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...with Creativity

Community Event!! August 11 in Sugar Land

August 10, 2018

Come to hang out with Texans Recovering Together at the Sugar Land Branch Library THIS Saturday, August 11th! There will be information on Hurricane Preparedness and Stress Management in the morning followed by an art event for the community – Fort Bend residents can come and create something to submit for The Harvey Experience (http://www.fortbendrecovers.org/with-creativity/).  Art supplies will be provided!

 

When:  Saturday, August 11, 2018

Where:  Sugar Land Branch Library (550 Eldridge Rd, Sugar Land, TX 77478)

 

Timeline:

10:30 am -12:30 pm:  Hurricane Preparedness and Stress Management seminar

1:30 pm – 4:30 pm:  Community Art Event

 

Please contact Mansi Mehta for more info and/or questions:

mansimehta@esc.net

832-433-8342”

 

The Harvey Experience Submission Deadline Extended!

August 1, 2018

***Fort Bend Recovers…with Creativity has extended the deadline to submit creative works to the Harvey Experience.  You can now submit works through August 15, 2018!***

Visit the website here for more details: http://www.fortbendrecovers.org/with-creativity/

Contact us at http://www.fortbendrecovers.org/contact-us/ or by calling 281-342-6185

Join us for…The Harvey Experience

July 3, 2018

Join the Fort Bend community for the Harvey Experience on August 25th, 2018 at Constellation Field in Sugar Land!

The Harvey Experience will be an exhibition of original creative works created by Fort Bend County residents who have been impacted by Hurricane Harvey. 

The event is free to attend! 


Details of the Event

Where: Constellation Field 

When: Saturday, August 25, 2018 from 12:00 pm to 2:00 pm 


For more information on the event and how to submit works visit the Fort Bend Recovers…with Creativity page: http://www.fortbendrecovers.org/with-creativity/ 

 

Creative Blocks by Dr. Amy Harkins

June 5, 2018

For my final research project in graduate school, I conducted a combined qualitative and quantitative research study called “The Happy Families Studies: Narratives on Childhood and Creative Experiences”.  My overarching research question built upon the work of my mentor Dr. Barbara Kerr and was designed to learn about the relationship between creativity and positive family environments. One subject within the study that was particularly valuable to me was the information gathered about Creative Blocks.

The Creative Block. The experience of having a “creative block” was a very common and frustrating experience for the interviewees in the study. They described feeling as if they were at a “road block,” or “looking into a black box,” where they could “see nothing.” It was a time when ideas stopped coming, writing felt difficult, or interpersonally they were unable to make connections or decisions. Feelings of being overwhelmed were common. It seemed as if they were hyper-focused, either too narrowly or too broadly, and found it difficult to shift to another vantage point.

The Source of the Block. Sometimes the source of the creative block was a perceived lack of resources or overly confining parameters superimposed upon the project by some outside force. Conversely, there were times when a lack of direction or feedback about what was expected inhibited productivity because the project was so defuse it was hard to know where to begin. Some interviewees struggled with the demands of deadlines and some really needed deadlines to stay motivated. When conditions for creativity were not satisfied, creative productivity declined or ceased entirely. For some, creative blocks were both depressing and caused by depression.

How Creative Blocks End. The strategies used to get beyond a creative block were often focused upon getting a new perspective.

Taking a Break: Sometimes walking away from the project, or leaving it alone for a little while was the best way to undo a block. Several interviewees said the blessing their work was that they had so many different projects in progress simultaneously; there was always something else they could do to be productive. Sometimes they would leave work, socialize with friends or relax with family members. Also, sleeping was a great way to take a break because sometimes a brilliant idea would arise between the hours of 2 and 5 am.

Talking to Others: Consulting with other people often provided the interviewees with a spring board they needed to return to a project with renewed enthusiasm. They did not look for someone to “solve” the problem for them. Rather, they wanted others to engage in the decision process with them, ask questions, and offer “what if” scenarios. When a creative block ended, it seemed like a dam had broken and a flood of ideas would rush into their awareness.

Having Faith: When the above strategies did not work, the interviewees turned to faith, trust, or prayer. Some would “raise the problem up to God” and ask for guidance. Some would let go of the problem, trusting that with time it would resolve itself. A few interviewees said they might begin to question their interest in continuing in the direction they had been pursuing. If an answer did not come in time, one woman said that was a signal to her that she was on the wrong path and her spiritual guardians were blocking her way for a reason. Most interviewees knew when to stop working on a problem that seemed permanently stuck and could reinvest their energy in another area of their life.

Seeking Help: Several interviewees said that they had experienced prolonged creative blocks, lasting for several years. One cause of a prolonged creative block was depression caused by chemical imbalance. Other causes were situational, like after an illness, death in the family, natural disaster or other crisis. Seeking professional advice from doctors and mental health professionals proved valuable in these instances.

Creative productivity was greatest for the interviewees who fostered a feeling of playfulness, flexibility, and discovery in their work environment. Furthermore, involvement in fun hobbies and time spent with family and/or friendship networks supported overall happiness and creative productivity.

 

Suggested readings:

Csikszentmihalyi, M. (1996). Creativity: Flow and the psychology of discovery and invention. New York: HarperCollins.

