Author: Rob Kistner

My Perspective on Creativity

Creativity
by: Rob Kistner

I want to reflect on human creativity, considering it from several different perspectives. First, let’s consider arts and crafts.

Arts & Crafts — There are many different types of creative human expression that fall under these two general categories: writing, painting, sculpting, weaving, ceramics, acting, singing, dance – the list is quite long. The artist or craftsperson determines and generates the creation as a form of communication: an emotional communication that reaches out to the human soul and spirit – the higher self.

The artist or craftsperson deems a creative work to be art or craft by their intention. Society determines if the creation communicated effectively enough to become enduring art or craft, but all expression of human creativity has great value.

I firmly believe encouraging the expression of human creativity can make the world a better place. A better place because creativity is the expression of the higher self. The world would do well if everyone grew closer in touch with his or her higher self.

If people were in touch with their higher self it would help curtail the atrocities and injustices they commit against each other. It would also add momentum to the focus to bring our planet back from the brink on which it now teeters.

Everyone is capable of creating. Contrary to what some may believe, people do not have to be taught to be creative. It is not necessary to learn that which we are already capable of. However, creativity can be elevated, which is a worthwhile undertaking. Education and mentoring are two excellent approaches.

If someone seeks art or craft as part of their life path, especially as their main life path, then they should be encouraged. I believe society should play a role in this. Organizations that foster and nurture the arts and crafts, such as the National Endowment for the Arts, should be funded and actively supported. It is good to have resources available for the creative disciplines.

There should be no censorship of these types of creativity. Human expression should not be repressed. Ideas resulting from the arts and crafts need to do battle in the public arena so that the consensus winner can, and hopefully will dominate. Society has an uncanny ability to eventually sort out what is best for itself. We must trust that.

Other Human Creativity — In addition to the many fields of arts and crafts, the obvious domains of human creativity, it is essential to realize that all areas of cognitively-driven human endeavor could be considered creative. For the sake of this essay, I want to focus on a few more that generate significant, far-reaching results — science, technology, and medicine.

These are a different type of human creativity. These have a direct physical impact on the world and its people. Humankind must count on the fact that it has a significant core of individuals who will instinctively, and creatively, pursue and advance these particular fields. It is essential we advance them if we are to reverse the world’s current lean towards a cataclysmic tipping point.

That said, I do believe that, while we may not want to necessarily censor these fields of creativity, it is essential that we closely monitor them. We must find a way to safely and effectively usher in these advancements. The challenge we face is to temper the untenable rush toward science, technology, and medicine — especially to the degree it is driven by the pursuit of corporate profits.

The pursuit of science, technology, and medicine must be accompanied by reason gleaned from history. The over-zealous dash to adopt every discovery in these areas, and quickly and carelessly usher them into our daily lives, has already unleashed a chain of both macroscopic and microscopic events that seriously threaten the intertwined fabrics of our global ecosystem on many fronts – personal health, the oceans, our agriculture, the animals — the environment as a whole.

The fields of science, technology, and medicine are potent as never before. They hold the promise for our future, but only if we find a way to approach them, and the resulting discoveries, responsibly. With regard to the discoveries, we cannot abide the introduce-because-we-can mindset. It threatens global survivability.

Before it’s too late, we must begin a worldwide dialog concerning responsible creativity in these fields, in the research and development, and get the entire planet to join the conversation. From that conversation must arise a blueprint regarding the disposition and introduction of new discoveries in these fields, to which we all agree — and a mechanism to make the blueprint effective and binding.

BOTTOM LINE

We must encourage and support the participation, by all the people of the earth, in some form of creativity. Whether it is for personal expression or for the larger benefit of society, be it grand or modest — the act of human creativity has the potential to save the planet, and to save its inhabitants.

My Cabinetry Designs

N.B. all designs & artwork on this post © rob kistner

 

The cabinet above is one I designed for the MMC Series of Flexdécor Modular Furnishings. It is designed to fit snuggly in the corner of a room when doors, windows, fireplaces, etc. make any other location impossible. The style is called Deco.

The unit you see holds a 70″ HDTV. The left, center, and right front speakers of the surround sound system, as well as the subwoofer, are built into the cabinet. There are also two ample, whisper-fan cooled enclosures to house the AV gear. Lots of software storage.

Below are more of my furniture designs. The names you see in the upper portion of the image is the name of the particular style line to which it belongs.

All of the furniture I design is modular, which means many different configurations of useful funiture pieces can be configured in each style line. There are also a wide variety of finishes and accessory options available, so each piece can be highly personalized to an individual’s taste.

 

The piece above is a wardrobe configuration in the “Girddon” style.

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The piece above is a bookcase configuration in the “Taliesin” style.

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The piece above is a wine cupboard configuration in the “Zen” style.

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Above is an office ensemble configuration in the “Struxure” style.

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The piece above is a pocket-door AV configuration in the “Taliesin” style.

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The piece above is a china hutch configuration in the “Brittic” style.

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The piece above is an AV corner-cabinet configuration in the “Zen” style.

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The piece above is a mirrored dresser configuration in the “Deco” style.

What is your opinion regarding art/craft?

I would like to hear your thoughts and feelings regarding art and/or craft, whether writing, painting, sculpture, acting, designing, singing, and the like. Post whatever you feel is relevant to this topic.

Here are few questions you might address.

• Who determines what is art and/or craft, the person creating — or society?

• Is everyone creative?

• Can creativity be learned?

• In what ways are you creative?

• Does art and/or craft make the world a better place, worse place, or make no difference?

• Should people pursue, or be encouraged to pursue a life dedicated to art and/or craft?

• Is the “National Endowment for the Arts” a frivolous waste of tax dollars?

• Should creativity be censored?

Again, please respond to this post as you see fit. Make up your own questions and reply. I genuinely appreciate your doing so. Thanks!

My Chair Designs

N.B. all designs & artwork on this post © rob kistner

This chair above is one of my many chair designs. It is part of a seating series I call Setté•Euro. It is part of an upcoming full line of modular furniture called Flexdécor Modular Furnishings, which also includes cabinetry, tables, and lighting that I have designed.

The following are more contemporary chair styles which I have designed. Each style line includes single seats, love seats, sofas, and ottomans. There is a wide variety of coverings available, so considerable personalization is made easy.

The ensemble above is a chair with ottoman from the “Wing” style line.

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The single chair above is from the “Bacall” style line.

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The office chair above is from the “Solo” style line.

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The ensemble above is a chair and ottoman from the “Rex” style line.

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The single chair above is from the “Jak” style line.

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The single chair above is from the “Nico” style line.

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The sofa above is from the “Kushétte” style line.

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The single chair above is part of the Cinechaiseâ„¢ Series of home theater seating. This series features single seats, love seats, sofas, and multi-seat rows that can be joined with straight arms for straight rows, wedge arms for curved rows, or with no arms at all. The Cinechaise Series reclines, electrically or manually. Very large selection of coverings. This particular style is called Dax.