouen. And you know that it is going to be at the best price possible.
Honestly, I really enjoyed my time in this town. Life was at a much slower pace then it has been for me of late, and there was no need for me to chase anything in particular. In this town, life is a canvas that you can take as long as you want to fill in. Just so long as it’s blue.
In a town like this, the only way to get around is to meander. It is not the kind of place you can rush in a straight line to your destination. Streets weave and duck and twist and turn in such a way that can never quite know exactly where your are. Navigation is not a science, but an art, forming itself in your gut and being constantly moulded, thrown and stroked in such a way to create an image of a path forward. And occasionally, it turns out wrong and you have to start from scratch.
Before i came to Morocco, I was in the middle of reading The Creative Act, by Rick Rubin. In this book, Rick discusses his philosophy on creativity, in that it is not so much a talent that some have and others do not, but that creativity is a continuous and organic act of each and every being. As a practice, creativity is about bringing personal perspective to a form that you designate, be it Painting, Poetry or even PowerPoints. For me, i like exploring creativity through Photography.
I have always loved being a photographer. Part of me would like to think it’s because I have the chance to show people something new, but I am nowhere near good enough in my practice to be able to claim that. But, I have found that it has been the best way for me to express myself, and to show what I am looking at in the world around me.
As i wandered through Chefchaouen, i found that it was one of the first times in a long time that i have been able to recapture that creative spirit. While i am not creating anything that is truly unique, I do feel like I am creating. And that feels good.
