Coast(er) is Clear(er)

Last week, we delved into the art of turning glass jars into sound makers, perhaps inspiring some of you to create a rhythmic masterpiece with your kitchen tools or weave a sonic tale that carried listeners to distant places. Maybe you even found yourself tuning into the everyday symphony of sounds around you, heightened by the simple act of placing a jar over your ear.

This week, our creative focus shifts to something a bit more grounded—drink coasters. These little objects often scattered around spaces where drinks shouldn't be, yet always are, have quietly enabled our beverages for as long as we've had fine furniture and a need to stay hydrated.

Maybe you’ve scribbled on a coaster while waiting for a friend in a coffee shop, or used them to build a makeshift tower while passing time. Coasters, in all their simplicity, offer a blank slate for relaxed artistic expression.

Isn’t it about time we elevated the humble coaster and unleashed our creativity through tactile exploration? Gather a collection—cork, ceramic, cardboard, or paper, whatever you've got. Maybe it’s the perfect moment to dust off those quirky coasters you picked up during your last trip.

Take a few minutes to feel their textures, admire their patterns, and let your mind explore the creative potential they hold. Here's a nudge: spend a few moments with your coasters and see where the inspiration leads you. Whether it's doodling, stacking, or simply appreciating their design, these everyday objects are ready to spark your imagination.

1. Coaster Mosaic: Arrange coasters of various shapes, sizes, and materials to form a mosaic on a table or wall. Experiment with patterns, colors, and textures to craft a visually compelling composition. Incorporating broken or chipped coasters can introduce a touch of wabi-sabi, embracing the beauty in imperfection for a unique and meaningful piece of art.
2. Great Space Coaster: Get on board and explore a few coasters, imagining the stories they could tell. Perhaps a stained coffee coaster has overheard countless break-up conversations or whispered promises of self-improvement. Try writing a series of micro-fiction pieces or poems inspired by these imagined histories, giving voice to the stories hiding in everyday objects.
3. Still Life with Coaster: Create a path using coasters of different textures—rough, smooth, bumpy, soft. Walk barefoot across the path, focusing on the sensations each coaster evokes. Reflect on how these tactile experiences shift your mood or spark your creativity. Notice how each step, each texture, influences your thoughts or feelings, and consider how these subtle changes can inspire new ideas or perspectives.
4. Coaster Mandalas: Use markers, paints, or natural materials like leaves and flowers to create intricate mandalas or designs on coasters. This meditative activity encourages self-expression within a defined space, allowing you to focus on patterns and details while exploring your creativity in a calm, reflective way.

As we engage with these creative exercises, let’s appreciate the coaster’s dual role: protecting our worldly goods and sparking our imaginative spirits. Long after these activities fade from memory, you’ll likely face the inevitable choice—coaster or no coaster? Always choose the coaster.

This week’s column was written with the assistance of  Google’s Gemini Advanced but inspired by an old friend of mine who worked as a waitress. During slow times, she would doodle or write little notes on the backs of drink coasters used at all the tables. This was back when we thought nothing of using single use paper products everywhere! She used those coasters to spread positive messages, complete with smiley faces for her customers.

A big thank you to everyone who engages with these simple, everyday items in the service of others. Your efforts don’t go unnoticed.