Liminal Space

CREATING IN-BETWEEN NO LONGER AND NOT YET

Lately, I’ve been reminiscing on the past, stories and memories from childhood, while also dreaming and waiting for the future to unfold. I studied the concept of Liminal Space as a University student during my thesis research. Truthfully, this understanding of the in-between fell into my lap at the perfect moment through The Story Podcast. I was in the midst of getting ready to graduate for the last time with plans for marriage that same Spring, all in the middle of a global pandemic. I was living in the tension of celebrating all the years of hard work that would culminate at the end of my academic career, while hoping and praying my future professional career, as well as new family, would be everything I’d been hoping for.

Spoiler alert — it has been so much better.

When I learned of this concept of Liminal Space I felt as though I could finally give a name to a feeling that not only sat as a pit in my stomach, but also allowed me to take chances and create the future I longed for. It’s not just a period of waiting for the next thing, or feeling stuck, liminality is an embrace of the messy middle. If this is a concept you relate to, whether you consider yourself a creative person or not, you will begin to weave it into the understanding and perception of your daily life.

“It is in-between what has been and what is to come. | Liminal Space is the only place where you can experience the transcendent, you can experience something beyond yourself.”

— John Bucher

*Coffee & Crit | Indiana Wesleyan Art+Design*

In my studio classes, I remember classmates breaking down when their artwork was critiqued. As many artists do, we tie our soul into our work, it tells our story. But, there is a difference when creating art for yourself and art for a client. I learned early on that 1. A critique of my work is not a judgement of my character or abilities (sketches and souls are not intertwined). And 2. My work thrives when I am in community.

There are two phrases I still speak over myself even now as I present ideas and mockups to my creative team: “Kill your babies” and “Don’t create in the dark” — let me explain. To “kill your babies” metaphorically you must not hold the first draft of anything too dearly, or the second, or even the final design. Just because it is done, does not mean it will go on to live. That is why the ideation stage is so important, you get all your ideas (the good and the bad) out in a physical and tangible way so you can see what works. I’ve had over 250 sketches dwindle down to 50 mockups that resulted in 20 products that got to see the light of day that now line store shelves. This cannot happen if you hold every idea dearly, kill your babies.

Second, work in community. While some classmates would work in solitude, not exhibiting their work until critique, I bonded with those I found inspirational and would often have 10 mini critiques with classmates and professors before my work was presented in completion. Humans are communal by nature, the very essence of our existence thrives on collaboration and the passing of knowledge. Do not create in the dark, allow your community to speak into your work because it will allow you to create outside of your limitations.

Through this practice of embracing the Liminal Space, the critique and collaboration that happens in the middle of a project is to me even more satisfying than the end product. As a creative person, it’s this space that creativity thrives. Embrace it, live in it, honor it.

I double majored in college with Graphic Design and Photography. One of the most impactful photo series I worked on was documenting the liminality we were all experiencing in the midst of the Covid-19 pandemic. In a moment of reflection, please sit with these 2020 film images inspired by my personal experience of Liminal Space — the no longer, and not yet.