Frame That Salad: Bringing Creativity Into The Day to Day, It’s A Genetic Imperative
From the beginning when the first cave dweller etched a mammoth on the wall of his cave, humans have been creating art to express the experience of living. All over the earth every culture tells stories, makes up plays, sings songs and creates dance. Art in all of its forms is as part of the human genetic code. All of us are born with it, a creative impulse that yearns to be expressed. There are those that contend that the creative urge is biologically linked to our need to reproduce, that our existence requires us having creative impulses. It is in the creative impulse that we yearn to teach our young, and bring something stunning into the world. Intricately meshed with our biological drives, the need to create is as certain as the need to eat, breath, sleep and dream. Every human on this earth has the desire to create, in one form or another. For some, the a brutal understanding of life has turned this need into the desire to create chaos or harm to others. Still it is a creative urge that demands the world notice they exist. It is a powerful force and should be honored as such. Art belongsto everyone. Art Supplies, like brushes, colored pencils, clay, Foam Board, and crayons, are often a major aspect of a child’s life. We all respect the artist in a child. They may like building things, drawing, playing music, or telling and listening to stories. How come, as we grow older, we treat our artistic impulses like clothes that we grow beyond?
Most adults consider art as a spectator sport or a hidden hobby. Beyond making a living, doing the laundry and getting the kids to bed there isn’t time to indulge in any creative impulse. Instead, most people think they can only experience art and creativity as consumers. So how is it possible to honor the artist in a world with out time or reward for the artistic endeavor?
A satisfying creative experience needs several things which involve the senses in the process, a vision of the thing to be created and focused attention. Anyone who has experienced the process of creative immersion can easily talk about the benefits and the joy that comes from the event. A painter lost in the colors and the subject, seeing intensely, a singer taken to a different place by the song she sings, the dancer feeling an enlightened grace descend around him, are all experiences that come from surrender to the creative instinct.
If someone has a creative impulse they should chase it down, be it writing, singing, painting or dance. The rewards are intense. For those unaware of their passion, it is important to find all the opportunities for expressing creativity in everyday life. For example, if making dinner, what happens when the chef puts all of their attention into the process? Bring the senses alive, taste, smell, and touch the food. Cut the carrot with complete attention. Arrange the salad with attention to the texture and color of the tomatoes, olives and carrots. Make it lovely and make it unique.
The reward for the effort come from the experience of creating something original. We all like to receive complements and appreciation, but the time spent fully focused on creation is often reward enough.