I hear so many people say, “I’m just not creative.” Nonsense! Everyone is creative.
So why do so many deny having an artist side? Answer – Perhaps there’s a conspiracy at play.
Gordon MacKenzie, a retired career executive of Hallmark Cards, asked elementary students around the country, “How many artists are in the room? Please raise your hands.” In his book, “Orbiting the Giant Hairball,” MacKenzie discusses his findings.
“First Grade: En mass the children leapt from their chairs, arms waving wildly, eager hands trying to reach the ceiling. Every child was an artist. Second Grade: About half the kids raised their hands, shoulder high, no higher. The raised hands were still. Third Grade: At best, 10 kids out of 30 would raise a hand . . . tentatively . . . self-consciously. And so on up through the grades. The higher the grade, the fewer children raised their hands. By the time [he] reached sixth grade, no more than one or two dis so and then only ever-so-slightly . . . guardedly . . . their eyes glancing from side to side uneasily, betraying a fear of being identified by the group as a ‘closet artist.’”
What happened? Were all the artists moving away or transferring to private schools? No. MacKenzie’s theory is that, in society’s efforts to train children away from natural foolishness, the gift of art (i.e., of being creative) is unintentionally suppressed. He believes that creativity is in each of us, but from birth onward we are pressured to be “normal” . . . that a “cartel” of sorts exists, made up of lawmakers, bureaucrats, clergy, teachers, parents, older siblings, spouses, coworkers, friends, even strangers . . . all the “normal” folks.
This cartel teaches normalcy and tames creative genius. The meaning of “no” and the benefits of boundaries are overstressed. Anyone who runs afoul of the norm, exhibiting their genius, is often ridiculed or scolded. So it is no surprise that by the sixth grade, most will not admit to having creative gifts. This is tragic.
My heritage of faith is that creativity began with Elohim, the Strong Creator – God Almighty. I believe He created everything that exists, even those random things we so enjoy like fireflies, the fragrance of magnolia blossoms and Copper River salmon. He was and is very creative, and scripture notes that God made the human race in His own image. Therefore, we necessarily are creative.
This was demonstrated early on, as Adam named all the birds and animals. What fun that must have been. I can envision Adam now, sitting on a boulder, “Boon . . . Baboon!” Imagine how long it must have taken to name all those creatures. We take an entire nine-month gestation period to name but one baby! Nonetheless, creativity is in our DNA.
America’s founding fathers recognized this fact, as they wove creativity into the very fabric of this nation. Article 1, Section 8 of the United States Constitution vested in Congress the power to promote and protect creativity of all Americans through copyrights and other means. Indeed, American is the so-called “marketplace of ideas.”
Albert Einstein said, “The intuitive mind is a sacred gift and the rational mind is a faithful servant. We have created a society that honors the servant and has forgotten the gift.”
Beatrix Potter agreed: “Thank goodness I was never sent to school; it would have rubbed off some of the originality.”
And the great Pablo Picasso said, “All children are artists. The problem is how to remain an artist once [we] grow up.”
But is the “cartel” solely to blame? I don’t think so. We often refuse to step out of the box due to a misperception of what constitutes “creativity.” Merriam-Webster states that to “create” is to bring into being; to cause to exist. I agree.
To illustrate, grab a crayon and sheet of blank paper. Draw anything you wish. Voila! You are creative; you have brought that drawing into being! You are an artist!
Far too many people seem to equate the word “creative” with “clever.” These two virtues are different. “Clever” means “marked with wit or ingenuity.” So we can be creative without being clever. What’s more, clever will come with practiced creativity.
Go on now . . . Use your creative gifts! You were born creative. You can conquer the crayon cartel!
© 2012 Russ Riddle. All rights reserved.