52 Days – Creative
By Ricky Teel
- What is CHIC Creative about?
- CHIC Creative is an on-campus program designed to give students an opportunity to participate in expressing their faith life, leadership skills and ethics questions through collaborative art experiences. Personal creativity will become a collective expression that evolves throughout the week. A series of shared creative spaces positioned around the campus will allow for a public display of ideas, emotion, questions, connections and creative muse. These spaces are designed to be self-guided by students and are expected to invite every kind of group into a community of personal expression exhibiting the body of Christ. It is expected to showcase our diversity as people.
- What is our goal?
- CHIC Creative projects have been designed to let students know that they have incredible value in this world. Like DNA, each person is unique and has something creative to contribute. Within each student’s life is a narrative that is constantly in flux and moving forward, and the CHIC environment will help students explore and build their narrative. Creative projects then will encourage students to express their discoveries in a variety of ways: art-making, current perceptions, free-form writing, drawings, prayers, associative thinking, constructive daydreaming and creative marks of all kinds.
- How will it work?
- The tools for this personal/collaborative expression will be simple: spray paint, markers, paintbrushes, stamps, stencils, paper, glue, crayons, etc. The requirements for participation will be equally simple: a bit of curiosity and a desire to explore some thoughts, feelings and even creative abilities. Creative spaces will be themed (i.e., Hopes, Dreams, Loves, Fears, etc) so that each participant can engage in the one that appeals to them at the moment. The themes will add adequate structure yet still allow creativity to flourish in a playful, nurturing and non-competitive environment. Freedom and focus will work hand in hand and require minimum supervision. Creative spaces will be accessible during free times throughout the week. Projects will change from day to day, giving students new things to discover each day in these Creative Spaces.
