As many of you know, the studio year is informed by an annual research question. This years, How might creative expression amplify our love of the natural world?, began to feel a bit teacher-directed. Watching the children I realized they were asking for something else. I was reminded that child IS nature and that I was approaching the question from the conditioned bias of disconnection. I asked myself what are they were needing? Play, curiosity, experimentation, relationship and autonomy are fundamental to child development and one of the evolutionary reasons that humans have such a long childhood. They were asking to play, experiment, collaborate and construct their own leaving. Well I can get behind that!
Why is this so important?
We live in hyper-connected culture, yet people feel more anxious and lonely than ever before. As a kid my free time was spent playing freely on the street, my kids was not. Children today have more and more structured play and scheduled activities but often lack real opportunities for un-choreographed, unscripted, unmonitored interactions. Interactions in which they will fight, make rules, change them, make friends, end friendships and make friends again. This is growing the social brain, learning the value of social capital and having fun to boot! They were asking for was permission to be children.
So the studio is responding with a shift in research. The new question, How might creativity and play amplify our experience of one another and the natural world? is already underway. This short video provides a small window into our days.
We can all help! How? By talking to the people around us, trying new things, risking rejection and learning to navigate the complex systems of relationship with the courage of our younger selves! Together we can invest in systems of Belonging.
