mary jane dodd
everyone is born creative;
everyone is given a box of crayons in kindergarten.
then when you hit puberty they take the crayons away
and replace them with dry, uninspiring books
on algebra, history, etc.
and replace them with dry, uninspiring books
on algebra, history, etc.
being suddenly hit years later with the 'creative bug'
is just a wee voice telling you,
'i'd like my crayons back please.'
- from 'ignore everybody
and 39 other keys to creativity'
hugh macleod
most of us here have found a way to express ourselves with our hands (or voices, or feet, or bodies)
but surely we all know of people who haven't - they may be older than we are... and they just don't know what to do - and yet they yearn to do it...
i'm already lucky, i know how to speak with my hands...
and so i feel there is an obligation to help, to assist those who just don't know how to yet... or to encourage those who can to not set it aside... and if someone doesn't want to do it themselves, how about getting them to museums, concerts or plays?
our culture views play as wasted time, non-productive, no salary attached time...
but what really makes us whole?
is it any surprise that craft centers are popping up all over? art retreats, online courses, magazines - all in demand...
being a part of this microcosm allows us access to lots of information - share it when you get the chance...
bring yarn to a senior center, or volunteer to do something simple with any group of adult people who might be looking for some inspiration...
let your kids leave their crayons, paints, paper, guitars, markers and keyboards out - if it's available, they will use it...
and besides when is the last time you put all of your materials and tools away?!
my neighbor is a potter... and she once said to me 'if everyone had a lump of clay, there would be no war.'
i get it -
so do you -
and because we do, let's keep it going.
7 comments:
A great post! Your neighbor's quote about the lump of clay just might be the solution for the current uprisings in the muslim world.
You ladies rock these posts!!!!!
What a great message! I just put my bead away this morning because I'm expecting a house full today. I'm sure they will be back out by tomorrow! I always seem to have something going on right next to my computer..... even though I have a nice little studio ;o) .... it all seems to end up where I am at the most. and..... As a teacher, I totally agree with the fact that the crayons get put away and the dry stuff comes out! I try to make a change in that arena in my middle school.
MaryAnn
Good points all. As an art teacher I kept all sorts of research showing that students who spent a good amount of time in art classes did better in reading and math. It didn't make a lot of difference to the powers that be. Programs just kept getting cut. Unfortunately.
And yes...there's just something about a new box of crayons! I still love them. :)
Life is a box of crayons...loved this post, and the ideas to help others find their crayons..
This is so very true! Sad to say, it seems as though, in these economic hard times, funding for "the arts" has virtually dried up. In Dayton, Riverbend Art Center was closed due to "lack of funding", but they built a multi million dollar "rec" center that is hardly ever used. I used to work at a drug and alcohol treatment center for teens. One of the most effective ways of helping these young people was to let them explore their creative side to give them a sense of self worth. We showed them that they could do more than rob an old lady or steal a car.
Well said! Thank you for inspiring us daily! :)
Post a Comment