“Social Artistry” is indeed an interesting and useful concept. I’m personally inclined to pay attention to the kind of social space created as a result of a certain type of social artistry and the social dynamics in it. Thanks for your link. I will take a look.

This is again my reflection area, but as I read “Steve Jobs” Biography, he certainly had a special social artistry that allowed him to bring the first Macintosh Team and the special sense of the Team they came to share when they finally release the Mac in 1983. And of course one of the first personal computers with gui they released. The process of how he handled his staff is somewhat brutal, unconventional, and many hurts and burn outs, but he sure got the special social artistry to make what Apple eventually became.

Asako

From my experience social artistry IS very present and has a great potential in online-only communities and networks. I learned this with my first online community (the former Electric Minds) and I see it in action every day at the amazing http://www.shareyourstory.org community for parents who have or have had a child in a neonatal intensive care unit.

What distinguishes vibrant communities is not just that there is social artistry in practice – for sure. A compelling and meaningful reason to be together is essential. But social artists can hold the space for people to find and connect with each other.

In more structured groups, like “classes” — you can see educators who use social artistry. How the respond (or not) to comments, how they notice when something “invisible” might be happening and help make it visible.

One thing your post really triggered in me is that it would be very interesting to look at the cross and intercultural aspects of social artistry.