'The call of creativity'
Published Tuesday November 10th, 2009
Creativity seems to come naturally to well-known photographer and writer Freeman Patterson.
Yet it's something he firmly believes all of us have. He'll discuss his thoughts on this during a two-part lecture series at Wilmot United Church on Nov. 20-21.
On Friday evening, his focus will be on The Call of Creativity.
"We often use the words creative tool and creative techniques, but there is no such thing as a creative tool or technique. All tools are intellectually, emotionally and spiritually inert. It's the person who brings the creativity to the tasks or to the tools," says Patterson.
"The whole point of this lecture is how do we access the creativity, which we have been given."
The real task is developing and nurturing that creativity. Many people believe they aren't creative, but Patterson believes we all have that in us.
On Saturday, he'll be discussing Pictures and Health: The Holistic Impact of Dreams and the Visual Arts.
"In our culture, most people dismiss dreams. The common line is, 'Oh, it was only a dream.' Let's think of it this way. In the course of evolution, we all got two eyes, two ears, a nose, a mouth, two legs, two arms and so on. And we also got dreams," says Patterson.
"Nature never gives us anything that isn't useful. Therefore, why do we dream? I'm going to be talking about that."
He will be talking about dream images in a time of crisis, he says, as well as the visual arts.
"Every person who creates a picture of some sort or other, whether it is a two- or three-dimensional image, the thing is autobiographical. It's not coming from anyone else, it's coming from you. So what is that saying about you and how can you look at your own creations which are, like dreams, also your own creations."
Patterson is looking forward to giving these lectures as he enjoys doing this.
"They're definitely going to be very positive and they're definitely also going to contain lots of anecdotal material," he says. "For example, one of the things I do in the creativity lecture is talk about very ordinary people in difficult circumstances who have done the most amazingly creative things, either with their lives generally or with certain circumstances."
The lecture series is something anybody would be welcome to attend, says Patterson, as it will strike a cord with people of all ages, from all different backgrounds.
"What I hope they take away is, first of all, that they suddenly can't deny their own creativity," he says. "Your creativity is really your ultimate gift and it seems to me that using it is our most fundamental responsibility."
Patterson's lecture is part of a collection of lectures given at Wilmot United Church by a list of impressive names, including Stephen Lewis and David Suzuki. "(Wilmot United has) a lecture series in the spring and Freeman was one we wanted to be in touch with. He wasn't available in the spring, so we took him when he was available," says Rev. Murray McFarlane, a member of the ministry team at Wilmot United Church.
The goal, he says, has always been to stimulate people to think about the role of faith and the church.
Patterson is world-renowned for his skills as a photographer, says McFarlane, but what people might not know is that he's always been interested in spirituality as well.
"He's always had an interest in the interchange between creativity and spirituality," he says.
"It was back in the '60s that he did a masters in theology at Union (Theological) Seminary in New York City and his thesis was photography as a means of religious expression."
What he'll be doing during his lecture at Wilmot United Church won't have anything to do with how to take a photograph, notes McFarlane.
"It will be an exploration of the creative process and that link between creativity and spirituality."
He says he's looking forward to the lectures, as he has always been a huge fan of Patterson's work, but didn't realize there was this other dimension.
The cost to take part in the full event is $60. If you wanted to take part in only the Friday or Saturday session, it's $30.
"That includes breaks and goodies and a lunch on Saturday," says McFarlane.
Patterson will be speaking on Friday evening from 6-9:15 p.m. and Saturday from 8:30 a.m. to noon, though the Saturday session will run until 3:30 p.m. To sign up for the Patterson lectures, drop by the Wilmot United Church office, 473 King St., or visit www.wilmotuc.nb.ca.
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