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MiNDFOOD (Australia)June, 2014Page: 34Section: General NewsRegion: Sydney, AUCirculation: 13500Type: Magazines LifestyleSize: 2,919.00 sq.cms.

of 6AUS: 1300 1 SLICE NZ: 0800 1 SLICE [email protected]

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CHAPTER TWO | CREATIVITY

Recent findings, published in Scientific Americanand the journal Plos One, have challengedthe theory that people who use the rightside of their brains most are more creativeand spontaneous, while those who tap intothe left side are more logical and analytical.Instead, it seems that the entire creative

process - from preparation to incubation to illumination toverification - consists of many interacting cognitive processesand emotions. Depending on the stage of the creative process,and what you're actually attempting to create, different brainregions are recruited to handle the task. While neuroscientistsare investigating what happens in the brain during the creativeprocess, one thing we do know is that often, creativity is blockedby performance anxiety, preconceived ideas and fear.

Dame Suzie Moncrieff, founder of creative stage spectacularand competition World of WearableArt (WOW), believes a lack ofcreativity comes from social conditioning and self-limiting thoughts.

"From our earliest years we are told that if we can't draw orpaint or sculpt or write, we aren't creative and [we] often acceptas the cold, hard truth that some people have it and some don't,"Moncrieff says. "What rubbish - creativity comes in all shapes andforms, and most of it is driven by a passionate outpouring andshouldn't be dictated by others' definitions... It's freeing sometimesjust to explore our own imagination and not be too caught up withwhether the output is deemed good or bad. Everything improveswith practice and creativity is no different.

"The sad reality is that when opportunities arise to applycreativity, many people are resolved to the belief that they are notartistic, therefore [they] shouldn't engage in creative activity."

WOW is now one of the most prestigious art and fashioncompetitions in the world and in 2010 was described by guestjudge Mark D'Arcy as "making Lady Gaga look like a librarian".

It attracts more than 300 entries from every creative fieldincluding film, fashion, photography, craft, design, sculpture,drama and the art worlds - not to mention those who may notwork in a creative field. "There are very few boundaries for entry,"says Moncrieff. "You certainly don't need a degree or to have goneto art school."

CULTIVATING CREATIVITYMany of us believe we're simply not blessed with creativity,and admire others' artistic feats from afar. But it turns out weall have an artistic side - and there are ways in which we canunleash that creativity.

So what is creativity, and why is it important?"It's how we grow, discover things, understand ourselves better,

connect with something beyond our intellect, transcend our egosand feel alive," says artist and art therapy teacher Irena Stenner,who runs art and creativity classes and art therapy groups forpersonal development as well as workplace workshops. •

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"Being in the creative flow is as exciting and energising asbeing in love. It connects us with an inner resourcefulness andan inner wisdom that is very hard to access through thinkingor talking. Once we plug into this other part of the brain,completely new ideas, insights and perspectives emerge."

Stenner believes the way the creative expression has beenmarked and judged in the education system is very damaging topeople's confidence.

"I've run many creative workshops with groups of people inworkplaces who haven't done any art since primary school andare convinced that they are not good at it. Once they are put atease through a series of non-threatening processes, they all enjoyit immensely and there is no-one who can't do it."

Stenner also works with adults who seek a creative approach tocounselling, as well as with disabled people one day a week at theDawn Trust. "Plugging into the creative flow with a group can bevery powerful and changes people," she says.

Art and creativity school The Learning Connexion has anInclusion Programme that enables students with intellectualdisabilities to study art at a tertiary level. "It makes art educationtruly inclusive and any kind of'special needs' methodologyobsolete," says Marcel Baaijens, inclusion coordinator and tutorat The Learning Connexion.

"Historically, people with intellectual impairments have beendenied access to art education, often on the assumption thatthey cannot make art. Many students with impaired linguisticcommunication skills find their voice through visual language."

Jonathan Milne, founder of The Learning Connexion,believes creativity works best when you 'fall in love' withwhatever captivates you.

"Einstein at age four fell in love with a magnetic compass,which eventually connected to the theory of relativity. Len Lye,perhaps New Zealand's most famous artist, fell in love with thenoise and light that burst forth when he kicked a tin can. Hiswhole career resonated with that single moment (never mindthat it came about because he was angry with his father)."

Art processes enable people to discover creativity throughpractice rather than by making futile attempts to follow amechanical recipe, says Milne. "Art also enables people tonavigate many of the routine obstacles to creativity. You canachieve good results if you're willing to join the conversation andyou can get past the negative backchat from your inner critic."

