Back in the day, when I taught art in public school, I would often get students who did not see the purpose of taking art. They were there for various reasons, some actually wanted to be there, most had to be there to get their fine art to graduate (and thought it would be a blow off class.) I often had to start the year by establishing the purpose of art in public school and the importance of creativity. The thing that seemed to make the biggest impression was to ask them to go home that day, look around their house, and tell me one thing that creativity did not affect, touch, or come from.
The next day, when I asked someone to tell me if they had anything that creativity did not touch, I never got a volunteer. (and NOT because they didn't want to participate) It was ALWAYS because they had an epiphany. Their eyes were re-opened to the fact that one did not have to be talented in fine arts to be CREATIVE...Creativity is the willingness to try to think of new ideas, concepts, designs, ways of doing things...and EVERYONE is capable of this if they choose to be...and usually without even realizing it....
(i say "re-opened" because i have noticed that kids lose their joy and creative spirit somewhere between 3rd and 6th grade. and that is a story for another day)
The thing about creativity, is that it is about taking risks, trying new ways of doing things. And sometimes, you get an amazing product from all of the experimenting. Most of the time, you get a bunch of experimentation...but, with perseverance, eventually...that one amazing moment of pure joy happens...and THAT is how creativity touches our everyday lives...
The next day, when I asked someone to tell me if they had anything that creativity did not touch, I never got a volunteer. (and NOT because they didn't want to participate) It was ALWAYS because they had an epiphany. Their eyes were re-opened to the fact that one did not have to be talented in fine arts to be CREATIVE...Creativity is the willingness to try to think of new ideas, concepts, designs, ways of doing things...and EVERYONE is capable of this if they choose to be...and usually without even realizing it....
(i say "re-opened" because i have noticed that kids lose their joy and creative spirit somewhere between 3rd and 6th grade. and that is a story for another day)
The thing about creativity, is that it is about taking risks, trying new ways of doing things. And sometimes, you get an amazing product from all of the experimenting. Most of the time, you get a bunch of experimentation...but, with perseverance, eventually...that one amazing moment of pure joy happens...and THAT is how creativity touches our everyday lives...
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