Creative Evening
Professor Jim Boden is a painter, a creative artist. He has put together a panel on creativity that is going to be discussing this subject next week. There are a lot of creative people who are part of this message board so here is the announcement of this event in case you can find time to join the discussion:
WHAT DO . . . . . .
Dr. Joe Rubenstein (Education Dept)
Dr. Rhonda Knight (English Dept)
Prof. Larry Merriman (Art Dept)
Dr. Kate Kelly (Psychology Dept)
Prof. Dave McManus (Theater Dept)
. . . . . . . HAVE IN COMMON?
They will be taking part in a panel discussion on the topic of CREATIVITY.
What is it?
Can it be taught?
Can it be harnessed?
Can it be unleashed?
. . . . . . . . and many more facets and angles on the topic.
The forum is open to all . . . . . students, faculty, college community . . . . . . come one, come all. Audience participation in the discussion will be strongly encouraged.
Tuesday, September 25 th
7 pm
Black Box Theater
Performing Arts Center
Very cool idea.
I am happiest when I can express my creative side. I don't claim to be an artist - more of a crafter.
This discussion sounds so interesting. I wrote it in my planner, but it's just so hard for me to squeeze more in at night with the four boys' activities and all that I'm already commited to. (Wow, that sounds whiney.)
Anyway, if anyone goes it would be interesting to continue a discussion about it on this thread.
Creativity and working out
Creativity, in my opinion, often gets focused only on artsy stuff and it is needed everywhere. We need creativity in leadership, for example, to show all of us how to get out of the comfortable boxes in which we like to exist day to day. An example in working out.
I work out regularly and have found myself on a plateau. I have done my share of reading on the subject and know creativity is one of the things that the exercise gurus tout. While I work out all the time at the Y I recently used Studio 212 and their personal training to help me move from the plateau. The major solution was adding new exercises and new rhythms to the work-out process. How long I will keep up this mixing of aerobic with lifting and different types of lifts with a variety of aerobics is my personal challenge but the creativity in that area has help give a new focus to a day-to-day activity. And, you can do something like that yourself -- with some discipline; through the help of work-out friends -- and personal trainers at the Y, at Studio 212 and those who are making a personal business of being personal trainers. But there is no question that focused variety keeps the interest in the mundane.
So -- as contributors and readers of hvtd, do you view creativity as something only in the arts or do you try to bring it to other parts of your lives? Angie had a good idea about this as a sort of news-discussion thread.
Build your community by being involved!
Very wise, Dick.
You are so right. I was thinking too narrow - using the typical definition of creativity.
Creativity can be applied to many aspects of our lives: fitness, cooking, interpersonal relations, our choice of leisure activities, how we carry out our work responsibilties and so much more. And, like many other traits, the more you practice it, the better you get at it.
Maybe, we could issue a challenge to other message boarders to do something creative (that's not a usual thing for them) and post about the experience.
Anyone game?
Great Example, Dick
Changing routines in your workout was a smart move. I wish I were as diligent. I tend to switch from walking and pushups to Pilates and the Fluidity fitness system.
Studio 212 is a wonderful place to workout. When Brianna first opened, my daughters took dance classes there. My son had hit a plateau in his pursuit of the Boy Scout Personal Fitness merit badge, so I convinced him to sign up for the Boot Camp program at Studio 212. He was enthusiastic and upbeat about the experience, and especially enjoyed the weight training. In the end, he did earn his merit badge.
As for creativity, I think that most of us use it in our everyday lives. As a mom, I have had to learn to be creative. One facet of my creativity involves my children's birthdays. I have always made all of their birthday cakes out of necessity. (Two of my children have milk allergies). I have evolved into a pretty good cake baker, and love it when my kids claim my cakes are better than 'bought' ones. Of course, the cake has to look good too. Over the years, I have created Pokemon characters, carousels, castles, a frog, a rental skate, and the pinewood derby track for some of our parties.
Creativity can come from events, too. Coming up with a costume for the Medieval Day on September 29 could motivate some to get their creative juices flowing. Putting together costumes from old wardrobe pieces and Salvation Army finds could work. I have been thinking of trying my hand at sewing something from remnants found at the Factory Mill Cloth outlet.
