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Building the four pillars of happiness/ The Thriving Artist

Self awareness- understanding your strengths, weaknesses,
values and worldview
1. Having an ability to reflect systematically on personal weakness, especially those reflected as habitual tendencies
2. Ability to “overcome oneself and order ones life”

Ingenuity- confidently innovating and adapting to embrace a changing world
(Approaching your challenge in ways predecessors never imagined)
1. Always remain open to new ideas, even in old age
2. Always learning and freely passing on your knowledge

Love- engaging others in a positive loving attitude
1. Profound respect for other people and for all creation
2. Appreciation for oneself as loved and important
3. Honor truth above your ego and ambitions
4. Influence others by example

Heroism- energizing yourself and others through heroic ambitions,
or sheer ambition of your heroic goals.
1.Devote self to excellence
2. Develop daily habit of tuning out everyday distractions in order to reflect
3.Developing a METHOD for considering choices and making decisions

Bio

Mark David Gray works from his studio 420 S 1st, the heart of the arts district in Milwaukee. He’s shown in regional venues from the Milwaukee Art Museum, West Bend Art Museum, Beloit College/ Wright Museum and the Kohler Art Center, permanent collection at The Iron Horse Hotel, Milwaukee’s premier boutique hotel destination, as well in New York, Stamford Ct., Minneapolis and Chicago. His focus on social issues that encourage healthy community connection, both inform and motivate his recent series “Americus Nation”. His series highlights certain notions found in popular history, and with the use of disparate nostalgic imagery, he endeavors to create dissonance in the viewers mind. Layered with social commentary, his work addresses presumed societal dogmas and myths, while his unabashed use of bright colors help accentuate and bring to the surface the hidden dramas of communal interaction. His work also prods the viewer towards self-reflection, regarding the place each person plays in community. With this self-reflection, ponder the possibilities of meaningful community beyond age, race, gender and position in society.