There is much to be said about creativity and the liberal arts these days. On the one hand, we are told that it is the liberal arts that boosts creativity - and ultimately productivity (if you want to think in only dollars and cents). On the other hand, high school students are told to go into STEM courses (science, technology, engineering and mathematics) if they want to end up with a job as well as a university degree. Well, we have had Einstein telling us that imagination is important and many successful businessmen stating that it was the liberal arts that broadened their thinking and led to their success. Two things have crossed my path lately that add to what is definitely my own bias in favour of liberal arts. Creativ.com is producing a magazine that is the most beautiful magazine I've seen. It features stunning photography, stimulating ideas and impressive art work. In the two issues I've seen, I was especially impressed with the cut paper work of Maude White, wonderful cartoon building-size murals by Millo in Turin, and paintings by Asa Kucherevskaya (Ukraine), Leonid Afremov (Mexico), and Jeremy Mann of California, USA. While Creativ does have a website, there is something special about holding this glossy magazine in your hands. Alas, the low Canadian dollar makes the magazine a bit pricey this side of the 49th. I've also been reading "A Teacher's Tale" by Joe Gilliland who had more than 50 years teaching at the college level- a career he basically stumbled upon by taking university classes (aided by the GI bill) with no clear goal in mind. His love of reading and thinking about the ideas presented in books is given in much thought-provoking detail in the 600 pages of this memoir. He argues that Science isn't enough. "Science requires the imagination that questions the absolutist's certitudes and math is the tool with which the certitudes are tested." His round-about route to his life's work is inspiring. He states "Success in life is not determined by the wealth one accumulates in his or her search for a calling, for a life's work. Success relies on satisfaction in the pursuit of happiness and education is one of the keys to that feeling of success and that earned happiness." If you are a reader, you will really enjoy this book - and probably end up with an arm's length list of more books to read! "Cherchez le Chat" - the above painting was planned as a creative approach to a presentation of my red lilies. They are impressively tall plants and I wanted to convey the "jungle in Richmond" feeling about them. This led to thinking about Henri Rousseau who created jungle paintings by going no further than a conservatory. Obviously, my painting needed an animal - and what better than a prowling black cat? The cat is better seen in real life than in a photograph, but I'm sure you can figure out where he is. Although Digby doesn't have a proper tail, the painted cat does.