Don't forget that Halloween is just around the corner. While my kids opt for purchased costumes most of the time, we really enjoy decorating the yard. We try to add something new each year, and many of our creations are original. Over the years, we have made a giant spider, a yard witch, a tree witch and a ghoul. Who knows what we will do this year?
I have seen some fantastic Halloween decorations from others around Hartsville. There is a house on Richardson Circle that was awe-inspiring last year. There are so many talented people all around.
I agree that we do need creativity everywhere. It breathes life into the stagnancy of everyday.
First challenge
Living creatively does not mean you have to take classes, be born with a unique talent, or be "good" at a certain art form, it's recognizing the beauty in everyday things. And finding that you are naturally drawn to doing what brings you joy, whether it is caring for your garden, your home, or making something with your hands that others appreciate and love. The mittens that my 98 year old Aunt Mandy knits are as priceless an art form as my favorite painters. My sons strumming their guitars is just as magical as being at a concert of a world known recording artist.
I was walking through Burry Bookstore and this book,
LIVING ARTFULLY Create the Life You Imagine
caught my eye. I have a zillion creativity books, but I had to have it.
(if I haven't shared this secret before, research books on Amazon, then buy them locally... Burry Bookstore has a wide variety of books, and if they don't have it, they order it...no shipping charges and you are building up your community by shopping locally!)
I practically hug it I love this book so much!
The author, Sandra Magsamen was on Oprah one time and is enchanting.
But, you don't need a book to be inspired creatively. Just follow a child around. While camping and rafting in NC this weekend, I had a lesson in creativity from "Scott", our campground's favorite camper. This little fella delighted all of us with his friendliness and curiosity. Once the sky got dark and the moon and stars were out, he investigated with his flashlight. He turned on his flashlight and showed a group of youth (and me!) how you can see the little pieces of the stars that fall from the sky onto the sandy volleyball area. Never mind that it was just flecks of mica, this little fella was pretty convincing that the glittering bits were definitely from a star.
It was a memory I'll smile about for a long, long time.
And that is my weekly challenge to Hartsville Today readers; get outside at night. You don't have to go all the way to a NC campground, just get out there. If you are too close to city lights to see the stars well, drive out where you can see the shimmering stars and the gorgeous moon. Listen to the crickets, the hoot of an owl, the way the horizon looks at night. Wait for a "shooting star", this is the prime season for good meteor showings. If you can, have a little impromptu campfire (taking care to have one properly, I think we are still in a dry season) and watch the crackling fire. If you have some friends or family to share this experience with you, you'll be amazed at how rich the conversation is around a simple little campfire, or just sitting outside on a quilt under the stars.
"I often think that the night is more alive and more richly colored than the day." ~Vincent Van Gogh
"For my part I know nothing with any certainty, but the sight of the stars makes me dream." ~Vincent Van Gogh
Jana, you have some great
Jana, you have some great ideas. Your suggestion to "get outside at night" and "watch the crackling fire" brings to my mind some pleasant memories of camping at Camp Coker with the Boy Scouts. We enjoyed sitting around a nice campfire by the lake and using that time to tell each other our favorite "ghost stories." It was a fun activity right before bedtime and a good way to get us all relaxed and ready for sleep. Adding roasting marshmallows to this activity really makes it more fun, when you do this with your kids. (Smile!)
As for creativity in us, we all need to reach inside and find out what our talents are and use them the best we can. I remember years ago when I heard a minister speak at Ridgecrest Baptist Assembly. He said, "If we are not using the talents that God gave us, then we are sinning." I thought then that was an extreme statement to make, but the more I thought about it, the more I understood what he was really trying to tell us. He gave that kind of sermon on one of the "Foreign Missions Nights" at Ridgecrest, when they perhaps had a commissioning ceremony for new missionaries and were about to issue an altar call for more to step forward to commit their lives to foreign mission service.
This sermon was perhaps based on Jesus' parable about how well some servants used the "talents" given to them. God does expect us to use our talents that he gave us as part of the final examination on how well we have lived our lives.
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