Faded Creativity
I had the chance to participate in a great event called Minds in Motion sponsored by the Connecticut Association for the Gifted. This is an event that offers workshops for children from kindergarten to 8th grade as well as presentations for the parents. I was providing clay sculpting workshops to 2 groups of children: the first group was 5th and 6th graders, and the second 7th and 8th graders. I had about 15 kids in the first workshop and 6 in the second. These kids went through 100lbs of clay in 3 hours creating all kinds of things that came to their minds from dinosaurs, to airplanes, vases, bass-relief sculptures, princesses, cobras, and many other things.
This event was a lot of fun. There were very talkative children and very quiet ones. I was worried the kids in the first group would use all the clay leaving nothing to the second group. Their creations were very imaginative and they produced one thing after another. Some challenged themselves creating large pieces. The girls created less and smaller pieces than the boys but focused on providing details to the pieces. The first workshop was very dynamic and entertaining. We talked about cartoons, movies, made jokes about out names, music, and some of them were even singing at times. The second group presented a different dynamic.
The kids in the second group were very funny and nice but the conversations were more focused on books. They were very quiet in contrast with the first group. The conversations were less and shorter. Their creations showed faded creativity. Their pieces were fewer, smaller, and took them longer to decide what to create. They created pieces of more practical things like pencil holders. They also created books and an airplane, and a few bases, and something else with angel wings and a mermaid tail.
What does this mean? What conclusions could be reached from these observations? I am not certain it is enough information to reach definite conclusions but it is a good start for exploration of creative tendencies within the age differences, gender, developmental states, interests, and socialization. It could be interesting to see how they create in isolation in comparison with the group dynamics too. I guess my researcher mind was very present during the workshops as much as the artist and the teacher. In all, it was a great afternoon with wonderful children. I am thankful for the opportunity.
Sculpting with your Heart
Take time to disconnect from your brain and connect to your heart. Allow your fingers to appreciate the texture of the clay as you get lost in the slow waters of your emotions. Taste every second as it was the last. Turn noise into silence. Get lost!
Sculpting Workshop at The Milford Senior Center
I was sharing some time last Wednesday with an excellent group of people at the Milford Senior Center. I wish you could experience what I perceive from them when they got immerse in their creative process, in their inner peace, in the sensation of the clay on their fingers… Time seemed to stop. In fact, they were working on their pieces in complete silence for about 10-15 minutes but the energy in that room was mesmerizing. In their faces was reflected a great sense of commitment and accomplishment, and an attitude of ownership. “I’m making this! I love how it looks! I can’t stop now!” What a great moment! I felt so proud and honored to witness this moment. Believe me when I tell you that I enjoyed it. They were lost in their task.
According to Picasso we are all artists as kids, but along the way we lost our acceptance of our creativity and imagination for a more “real” and concrete world. At some point in our development we compare the reality we see with the reality we can create and give up when the measure lacks in our eyes. We think too much about it and silence the heart. Then we impose this coward attitude into others (No need to say that art programs are being eliminated from schools). We are missing the point! “Thinking” so much blinded our sensitivity and forced our creativity to decrease to death. Creativity is proven to increase problem solving skills, allows connectedness with ourselves and the world around us, increases and restores confidence and self-value, and relieves stress. Need I say more?
I see transformations in all my classes and workshops with people of all ages and backgrounds. Read the testimonials. The only one stoping you to try something creative is yourself. No matter the age or the situation creativity is ready to rise up and give you a new spark in life. Let inspiration flow. Don’t think about it so much. Let your heart take control.
Thank you to Always Best Care in Milford for sponsoring this.