For the past several years, one technique I have used to expand my creativity is to go out on what Julia Cameron refers to as an “Artist Date.” I’ve used various names for it (see my post from 2018: Going Out on an Innovation Date).
Roughly, it’s going at once a week by yourself to experience something creative outside of your current domain. Effectively, it’s a way to recharge your creative engine.
Well, this week I went to a place called the Pacific Bonsai Museum for the first time, and it was fabulous.
There was a lovely mixed outdoor and indoor exhibit highlighting these bonsai, which I would describe as incredible living sculptures. In addition, on the day I went, it was also the last day of the museum’s World War II Remembrance, with a particular focus on the Japanese-American (or should I say American?) internments in the Pacific Northwest. the combination of these two aspects was quite powerful, one I won’t soon forget. It even inspired me to create the photo shown above, which I think accurately represents the idea of brokenness of that time in our history, and perhaps even now.
Anyway, taking myself out for an Artist Date every week is one of my favorite creative habits, and one I hope to continue for decades to come.