Hallowell, E. M. (2002). The childhood roots of adult happiness: Five steps to help kids create and sustain lifelong joy. New York: Ballantine.

Piirto, J. (1992). Understanding those who create. Dayton, OH: Ohio Psychology Press.

About Dr. Harkins:

Amy Harkins, Ph.D. is a licensed psychologist working with Easter Seals of Greater Houston, Mental Health Program. Dr. Harkins meets with adults one-on-one for talk therapy that is goal-directed, strengths-based and aims to make small, yet meaningful changes to improve the well-being and quality of life of her clients. She has extensive experience working with elders, Veterans and their loved ones, and recently responded to the emotional needs of people recovering from Hurricane Harvey. Dr. Harkins has specialized skills in working with clients who have survived traumatic life events and can assist them in healing the emotional wounds that linger after trauma has occurred. Dr. Harkins earned her Ph.D. in Counseling Psychology from Arizona State University in 2005. Her graduate research was on the topic of creativity.

 

 

 

Harvey Experience – Frequently Asked Questions

May 30, 2018

  • Who can submit?
    • Any Fort Bend County resident that wants to share their experience during Hurricane Harvey.
  • How old do I have to be to submit?
    • There is no age minimum or maximum to enter.
  • What are the prizes?
    • There are no prizes because this is not a contest.  No one will be “judging” works.  This is a chance for residents who were affected by Hurricane Harvey to share their stories in multiple formats with the Community.
  • Can my work be “disqualified”?
    • If a work is submitted that does not relate to Hurricane Harvey, it will not be displayed.
  • Can I submit multiple entries
    • No.  Only one submission per resident is allowed
  • How long/short can my work be?
    • There is no length limit or requirement for literature.  However, because space in the exhibit is limited, we may have to excerpt long entries or display them digitally.
  • Are there any size limitations to creative works?
    • Creative works can vary in size, weight, and format.  We encourage all forms of creativity.  However, exhibition space may be limited.  If you are concerned your work may be too large for display, please contact us http://www.fortbendrecovers.org/contact-us/ 
  • Where do I find submission forms?
    • If your work is electronic, you can submit it online here: http://www.fortbendrecovers.org/the-harvey-exhibit-online-submission-form/
    • If your work is physical, you can download a submission form here: http://www.fortbendrecovers.org/creative-works-submission-forms-and-guidelines/ 
  • What do I do if my digital files are too large to submit?
    • If you are having trouble submitting your work online for any reason.  Contact us at http://www.fortbendrecovers.org/contact-us/
  • What do I do if I have questions?
    • If you have questions, you can contact us online at http://www.fortbendrecovers.org/contact-us/
    • Call 281-342-6185
  • Is there a theme to the exhibition?
    • Yes, the theme of this year’s exhibition is Hurricane Harvey. We welcome a range of emotions.  Your “work” can show sadness, happiness, resilience…. it can be how you felt during the storm, or what you’re doing now to recover.
    • These works are intended to be viewed by the Community.  Therefore, works submitted must be appropriate for viewing by all ages of the general public. Any creative work that is of an overtly sexual, racist, violent, libelous, slanderous, demoralizing, accusatory, disturbing, or discriminatory nature is strictly prohibited.
  • Is collaborative work accepted?
    • Yes, collaborative work is accepted, as long as each creator is a resident of Fort Bend County.
    • Each creator must fill out a submission/consent form.  The information about the creative work (i.e. title of work, description, etc.) must be the same in each submission form.
    • You must indicate that the creative work was collaborative in on the submission form.
  • What should I do if someone submitted my images to you without my permission?
    • If you believe your work has been copied and posted on our website in a way that constitutes copyright infringement, please provide us with the following information:
      • An electronic or physical signature of the person authorized to act on behalf of the owner of the copyright interest
      • A description of the copyrighted work that you claim has been infringed
      • A description of where the allegedly infringed material is located on our website
      • Your address, telephone number, and email address
      • A written statement by you that you have a good faith belief that the disputed use is not authorized by the copyright owner or its agent
      • A written and signed statement by you, made under penalty of perjury, that the information in your notice to us is truthful and accurate and that you are the copyright owner or are authorized to act on behalf of the copyright owner

 

 

What is the Harvey Experience Exhibition?

May 30, 2018

What is the Harvey Experience Exhibition?

Fort Bend Recovers …with Creativity will present “The Harvey Experience – one year later” an event marking the 1-year anniversary of Hurricane Harvey.  The event will be held on August 25th, 2018 at Constellation Field from 12pm to 2pm.

The event will be a display and exhibition of original, creative works of art – both visual and performing – created and submitted by Fort Bend County residents of all ages and backgrounds that have been impacted by Harvey. We are calling for residents of Fort Bend to tell their Harvey story through writing, poetry & essays, paintings, drawings, photographs, music, dance, etc.

Thoughts for the future!

“After the anniversary event, we would like to have a touring exhibit of the original products of this showcase, perhaps engaging libraries or schools or other gallery spaces across Fort Bend to showcase pieces that represent the body of work as a whole.  We would like to have representative pieces be preserved in a time capsule for future generations.  We understand that we are in a recovery process that is memorable and worth remembering – we are living and making history right now.”  — Dr. Amy Harkins, a psychologist with Easter Seals Greater Houston

 

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