How Rollerskating Made me a Better Glass Artist
When you think of roller skating, the first images that might come to mind are colorful carpets, rhythmic movements, and perhaps nostalgia.
For me, roller skating is more than just a pastime — it's a vital part of my creative process as an artist. My journey with roller skating has been an unexpected yet deeply enriching influence on my work with glass art, revealing a fascinating connection between physical movement and artistic expression.
Through my glass work and teaching, I empower individuals dealing with trauma and PTSD. This mission, deeply connected to my personal experience and artistic practice, extends to my roller skating. Both activities foster creative collaboration and personal growth. Join me as I show how skating has enhanced my skills as a glass artist!
My Skating Journey
Roller skating has been an integral part of my life since childhood. Growing up, the local skating rink was my Friday night sanctuary, offering entertainment and a sense of belonging (and cheap babysitting for my parents!). My early passion for skating laid the foundation for my belief in the profound connection between physical movement and creative expression. I was so fascinated by roller skating as a kid that I did a class presentation in elementary school, showcasing the history and impact of skating with a video of me performing tricks at the rink. This early passion set the stage for the connection between physical movement and creative expression that I later explored through glass art.
Fast forward to 2020…
When the COVID-19 pandemic put a halt to my glassblowing practice. Seeking solace and a way to cope with the stress of the pandemic, I returned to the beloved activity from my youth. This return to skating was not just a nostalgic journey but a crucial part of my recovery after experiencing a series of traumatic life events: the global pandemic, physical abuse, sexual assault, and a major car wreck. Skating became my healthy coping mechanism, helping me regain control over my body and mind. Living near Alki Beach in West Seattle, I spent hours skating along the shoreline, often covering up to 30 miles daily. During this time, I connected with the vibrant Seattle skate community. I started going to the skating rink with my newfound community, learning new skills. This activity and community began to heal my body and mind from the traumas of isolation, abuse, and sexual assault. First and foremost, skating taught me how to regain agency over my own body. This period of rediscovery sparked a deeper connection between skating and my artistic practice.
The Impact of Skating on My Creative Process
In my current creative research and development, I’ve been integrating roller skating symbolism into my glasswork.
Skating is a powerful example of how physical health and artistic performance intersect, particularly in its ability to promote physical well-being and emotional healing. It requires coordination, balance, and strength, contributing to improved physical health. Engaging in skating can enhance cardiovascular fitness, build muscle tone, and improve overall flexibility. These physical benefits are crucial for maintaining the stamina and vitality needed for artistic performance.
Artists often rely on their physical capabilities—whether it's the precision of a dancer’s movements, the endurance needed for a musician’s practice sessions, or the dexterity needed for visual arts. Good physical health supports mental clarity and emotional stability, which can be essential for managing the emotional demands of artistic expression. Additionally, focusing on physical health can greatly benefit healing from trauma; activities that promote bodily wellness, such as exercise, proper nutrition, and adequate rest, help regulate stress and emotional imbalances. This holistic approach not only aids in recovery but also enhances an artist’s ability to channel their experiences into their work, fostering a deeper connection to their craft.
Healing my body, mind, and soul on the wood (Letting my inner child express herself by being a dragon on wheels for Halloween, 2021).
After enduring traumatic events, skating was exactly what I needed to recover emotionally, mentally, and physically. It restored my bodily autonomy, translating into healing from trauma and advancing my artistic process. Just as skating involves balance, coordination, and strength, these physical attributes have enhanced my dexterity and control in the glass studio. Since glassblowing requires full-body coordination, staying physically healthy and present in the moment are essential skills in my career. A balanced mind and a fit body support the creativity, stamina, and skill needed for this demanding craft.
The “flow state” I developed and improved through skating—characterized by complete immersion and effortless engagement—has been pivotal in my creative work and recovery from trauma. This mental state has improved my focus and allowed for greater creativity in my glassblowing practice.
Understanding the Flow State
Skating is a powerful way to achieve the flow state—a mental “zone” of heightened focus and effortless involvement. This state enhances artistic expression and offers therapeutic benefits by relieving stress and emotional tension. For trauma recovery, it provides an immersive escape and regulates the nervous system, fostering mindfulness and resilience.
“Flow state: A mental “zone” where one is fully immersed and engaged in an activity, experiencing heightened focus and effortless involvement.”
