In just a few days, it will be Christmas. I’m still grading papers, I haven’t baked my usual cookies, and my house doesn’t remotely resemble anything on Pinterest. And yet it doesn’t matter. Really. It doesn’t. For me, this is at heart a sacred season, shared across the global Christian community. As long as I … Continue reading
I’m back from an amazing 40th anniversary trip to Mainland China and Tibet (yes, obviously, we were married as babes!) On one hand, it was a blissful opportunity to leave everything work-related behind, but on the other, it was an immersion in creativity. One of the wonderful things about studying creativity is that it gives … Continue reading
What does creativity look like? What makes individuals creative? What might hold them back? Interestingly, your answers to those questions may be different, depending on where you live. In one recent study* researchers surveyed teachers in China, Germany, and Japan to find out how they envisioned creativity, whether they thought creativity could be exhibited in … Continue reading
A recent article in the Creativity Research Journal had an intriguing title, beginning, “Tell Me Your Name and I’ll Tell You How Creative Your Work Is.” The article looked at how a creator’s name and gender affected judgments about the work’s creativity. I found the results pretty disturbing. Authors Izabela Lebuda and Maciej Karwowski presented … Continue reading
This is the time of year when I vacillate between being grateful to see the semester wind down and thinking about all the things I hope to do better next term. In case you, too, are in the mood for dreaming about next year’s exciting options (or for my Australian friends, embarking on a new … Continue reading
Recently I had the wonderful opportunity to hear a performance of The Silk Road Ensemble, an extraordinary group of musicians based in the Silk Road Project. As described by their website: The Silk Road Project is an internationally minded performing arts nonprofit with cultural and educational missions to promote innovation and learning through the arts. … Continue reading
One of the great gifts of a career that runs on a school calendar is that we can claim at least two “New Years” each year. We start the school year (whenever it begins) with resolutions to be our best teaching selves, and then, in January, we have another chance for a fresh start. So … Continue reading
As this is posted, I will be somewhere on the probably-snowy roads, visiting my in-laws for the holidays. I know many of you will be equally busy so, for today, here’s some lovely Christmas music, results of creativity past and present. Clearly, Christmas is part of both my traditions and my faith. I am amazed … Continue reading
For many years, one of the favorite Ann Arbor Christmas traditions was a large crèche (nativity scene) display, with examples from all corners of the world. That particular display is no longer available, but Christmas nativities remain a wonderful example of creative expression across cultures. There are not many opportunities to watch artists from all … Continue reading
Want to be more creative? Take a trip! Maybe. When I think about “highlight memories” of my life thus far, many of them revolve around travel. When I was a teenager, I had the chance to live in Luxembourg for a summer, speaking fractured French (and a little Luxembourgish!) and having the time of my … Continue reading
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