Community=Connection=Creativity, Systems=Seperation=Stagnant

"The ability to have creative thoughts and innovative ideas is one of the most admired human traits, it actually helps to define us as humans. While we may not fully understand how the creative process works we know that creativity does not originate from an external muse but from within. It can be trained and encouraged.
Creative thoughts blossom when our minds are in a state of relaxation or our body engaged in physical activity
The creative process generates the new by seeing the know in an unusual way. It is founded on a sense of wonder and fed by the ability to pursue an idea simply to satisfy our curiosity.

The hormone dopamine stimulates neural networks in the frontal brain. These networks have access to the long term memory located at the back of the brain. These two brain regions are usually not strongly connected but in creative process they are brought together in a state of exaltation." (BodyWorks Exhibition: Science Museum, Vancouver)

The last few days have been extremely busy and really exciting for us. To summarise:
Spent the last week in and around Vancouver. I had the wonderful opportunity to spend the day with Shelly Klammer at the George Derby Centre in Burnaby. Shelly runs a programme called Artworks, which is an open workshop studio for residence of this wonderful care home. Shelly's studios are well equipped with a range of art materials and looms and the studio is open to all residents to drop by and take part in art. Here I met some real entrepreneurs, who in their later lives (80-100) are discovering that they are artists and that they can make a living and gain wonderful experiences by creating work. I met Joyce here, who is a resident from the UK and who randomly grew up in and around LIttleborough, a village that is about 5 miles from where I live. We spent some time together looking at her wonderful work and talking England!

I have had the opportunity to meet up with several of the guys from the conference and talk to them further about their work. Took part in a very inspiration and interesting workshops being run by Richard Coaten and have also arranged with Dalia that Purple Patch Arts will host the 2012 international conference for Creative Expression, Creativity and Dementia. Woop!!!

Have since had a few hectic days travelling from Vancouver to Cape Town. 40 hours with no sleep, yikes....makes one somewhat dizzy. Have now slept and am loving the fact that I am in my favourite street in Cape Town writing a blog about a wonderful adventure. All Sweet.

Have plans to relax for the weekend prior to starting more research next week. Spending some time with Altziemers SA next week which will be insightful and different I am sure.

Sam is great, loving Cape Town too. Big Love, Peace and Energy to all.