Creativity Cures

Soon, we begin a new bi-monthly feature on Dose of CREATIVITY called creativity cures. My goal is to provide one small dose based on my own experience that will help you develop or enhance your creative thinking ability. While there is no formula for sparking creativity, there are small things that can help shift your perspective. Some may work for you and some may not. The purpose is to get you to try something different. Creativity starts with an open mind and an exposure to a wide range of ideas.

USA: United States Artists

(Courtesy of United States Artists and the Urban Institute)
I think this graph says a lot about how we view the arts in this country. From this statistic, USA, United States Artists was created to support artists. Their goal is to inspire innovation at its source by investing in artists. Last year, they awarded grants to 50 artists totalling $2.5 million. The organization is funded by foundations, arts patrons and corporations and awards $50,000 grants in the following disciplines: Architecture & Design, Crafts & Traditional Arts, Dance, Literature, Media Arts, Music, Theater Arts and Visual Arts.

• Learn more about becoming a fellow here.

Wack! Art and the Feminist Revolution

(Image Courtesy of MOCA LA)

Ok, to say that I am a bit obsessed with the feminist art movement is an understatement. I spent over 6 years in undergrad and grad school doing research on it. So when this exhibition debuted earlier this year, I was ecstatic. The feminist art movement transformed the landscape of the art world in the latter half of the 20th C. It opened up new dialogues about what it means to be a woman artist and has paved the way for the artists of today.

• If you've seen the exhibition in LA, please let me know what you thought, since I won't be making it out there. Thanks!

Online Magnetic Poetry

If you've ever played magnetic poetry on your refrigerator, then you will love the online version. It's a great way to jump start creative thinking when you are blocked.

• Try the artist version or any of the others for inspiration.

Chinese Holiday

My collage, Chinese Holiday, will be featured in the National Collage Society's Postcard Exhibition at the Art Dialogue Gallery in Buffalo, NY.

• Check out the exhibition if you are in western New York. It will be up till July 13.

Creativity Portal

I'm happy to now be a part of the Creativity Portal. If you haven't been there, I'd recommend a visit to explore all things creative.

• Find me there.

Collage

After working on the pieces for my mail art class I became inspired and took a collage class at the Cuyahoga Valley Art Center to further explore this fascinating art form. Here is an example of what I created.

• Try creating your own collage using found objects.

China's Creative Class

Hoping to transform the country from a manufacturing hub, the Chinese embrace creativity.

• Read about it here from Fast Company.