Participation Type
Poster
Session Title
Poster
Presentation #1 Title
Community-based Creativity: Appalachian Musicians and Craftspeople as Catalysts for Sustainability and Change
Presentation #1 Abstract or Summary
Community-based Creativity is the term we are using to differentiate creative contributions that are important to a smaller community such as a town or region from creative contributions that are important to larger groups such as countries or cross-national cultures. This poster will share examples and analyses of materials Community-based Creativity from the Mars Hill University Ramsey Center for Southern Appalachian Studies. Most creativity research focuses on contributions from those who have had a more global impact, as evidenced by the number of creativity books that analyze the lives and times of people such as DaVinci, Darwin, Edison, or Einstein (e.g., see Simonton, 1999; Eysenck, 1995). While these analyses are important, they have little potential for application to any real-world scenario since researchers agree that it is almost impossible to identify or cultivate such creative geniuses a priori. Creative geniuses of the magnitude of DaVinci are so rarified, that it is not practical to think we can do anything but analyze their work after it is complete. From the MHU archives, we have culled: 1) reflections about individual creative processes and 2) reflections about how creative contributions from individuals changed communities. With this information, we will compare and contrast Community-based Creativity with large-scale creativity. Our main goal will be to identify similarities and differences between these types of creativity. A secondary goal, will be to offer insights about how Community-based Creativity supports a community, and how it can be cultivated within a community.
At-A-Glance Bio- Presenter #1
Jonna Kwiatkowski is an Associate Professor at Mars Hill University for the Psychology and Art Therapy programs. Her main area of research is Creativity, which she has explored through neuroscience, cognition, and educational research. This project through the Ramsey Center for Regional Studies at Mars Hill University is her first attempt to use archival materials to understand creativity in a community.
At-A-Glance Bio- Presenter #2
Amethyst Strivelli is a Junior Art Therapy major at Mars Hill University. She was born and raised in Buncombe County, and has a deep appreciation for Appalachian arts, music and culture. She is the student Hart-Melvin Fellowship recipient and intends to use her knowledge gained in her future Art Therapy practice.
Community-based Creativity: Appalachian Musicians and Craftspeople as Catalysts for Sustainability and Change
Community-based Creativity is the term we are using to differentiate creative contributions that are important to a smaller community such as a town or region from creative contributions that are important to larger groups such as countries or cross-national cultures. This poster will share examples and analyses of materials Community-based Creativity from the Mars Hill University Ramsey Center for Southern Appalachian Studies. Most creativity research focuses on contributions from those who have had a more global impact, as evidenced by the number of creativity books that analyze the lives and times of people such as DaVinci, Darwin, Edison, or Einstein (e.g., see Simonton, 1999; Eysenck, 1995). While these analyses are important, they have little potential for application to any real-world scenario since researchers agree that it is almost impossible to identify or cultivate such creative geniuses a priori. Creative geniuses of the magnitude of DaVinci are so rarified, that it is not practical to think we can do anything but analyze their work after it is complete. From the MHU archives, we have culled: 1) reflections about individual creative processes and 2) reflections about how creative contributions from individuals changed communities. With this information, we will compare and contrast Community-based Creativity with large-scale creativity. Our main goal will be to identify similarities and differences between these types of creativity. A secondary goal, will be to offer insights about how Community-based Creativity supports a community, and how it can be cultivated within a community.
