The Eye of the Storm

Make a video of your contribution and upload it to youtube.

When you upload it, make sure you tag it with the following tag: “eyeofthestorm_contributions”.

Once your video is up there, send the embed code for your video to this email address:

Record your audio postcard and turn it into an mp3 file. Your contribution needs to be in mp3 format, about 1 minute in length and your mp3 file should be around 1MB in size.

You also need to submit an image to go with your audio, so choose an image that reflects what your audio postcard's about. Your image needs to be in jpg format and needs to be less than 100k in size.

Tell us your name, a bit of info about yourself and send your mp3 file and your cover jpg to this email address:

Your image needs to be in jpg format and needs to be less than 100k in size.

Tell us your name, a bit of info about yourself and send your image to this email address:

Just tell us your name, a bit of info about yourself and send your written piece to this email address:

In a world which sometimes feels too chaotic and where people feel disconnected, we want to explore where we find stability and a sense of empowerment. Where are the places, or what are the things that make you feel connected? How is it possible to achieve cohesion and a sense of calm?

For humanity to develop we have to stop seeing ourselves as separate from each other because we are absolutely dependent on each other’s behaviour.We might see ourselves as individual but love the times we do things together. What’s your experience?

The swarms of birds moving as one represent a need not to look to leaders to solve our problems, but rather are a metaphor for millions of individuals working as one, achieving something greater and more beautiful than if each bird acted alone. No-one knows why birds fly in formation like this, creating ordered patterns seemingly randomly, without a leader or an organised plan. We think there may be similarities between this and and the way humans manage to live together.

We want to hear how people from all over the world search for and find their own peace in the belief that deep down, our desires as humans are stronger and more inspiring than our differences.

We plan to evolve the art piece alongside the stories we hear in different places, as well as nurturing an archive of contributions from people around the world. We want the project to be a conversation.

Eye of the Storm began in Birmingham. Our first set of interviews were held here. We wanted to know what people in Birmingham thought about this question. We are planning to interview people in other places to see what they think. Will it be the same or different? We hope people from other places will send in their responses.

There are many ways you can find more peace. Meditation, sport, indulging in a daydream or swimming with sharks. On this website people have shared many ways in which they find peace. Listening to their stories may inspire you.

For certain, people’s lives have always included threats and provided challenges. But we think we are currently facing very distinct changes and challenges that make the world feel chaotic.

Chaos: a state of utter confusion or disorder.
Peace: a state of mutual harmony between people or groups. A freedom of the mind from annoyance, distraction or anxiety.

The mind-blowing ability the internet gives us to connect with millions of people around the world. The plethora of choices we are presented with as consumers. Longer working hours and less job security. 24 hour news. Multi-channel television and broadband which is ‘always on’. A global economic crisis caused by financial decisions on another continent. Climate change.

Some of the things that make our lives confusing. To which we can connect a rise in stress and depression and disharmony between people.

This is what we mean by chaos and the storm of life. Like the eye of the storm is calm and centered, where do you go to be still.

Tell us what you think.

We have spoken with employers and employees in Birmingham, with Adjust the Balance, a three-year EQUAL funded project looking at the stresses of work, and the Work Life Balance awards in Birmingham. They tell us that the balance between work and life is one of the most important issues on the minds of both staff and the people who employ them.

Stress is the most common reason for sickness absences from work and costs employers lost time. More flexible working to allow people to do other important things in life – care for children or a relative, have time for sport or other hobbies, volunteer, attend important appointments of further education – can lead to less stress and a more productive working life.

Flexible working can increase commitment, loyalty and morale, reduce sickness absence and increase productivity. The UK works 44% longer hours than average and is 27% less productive because of tiredness.

Having more balance at work can help you work better, feel more healthy and enjoy your job more.

If you want to find out more about work-life balance see:
www.theworkfoundation.com
www.employersforworklifebalance.org.uk
or in Birmingham:
the Work Life Balance Awards on 0121 303 9838

As one of the pioneer directors to use DV as a means of telling stories that otherwise could not be told, Marc made a seminal film on the Anti-Globalisation movement for the BBC called Global Protest. Marc went on to direct films for other broadcasters including the first critical film on the Burning Man festival commissioned by Channel 4.

As a visual artist Marc has collaborated with some of the world’s most interesting contemporary artists including Matthew Herbert, Faithless, the Beastie Boys, Michael Nyman, Ben Okri, Nitin Sawhney, Cirque du Soleil and Jamie Cullum.

He is currently directing a feature length documentary and online project with Gael Garcia Bernal on political resistance around the world.

www.marcsilver.net

Arts Council England is the national development agency for the arts in England, distributing public money from Government and the National Lottery.

Eye of the Storm is supported through Grants for the Arts funding awarded from the Arts Council West Midlands.

www.artscouncil.org.uk

The Paul Hamlyn Foundation is one of the larger independent grant-making foundations in the UK. As an independent grant making body, the Foundation funds organisations whose charitable activities help people to realise their potential and have a better quality of life.

www.phf.org.uk

The Rayne Foundation aspires to understand and engage with the needs of UK society, and to find ways and means to help address those needs. We focus on work which has wider than just local application, or which is of national importance.

www.raynefoundation.org.uk