For those of you who have been following this blog, you
know that in 2014, a reconnection with a friend I had not seen for fifty years
provided new opportunities for integrating creativity. Independent archaeologist
William D. Hyder (retired from University of California Santa Cruz
administration) has expertise in Native American rock art; those ancient
petroglyphs and pictographs upon the rocks. Together, we began exploring new
perspectives for engaging rock art through photography and at onsite visits.
Being a poet and artist due to my understanding in how artistic modalities
offer opportunities to expand communication, I began pairing integrative
thinking with rock art by writing with a poetic cadence of voice. We wrote one
book together and then two research papers, which we presented at the Utah Rock
Art Research Association (URARA) in 2016 and American Rock Art Research
Association (ARARA) in June 2017. If you
are interested in reading the paper presented in Utah, the link is
What I discovered is that integrative thinking need not be
limited to making decisions after loss or disappointment. Beautiful
antiquities, such as rock art, also trigger emotions that inspire innovative
and productive ideas that can enhance decision-making. With this in mind, I
published the process in Sustenance:
Integrating Creativity with Rock Art. Then in October 2017, I presented a paper at
the URARA Symposium entitled Labyrinths in Rock Art: When a Maze is Not a
Maze. It is the recent personal letter from the president of URARA that motivated
me to begin offering workshops for teens and young adults that teaches how to
pair strategies for creative thinking with rock art images. “Your enthusiasm
about your topic was evident in your presentation and made it all more
memorable. Your descriptions examining
labyrinths, circles, and mazes fed our curiosity and answered many questions. .
. . We invite you to continue to visit the website, join in and add to the
forums, and share your expertise and leadership as URARA continues as an
organization dedicated to the visitation, education, and protection of
petroglyphs and pictographs.” Click on the link that follows if you are interested in reading the paper on labyrinths in rock art.http://www.utahrockart2.org/pubs/proceedings/papers/2017-Bohntinsky-Labyrinths_in_Rock_Art.pdf.
The approach that I use for integrating creativity is
based on my 2006 doctorate of ministry dissertation that I published in 2016: Transformational Healing through the
Integration of Self. My motivation to share the approach in relationship to
rock art comes from several realizations. I have three young grandchildren from
preschool to second grade who inspire my work.
It is my experience that children and adults can expand insight for
decision-making through creative writing and other arts when they understand
how to identify feelings and integrate emotions with critical reasoning.
Generating positive resolutions from personal insight promotes self-confidence.
Also, exploring creatively with rock art offers an enriching way to engage antiquities
through photography and at sites while continuing to honor these artifacts and
the ancient artists that created them. An additional benefit is that interest
in learning about the cultures that created this art can be ignited. In this
way, individuals are better prepared to gather information in order to make the
best decision for resolving a problem when something happens. They will also have something they can do the
next time they see petroglyphs or pictographs upon the rocks. Education
regarding rock art that enhances confidence in personal creativity through
optimum preparation can promote the desire to protect artifacts in natural
settings for future generations.
An important factor for developing and maintaining
interest in topics that inspire creativity is that they must have personal
relevance. Preparation that develops personal creativity for responding to
emotional circumstances (positive and negative) helps to develop such
relevance. Neurological research and
learning theories have shown that preparation strategies enhance critical thinking
skills as well as serve as protective practices that can counteract
neurological and cognitive decline. What many rock art professionals and
enthusiasts can attest to is that the artwork created by the prehistoric
inhabitants has a unique way of activating the brain and stimulating
creativity. It is for these reasons that I believe mental training that pairs
the use of rock art by these ancient Native Americans with an approach for
creativity that integrates awareness of feelings with critical thinking is a
valuable preparation strategy. Applying this process to writing skills in a way
that enhances critical thinking and creative expression while also developing a
greater appreciation of petroglyphs and pictographs offers richer opportunities
for appreciating the work of these ancient artists as well as for enhancing
personal communication.
Ancient rock art has the capacity to trigger feelings such
as awe and quandary. However, there are no written records by the ancient
artists who created these images and designs. Art in the absence of certainty
can actually bypass the literal and judgmental centers of the brain and inspire
the imagination and creative interactions with minimal self-criticism. Creative
thinking can be experienced in a way that that actually enhances problem
solving and expands the imagination for engaging in artistic expression through
writing as well as other artistic modalities. Sustenance: Integrating Creativity with Rock Art is an independent
study workbook for learning this process. It also models ways of viewing rock
art that are stimulating and thought provoking. Pre- and post-worksheets for
self-assessment of progress as well as instructional worksheets for practice
are included. This process honors rock art for its capacity to awaken the
imagination and inspire creativity while, also, guiding the visitor in what can
be done with rock art instead of just warning viewers not to touch it.
Workshops that teach the framework of this workbook are
tailored to the interests and needs of the participants. Creative interaction is explained as a process
for differentiating between feelings and emotions and applying reasoning
strategies. Structured questions guide participants in determining the manner
of expression, making the most viable decisions, and readjusting options based
on outcomes. An overview of rock art is provided, and then rock art is
described in terms of line drawings and how they can be used to stimulate
impressions and inspire expression. Such designs can represent a broad
continuum of ideas from being identified as a simple common object to
triggering the recall of an abstract theory. Participants are invited to
complete pre- and post-workshop worksheets in order to see the changes in
identifying and resolving issues and their appreciation of Native American rock
art. The workbook is not necessary for this workshop, but is made available to
those who desire to explore this process and rock art in greater depth. Feel free to contact me through this blog if
you would like to more information on these workshops.
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