One group that is using creativity to break down barriersis Mixit, a creative project for young people from refugeebackgrounds "mixing it up" with migrants and locals.

The programme is led by dancer Wendy Preston, whohas a background in performance education working withmarginalised youth. Mixit uses dance, drama, music, aerialarts and performance to build confidence. Using the arts issuccessful, says Preston, "because it's a real leveller".

"It's inspirational and it has an energy to it. You just look at

the languages of music - it doesn't have ethnic divides, it hasgenres. It is a universal language, as is dance," Preston says.

"We run a non-judgemental environment so you just leaveyour ethnicity or baggage at the door. Everyone is in a neutralspace and it's an even playing field. Our performances are a realmash-up of the different disciplines. We don't have clear-cutdivisions between dance, drama and music. We tend to layerthem all up and merge them together."

Mixit works primarily with young people with refugeebackgrounds who are struggling to find their place in the world.

"The very core skills we support initially are personal skillsthat are very hard to measure but they manifest later, whichare skills of self-belief, self-esteem, confidence and the abilityto communicate and look someone in the eye; the ability tospeak in front of a group of people," Preston says. "These are allhuge things that most of these kids don't have when they startworking with us. The empowerment comes from having a truesense that you belong somewhere, that you are validated."

LATEST RESEARCHRobert Root-Bernstein, professor of physiology at MichiganState University, has spent more than 15 years researching andconsulting on creativity and is the co-author of Sparks of Genius:The Thirteen Thinking Tools of the World's Most Creative People.According to Root-Bernstein, almost all Nobel laureates in thesciences are actively engaged in the arts. They are 25 times aslikely as the average scientist to sing, dance or act, and 12 timesmore likely to write poetry or literature.

"Many connect their art with their scientific creativity,"Root-Bernstein says. "Successful innovators in sciences andtechnology are artistic people. Stimulate the arts and youstimulate innovation."

Australian fashion label Romance Was Born, co-founded anddesigned by Luke Sales and Anna Plunkett, is best known forcreating immersive and unforgettable contemporary experiencesthat provoke an emotional response.

For the past six months, Sales and Plunkett have beenworking with the National Gallery of Victoria (NGV) inMelbourne to curate a children's exhibition. Part of the projectinvolves producing an activity book.

"The central theme is encouraging children to be creativeand expressive and nurturing that side of things," Sales says.

"I know that, unlike me, a lot of children aren't that luckyto have that kind of environment where they are supported tobe expressive or creative. I grew up doing whatever I wanted. Iwas very creative and my mother really supported that. We wereallowed to paint wherever.

"The book is more geared to encouraging creativity andencouraging children to experiment with how they dress andwhat they do artistically and maybe even encourage parents toallow their children to do these things. •




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Romance Was Born kexhibits at Sydney'sCarriageworks. 1.Luella Bowman of theDawn Trust. ? feson

by Irena Stenner'sstudent Stella Enting. 3.Stenner's student, NigelMcSweeney. 4. TheLearning Connexion'sDiana Adams' work. 5.Mixit perform at Auckland'sInternational CulturalFestival. 6. Luke Sales andAnna Plunkett. 7. AlisonMorris of the LearningConnexion used rice papeito support plate glass.

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WHAT ISCREATIVITY?The dictionary definition ofcreative is "being able tocreate; inventive, imaginative".MiNDFOOD asked leadingcreative thinkers what theirdefinitions of creativity are.

DR JOHN DEMARTINIAuthor of The Values Factor:The Secret to Creating anInspired and Fulfilling Life"Whenever you transcend theinfluence of the outer world andallow the voice and the vision onthe inside to run your life and liveauthentically through inspiredhighest values - that is wheregenius is born."

ANDREAS MIKELLISHead of Fashion & TextileDesign at Auckland Universityof Technology"Creativity is the courage tounlearn and to be open toexplore the unknown."

DAME SUZIE MONCRIEFFFounder of World ofWearableArt"For me, creativity is thefreedom to dream, to exploreand to see everyday thingsdifferently. It's as much aboutnot being bound by conventionalthinking as it is about pushingartistic boundaries."

IRENA STENNERArt therapy teacher"I think creativity is the lifeforce within us that drives usto evolve. I find it fascinatingthat we are capable of creatingthings that have never existedbefore ... Creativity is not justabout art, it is about everyfield, including our mundaneeveryday life."

JONATHAN MILNEFounder of The LearningConnexion"Creativity is an openconversation ... Creativity worksbest when you 'fall in love1 withwhatever captivates you."