Psychologist Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi's research shows that flow states improve creativity and problem-solving. Physical activities like skating boost mood, reduce stress, and enhance cognitive function, facilitating the flow and elevating creative abilities.
The rhythm and coordination from my flow state in skating improve my precision in glassblowing, enabling me to explore new techniques. After enduring abuse, assault, and a major car accident, skating has been a profound way to regain control and express myself in a safe, enjoyable environment.
Health and Its Impact on Artistic Performance
Physical Fitness and Mental Health
I've found that my physical health is deeply connected to my mental well-being, and regular exercise significantly boosts my cognitive functions and creativity. Simply put, skating improves my brain health!
Trauma impairs cognitive functions like memory, attention, and problem-solving. It disrupts memory by affecting the brain's ability to encode and retrieve information. Attention can be compromised as trauma triggers heightened arousal and hypervigilance. This constant state of alertness reduces the brain’s capacity to concentrate.
Additionally, trauma can impair problem-solving skills by disrupting executive functions like planning and decision-making. The stress and anxiety linked with trauma can overwhelm cognitive resources, making complex problem-solving more difficult.
However, regular exercise has been shown to improve brain health by increasing blood flow, promoting the growth of new neural connections, and reducing stress and anxiety. Studies have shown that physical activity enhances cognitive functions like memory, attention, and problem-solving skills. Through my experience with trauma, I have grown in my experience with skating not only as a form of exercise but also as a way of healing.
Enhancing Creativity Through Physical Activity
Movement and physical activity are powerful tools for boosting creativity and problem-solving. Exercise increases blood flow and releases endorphins, which enhances brain function and creative thinking.
For me, roller skating has catalyzed new ideas and techniques in my glass art. Just as many artists and writers use physical activities to break through creative blocks, I've discovered that the rhythm and movement of skating lead to new insights and ideas. Roller skating has become essential to my artistic process, transforming from a nostalgic pastime into a vital tool for growth.
My journey has taught me how physical movement deeply enriches artistic expression. I want to inspire others to see how different activities can complement their creative processes. Just as skating feels like a dance on wheels, I view glassblowing as a coordinated dance of skill and artistry. Through this integration, I aim to support trauma survivors and advocate for their healing through my community engagement.
For your entertainment, here is an image of baby Shannon in 2005,
skating with her friends at Skate Whirl, the hometown skating rink.
Hint: Black and red hat with all-black clothes.
A Final Note
Stay tuned for updates on how my glass work and skating are coming together in innovative ways.
Follow my artist’s Instagram HERE.
Resources
Follow my skating Instagram here.
Check out my favorite skating rinks in the Seattle area: Lynnwood Bowl and Skate | El Centro | Southgate Roller Rink
Watch This Movie!
8 Wheels and Some Soul Brotha' Music
Directed by Tyrone D. Dixon, 2003.
Each revolution of the eight wheels, and every revolution around the rink, captured by director Tyrone D. Dixon (Roll Bounce) stirs the soul in the first feature documentary on urban roller skating. This emotional blend of funk, old school, and rhythm and blues, in concert with urban voices of roller skating, examines the past, present, and future of a cultural phenomenon, style skating.
Further Reading
Friedman, Matthew J. "Physical Exercise as a Potentially Useful Component of Posttraumatic Stress Disorder Treatment." Lifestyle Psychiatry, edited by Douglas L. Noordsy, M.D., American Psychiatric Association Publishing, 2020, pp. 87-102.
Antolasic, Emily J., Emily J. Jaehne, and Maarten van den Buuse. "Interaction of Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor, Exercise, and Fear Extinction: Implications for Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder." Current Neuropharmacology, vol. 22, no. 4, 2024, pp. 543-556. Bentham Science Publishers, https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/37491857/.
In Loving Memory of
Ray Gordon
March 9, 1948 – July 16, 2019
Ray was the person that if asked the time, he would then go on to explain how to build the watch. He was strong, outspoken, and incredibly independent. He stood tall for what he believed in while still remaining a little boy at heart. He was a business owner, owning and operating Skate Whirl in Wichita Falls, TX for many years. His excellent speaking voice made him a natural for radio. He worked as a DJ for KWFT, KTRN, KLUR, and Lone Star 103.
Ray was an extremely proud American Veteran who served in the United States Army from 1968 to 1971. He valiantly fought for his country in Vietnam. He loved spending time at the lake with his friends and family and specifically enjoyed boating and skiing.
