The Power of Imagination

When we write or talk about creative thinking, we are acknowledging that it all starts with imagination, whether in the arts, science, business or every day life with our families.

This video about sculptor Janet Echelman from YouTube and TED is a wonderful example of the power of imagination. Echelman’s work is changing the cityscapes of the world, in powerful, evocative and stunning work. Work that takes noticing, collaboration, deep thought and research and the ability to see patterns between disciplines — all the skills we want parents to support in the lives of their children. Here’s the link — watch it and think about what it takes to have this kind of powerful imagination…

The Power of Imagination

Here are the lessons I took from this video:

Perseverence: Turned down by seven art schools, she kept on her path

Observe: Pay attention to the people, skills and resources at hand.

Just say yes: Did not knowing how to do something ever stop this woman?

and most of all

IMAGINE. Possibilities, solutions, collaborations, successes, the future.

AND, guess what, Janet Echelman is coming to San Antonio as the keynote speaker for the Surface Design Conference. If you are in the area, you can attend by joining SDA and paying the conference fee, or wait and see if there are space-available tickets open closer to the date. There will be numerous fiber arts exhbits, events, workshops and all kinds of textile and fiber adventure going on at the conference — many examples of imagination in action in the worlds of art, textiles and technology. Dates, June 3-14, including pre and post workshops.