Seattle Photographer Chase Jarvis kicks of PhotoPlus Expo 2010 with a Great Keynote

PPE 2010 is off to an incredible start. Seattle photographer (as if he needs introduction) Chase Jarvis spoke to a packed seminar room crowd about his take on the democratization of creativity. Sounds complex and involved, but his premise was refreshingly simple: making and sharing your work is good for you, and it’s good for the world. Calling today’s interactive creative landscape “social art,” Jarvis spoke to the increasing interdisciplinary nature of creating art, referencing his Songs for Eating and Drinking project as well as his success with sharing his work and behind-the-scenes insights through YouTube.

Social art is content and context; it derives meaning from “someone on the other end participating in that art with you.” With all the technological possibilities we have as working creatives today, Jarvis emphasized that making and sharing art “doesn’t have to be complicated.” In short, put your work out there because a more creative world is a better one. A Seattleite myself, I was excited to see Jarvis’ new book Seattle 100 — a wonderful look at the people who make up the city from an inspiring guy.