Episode 05: Kerry Larkin - Making space for a beautiful life
Kerry Larkin takes us through her fascinating trajectory created by a discovery of the sacred places around her
Hello Origins Podcast listeners and welcome to another episode where we will explore the pivotal moments in the life of a thought-leader across science, engineering, art, or design (or, in this case, really someone who touches in all four categories).
This episode I am fortunate enough to be joined by the …| inspiring | ...designer, architect, thinker, doer, Kerry Larkin.
Kerry is a creator. She holds degrees in architecture that have taken her from the streets of Philadelphia, to the Deep South, and even the gorgeous churches of Italy. But her trajectory through life has spread so far beyond architecture, and she is a true pioneer of ‘antidisciplinary’ which is a term that means simply a space that cannot exist within any single discipline alone. Kerry has beautifully embraced this through a life filled with creative enterprises, such as her quilting studio, Comma Workshop, which has now grown into the Comma Creative Agency; experimentation; and meditation.
Kerry is a close and dear friend of mine, and a constant source of inspiration and wonderful energy.
Show Notes:
Kerry’s quilt kickstarter (~3:00)
Vipassanā mediation/retreats (~5:30)
Sitting practice meditation (~12:55)
We discuss morning routines and I’m a complete nerd for people’s routines - here are a few examples of morning routines from other thought-leaders (~14:40)
Sam Harris morning guided meditation (~17:05)
Julia Cameron The Artist’s Way (~22:00)
Sam Harris guided meditation app (~23:00)
Auburn University Rural Studio (~19:15)
Director of Rural Studio and Kerry’s mentor: MacArthur Fellow Samuel Mockbee (~20:38)
“You are the architect of your education” and other quotes
Philadelphia Charter High School for Art and Design (~25:40)
Big Yellow Arrow (no link, because, believe it or not, this was before Instagram ruled everything we do! Just imagine an 80-foot yellow arrow carried around and positioned across the country...brilliant!) (~27:16)
Remaining permeable to new ideas - Debbie Millman and Ingrid Fetell Less discuss this on an excellent episode of Design Matters (~32:20)
Ideas around streamlining your life to free your mind to focus on your passions (~33:30)
Five-Cut Friday’s Playlists (~45:50):
My Five-Cut Fridays for April 12, 2019 (the date of the release of this episode)
Check out all of the playlists on my Spotify account
A list of five books hand-picked by Kerry:
Braiding Sweetgrass: Indigenous Wisdom, Scientific Knowledge and the Teachings of Plants by Robin Wall Kimmerer
When Things Fall Apart by Pema Chödrön
Belonging: Remembering Ourselves Home by Toko-pa Turner
You Must Change Your Life: The Story of Rainer Maria Rilke and Auguste Rodin by Rachel Corbett
His Dark Materials (Trilogy) by Philip Pullman
Where to find Kerry online:
Personal website (KerryLarkin.com)
Comma Workshop (CommaWorkshop.com)
Instagram (@commaworkshop)