Creativity
They say Desperation is the mother of Inspiration. So I figure Creativity must be her fun-loving aunt.
I like to think I'm a creative person, but I'm probably just desperate.
My husband thinks I'm pretty creative in my excuses for spending money. He's just upset that he didn't buy stock in Jo-Ann Fabrics or Michaels craft store before he married me.
But I can be frugally creative. When we remodeled a couple of years ago I thought I was quite clever for reusing all our old picture frames and favorite plaques – I just had to carefully repaint them to match our new décor. This is where Inspiration's Uncle Procrastination, the black sheep of the family, showed up uninvited, because I still have about 20 left to go.
Sometimes I try to be creative in my cooking, but I have learned it's best not to admit that a “new recipe” is really just dumping any available ingredient into a pan. Giving it a fancy name, such as “Noodles a la Roni,” hopefully convinces my family that I was inspired rather than desperate.
I admit that sometimes my finest designs just don't turn out the way I envision them. Like the curtains I sewed for the patio doors in our bedroom. While they do keep the sun out and our private lives in, they are just plain ugly. But our cat likes them. She likes them so much they now have several snags and a cat fur fringe, which really adds to their appearance. Do you suppose she's being creative?
I know where all the really creative people in town hang out. The Creative Center, of course. Unlike me, they don't just stock up on projects at Jo-Anns and Michaels – they actually finish what they begin. And boy, does that keep them busy.
At the Creative Center's Jon Ginsburg Gallery they are just finishing up their “Artful Expressions” multi-media exhibit. Student artist, Maria Hernandez (of Christmas card fame), and guest artist, Mike Perez (and his rustic wood furnishings) of Three Rivers will be sharing their favorite pieces through Friday.
Then on Monday the “Exploring Acrylics” exhibit begins, featuring the acrylic (of course) works of student artist, John McCoard, and guest artist Julie Jennings of Lindsay. The show will run through April 18. Julie Jennings specializes in Pop Art and large canvases. And John McCoard paints with a brush held between his teeth.
“John has limited mobility due to a childhood accident,” said Pam Flores, Arts marketing director for the Creative Center. “His energy and love for life is conveyed through the vibrant images he creates through art.”
Now that's creative and inspiring. I'd better go stock up on that.
The Creative Center's Jon Ginsburg Gallery is located at 606 N. Bridge St. in Visalia, and is open Monday – Friday from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.
It's free to go in and peruse the artwork, but much of it is for sale. Now that's my kind of creativity: see, pay, hang. None of those two-year waits or design flops. And what's not creative about supporting such a wonderful program for developmentally disabled adults in our community.
So I guess I do have to admit that my hubby is right about my shopping. I do love the challenge of finding just the right piece. Especially when it's on sale.
Long ago I found the perfect “hat” boxes for our bedroom on clearance, cheaper than I'd ever seen them. So what if they were full of polka-dotted plates I had no use for? I'm still waiting for Inspiration to visit and tell me what to do with them. Meanwhile, Procrastination is still camped out on the sofa.
Maybe I'll repaint them to match the kitchen . . . then someday I can serve my Noodles a la Roni on them. Inspiration, just call me “Mom.”
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