CREATIVE SPARK #24: Namesake

Juliet:

"What's in a name? That which we call a rose
By any other name would smell as sweet."

Romeo and Juliet (II, ii, 1-2)

The Great Bard William Shakespeare used his fair Juliet to deliver a message about intuition and knowledge of familiar objects.

When we see something we recognize, does it matter what name is used to describe it?

Does a name change our perceptions of an object? How?

Study the picture above. What do you see? What would you call this object?

Now put your research skills to the test and figure out the actual name for the item pictured here. Search for similar images on the web. Share your new knowledge with a friend.

ARTIST PROFILE: Muralist Jack Pabis

Muralists are visionaries that invite us into other worlds. They take empty walls, apply brushstrokes of paint, and create fantastical spaces that inspire hours of daydreaming.

Jack Pabis is an extraordinary artist whose imagination seemingly knows no bounds. Whether he's painting thought-provoking gardens or fun-loving zoos, his art inspires us to dream.

Bravo Jack, and keep leading us down the path of your imagination!




To see more of Jack's incredible work, visit www.jackpabis.com

CREATIVE SPARK #23: Fleeting Moments

American Poet Robert Frost was a man given to keen observation of the natural world. In his 1923 poem "Nothing Gold Can Stay" he describes a fleeting phase of organic growth.

Nature's first green is gold,
Her hardest hue to hold.
Her early leafs a flower;
But only so an hour.
Then leaf subsides to leaf.
So Eden sank to grief,
So dawn goes down to day.
Nothing gold can stay.

What do Frost's words mean to you?

Can you emulate his natural world observations with one of your own?

How would you describe the first snowflake in a storm?

CREATIVE SPARK #22: Message

You're sleep-rumpled and groggy. You discover someone has left a message on your bedroom floor.

What does the word mean?

Why has this message been left it for you?

CREATIVE SPARK #21: Treasure

History is filled with tales of ordinary people discovering untold riches from the sea uncovered by a storm.

Imagine this. You're beach combing along a deserted shore and your foot skips across something round and crusted with years worth of saltwater protection. You pause. You study the object. You pick it up and hold it in your hand.

Describe the item you've just found. How does it make you feel? Does it conjure up images of pirates' riches or lost heirlooms?

Have you discovered your fortune?

CREATIVE SPARK #20: STORM!

You're stranded at a beach house on a tiny island with a major storm headed your way. Food supplies are running low. Power is gone. Marina docks are submerged, water crossings are impossible, and airplanes can't land.

Prepare!

How will you ration your limited supplies?

How will you handle a medical emergency?

What would you do if the house begins to flood?