Why Create?

I often visit and revisit the question; why Create? I know that the fact that even approaching this question is not actually finding a definition, but it is about opening up what creation can be. -To express ourselves -To be fully human -As an affirmation of our existence -To share with others -To entertain (ourselves and others) -To surprise -To capture a moment -To expand (to delve into the throes of our imaginations...come out covered in a mush of possibilities) -To imagine -To escape -To center ourselves -To relieve stress -To calm down -To make something personal -Because creating is like breathing -Because it is natural and part of us to create -We are always creating whether we know it or not -To give meaning to the ordinary -To get a thought/idea/concept/picture out of one’s head onto paper, canvas, walls, clay...to give tangible form to something intangible -To problem solve -To know we are not alone -To be different -To communicate -To send an idea or message -To make the world a more interesting place -To show a part of one’s self that can’t be put into words -To experiment -To find a new perspective -To stimulate others to think or wonder -To notice the overlooked -To slow down -To remember -To feel connected This list recognizes our humanness, and recognizing requires us to pay attention. Pay attention, perhaps, to the texture under your feet, the taste of an old stamp, the veins of your grandmother’s hands...pay attention to the overlooked kid in the hall, the needs of your world, the longing in your heart, your desire to see, to create, to give. It is amazing to me to be able to create and learn from other people’s creations. When I see others creating and making art it makes me want to keep on going because I saw them creating, pursuing, and exploring ideas. Being in a community of creators and fellow artists helps me see the importance of creating even when you feel like you can’t. Art taught me that I can create--and that the joy isn’t just about ability, talent, or the end product. I learned that the process is often as valuable to me as the end result. The act of creating and making with others has given me confidence in my past work and...in art to come.