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PAINTINGEXERCISEIf you want to start beingvisually creative, start small, isart therapist Irena Stenner'sadvice. Get a visual diary,coloured pencils and maybesome watercolours. Do onesmall painting every day forabout 20 minutes. Start with acolour you feel drawn to. Makea small mark on the page.Choose a second colour thatgoes well with it. Add it to thefirst. Then let it grow with moremarks and other colours. Addcontext and allow the paintingto evolve.

Do one small painting likethis every day and you willexperience the evolution ofa visual language that allowsyou to connect with yourselfin a different way. It is moreimportant that you do it thanwhat it looks like. Interestingthings start to happen if yougive yourself the space andtime to experiment.

HOW TO BECREATIVE1. It's about getting into theflow and removing blocks,rather than trying hard orforcing things.2. Take it seriously. It doesmake a big difference toyour wellbeing; it makes youhappier and healthier.3. You need to make time tobe creative. It's like exercising;you need to plan ahead anddo it regularly.4. The more you do it theeasier it gets. It is less abouttalent and more about howmany hours you spend withyour creative pursuit.5. Don't be too outcome-focused. If you do 500drawings, only one of themmay be exceptional,6. Think of your chosenactivity, be it playing theguitar or drawing, as agood way to spend time.It leaves you feeling centredand connected.

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Left: Two Barb Bra WithLove by Sue Newbyand Bruce Haliday fromWOW's Bizarre Brasection. 1. Quixotic byMaria Flourou is part ofThe Mnemonics seriesin the Head On PhotoFestival. 2. FutureMemories - Mareeba byCatherine Nelson is in theHead On Photo Festival.3. WOW's Punk BirdFamily by Sean Purucker.4. Moshe Rosenzveig. 5.An untitled work by MariaFlourou is part of TheMnemonics series in theHead On Photo Festival.6. Dame Suzie Moncrieffwith In-tui-tion by TraceySmith. 7. WOW'sNoor Reverie byRebecca Maxwell.




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"So many kids I know, their parents won't let them paint

in the house or won't buy them a block of moulding clay and

are worried about things getting dirty. Through the book,

the activities might encourage parents to let their kids do

those things."

The yet-to-be-titled exhibition opens in October and will run

for three months. The duo is working with the gallery's existing

collection and creating "our own museum within a museum" for

children, though it is still inclusive of adults, Sales says.

DEMOCRATISING CREATIVITYHead On Photo Festival in Sydney is open to anyone and attracts

more than 2500 entries every year. Head On has grown into a

full-blown festival that hosts leading photographers from around

the world, yet was created as a response to loftier competitions

that restricted entry to professional photographers, says founder

and director Moshe Rosenzveig. The competition has recently

added three new award categories: Mobile Phone, Multimedia

and Landscape. Its Portrait prize is in its 10th year and

transcends the idea of a traditional portrait.

"It's all about 'can you tell something about the person?' So

it's very wide and democratic," explains Rosenzveig.

Meanwhile, this April, Auckland's AUT University's

inaugural Shapeshifting conference brought together members

of the international community of "experimental, risk-taking

and visionary people", who came to share their work and ideas.

"Creativity surrounds us. It is exactly what makes a

difference to our lives, culture and our society," says Andreas

Mikellis, head of Fashion & Textile Design at AUT.

"Without creativity there is no culture and without culture

we are unable to truly express who we are. I'm always inspired

by ideas that have a disruptive approach, things that give us an

alternative point of view."

Creativity can bring a diverse group together, says Moncrieff.

"From my experience with WOW ... audiences, whether they are

in Hong Kong or Wellington, experience the journey of the show

the same way - it is truly remarkable."

"Creativity is something that has a place in all of our lives, in

the same way as exercising and keeping your body healthy," adds

Stenner. "No-one would say that we shouldn't exercise because we

aren't Olympic athletes. But people believe being creative is just

the privilege of a few talented people. I would like this to change

and for children to learn how to use creative processes to support

themselves and to stop thinking about it in terms of talent.

"Of course there are some incredibly talented people among

us, but that doesn't mean that no-one else should have access

to this inner resource. It is a fantastic th ing to make t ime for in

your life as a way of maintaining wellbeing, staying connected

with yourself and to feel alive." C5

.MiNDFOOD.COM/Go online to read an interview with New York documentaryfilmmaker and photographer Cheryl Dunn.

KEYWORDS: PHOTOGRAPHER, DUNN




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press clip - dr john demartini · 2018. 8. 9. · cultivating creativity many of us believe...

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