ArtCentral is Exploring ideas for Creativity
By Elizabeth Freer
Matthews Opera House, ArtCentral Manager
Do you think you are a creative person? Were you creative as a child? Have you ever built something without following directions? Improvised and found a solution? Fixed a computer or piece of equipment? Made up a joke? Explained a difficult concept to a child? Mowed the lawn this week in a different pattern than last week? Each requires creativity.
Creativity is not owned by artists, magicians or scientists; it belongs to all of us. My creativity and your creativity are so different that they possibly cannot be compared.
Creativity is a mindset that can be practiced and cultivated – just like every other muscle and ability. It can also fade away when not used. Creativity is a process, not an outcome. There is no wrong answer in creativity.
Creative thinking might take us on an adventure, inspire us to prepare a favorite food in a new way, or find a solution to a problem that has been perplexing. It might lead us to take a new turn off a loved and well-known hiking path to explore a different area. Creative thinking can be risky business!
When we exercise our creativity, we gain new perspectives and see the world around us a little differently. Creativity makes the world a more interesting place. It might help develop a unique solution to a community issue or bring about a meaningful personal realization.
If we try on this concept that we all have our own creativity, then what does creativity look like for me, for you, and for our community?
ArtCentral is exploring ideas of creativity in our community and we invite you to join us. We are using our collective creative thinking to identify ways that the arts can be a tool for: addressing social and economic community development challenges; increasing rural connectivity; and embracing and celebrating opportunities.
You can join ArtCentral by sending us an email with your thoughts on creativity, and by participating in ArtCentral projects. Express your individual creativity by putting together a Linking Fences project this summer. Have you seen the Linking Fences projects that are springing up through the snow in Spearfish?
Residents and business owners are urged to don their creative thinking caps and beautify the Spearfish community by designing and constructing their own fence art at home and work. Fabrications promoting artistic interpretations of belonging, inclusion, encouragement, and unity are highly encouraged. Visit www.MatthewsOpera.com/community-lf/ for more information on how to participate. Take pictures of decorated fences around Spearfish this summer, share on social media, and use #LinkingFences hashtag. Biking and walking tours of registered Linking Fences will be planned for the fall.
Embrace and explore your creativity!
ArtCentral is a community collaboration, funded by a 2016 Bush Foundation Community Innovation Grant, to centralize the arts as an integrated asset for inclusivity, economic development, and outreach in Spearfish. As this is a community-based project, we welcome feedback and suggestions, as well as volunteers. Please contact us by email atArtCentral@MatthewsOpera.com.
Lead by Elizabeth Freer, ArtCentral manager at The Matthews, the project brings together a committee of advocates, artists, and residents working together over two years to create a new model for arts planning and outreach, focusing on the themes of belonging, inclusion, equity, rural connectedness, cultivating creativity, imagining space, and the arts as a community development catalyst.
“I am excited for this opportunity to work in Spearfish with The Matthews on this innovative and important project to advance the arts in our community,” stated Freer. “I encourage local residents who are interested in participating in this process to apply to be a part of the committee.”
