by Jason Robert LeClair Illustration & Theatrical Design


We are in the age of a possible new renaissance. The tools to change the world are at the fingertips of our children. Hand held computers with more power and memory than was ever imagined possible, the internet, 3-D printers, cars with artificial intelligence, etc. are all in our world today. These devices have arrived here via creative minds testing the limits and seeing the world as limitless. The next wave of creativity must be fostered to reach the next great leap beyond human limitation. How do we foster creativity? Start with the youth of your community. Promote the thought processes that expand the mind past linear thinking.


This is what has made humanity survive and thrive. Our creativity, the approach to a problem that differs from the expected helps us expand. The difference in our approach now is we see creativity as futile, or frivolous for nothing but “rampant commercialism” (Milbrant, Milbrant, 2011, p. 10). The most creative things we see in the public eye are commercials during the Super Bowl, or apps that send us into a cultural frenzy.


But we miss such things as the NOvA Particle detector. This machine shows neutrino interactions, one of the rarest occurrences in nature (Salles, 2014). Discoveries and invention on grand scales happen every day around us, but we seldom take notice.


This is where the creative, artistic thinker comes into play. Conceptualizing innovations is not the realm of just scientists and mathematicians, it is the visionary thinkers that bring these to light. “…the arts connect and engage people more deeply and in new ways of seeing, which often elicits social bonds and encourages community cohesion,” (Milbrant, Milbrant, 2011, p. 11) it is this new way of seeing and shared community goals that result in tremendous discovery and innovation. Yet we downplay arts education, the spawning ground of creativity. The creative sectors of business take up 10% of the nation’s economy (Freedman, 2007). This substantial percentage does not incorporate anything outside of visual culture. The creative aspects of computer science, mathematics, biology, genetics, engineering, etc. are all in need of creative thought to progress and thrive. Yet, we are focused on test scores to keep our jobs. Arts teachers as well are being called upon to increase student’s academics (Freedman, 2007).


22 | Rhode Island Creative Magazine


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