Three Innovators

I have spent a lot of time thinking about what makes a person a creative genius, probably because I hope to become one.  I've encountered quite a few supremely intelligent people in my life, some of whom are geniuses, but in my mind I have only placed three individuals into the category of creative genius.  (This does not include celebrities...just people I have met, worked with, learned from).  Reading "Creators: Multiple Intelligences," a passage from a book by Howard Gardner, made me think of these three very skilled, very different people, each of whom is currently at a different stage of his/her creative life.  They are my younger brother Andrew, composer Z. Randall Stroope, and my idol, conductor Janet Galvan.

#1: The Renaissance Man

My brother is 18 years old and has been making art in many different forms since before he could walk.  No, he is not a prodigy; as stated in "Multiple Intelligences," not all great creative minds begin as prodigies.  No, Andrew does not quite fit the definition of a "prodigy" because his artistic skills span across too many different domains...he draws, he paints, he writes, he acts, he sings, he designs, he builds...all so beautifully.  I should clarify: He doesn't simply do these things with the goal of being well-rounded, but rather he creates things that push his own limits as well as the implied limits of each domain.  His goal is to affect people, and he achieves his goal through hard work and devotion to craft.  I classify Andrew as a creative genius because he has understood himself in relation to the world around him from a very early age.  He possesses an incredible ability to make connections, whether the connection is between art and life, or art with other art, or his own work with the work of others.  He has written plays and poems that have caused me, and many others, to be moved to tears.  He has created visual art that bridges gaps between history, creativity, humanity, and love.  If you asked him to show you something he's proud of, he would show you this:

This painting was inspired by the following poem by E.E. Cummings:

i carry your heart with me (i carry it in
my heart) i am never without it (anywhere
i go you go, my dear; and whatever is done
by only me is your doing, my darling)

i fear no fate (for you are my fate, my sweet) i want
no world (for beautiful you are my world, my true)
and it’s you are whatever a moon has always meant
and whatever a sun will always sing is you

here is the deepest secret nobody knows
(here is the root of the root and the bud of the bud
and the sky of the sky of a tree called life; which grows
higher than soul can hope or mind can hide)

and this is the wonder that’s keeping the stars apart

i carry your heart (i carry it in my heart)

I could go on for reams about this poem, but instead I will allow you, whoever may be reading this, to experience its profound beauty for yourself and then see it manifested in my brother's painting.  In "Multiple Intelligences," Howard Gardner defines an artist's "domain" as, and I quote, "the body of knowledge and practices to be mastered by the next generation."  Andrew is a creative genius because he is hungry to learn those skills and practices, and he takes them and uses them to create things that are consistently new, original, and meaningful.  He is a budding artist who shows great promise in the clarity and thoughtfulness of his creations.

#2: The Great Composer

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4x4Ftva4ahs

Above is a link to a recording of a choral composition by Dr. Z. Randall Stroope, Cummings's "i carry your heart with me" put to music.  I once had the privilege of singing in a choir conducted by Dr. Stroope and was able to meet him after the performance.  I learned so much by watching him teach and conduct, but it was the moment I met with him face-to-face that I will always remember.  It was fascinating just to stand near him in the long line to shake his hand...even if you didn't know who he was, you could tell he was brilliant just from his powerful presence in the room.  Yet while he exuded intelligence and power, he was also remarkably approachable and down to earth, somehow not intimidating at all.  Furthermore, I learned in watching his interactions with other people that he seemed to have a sixth sense: he could see inside of people.  He could tell if people were shy, insecure, extroverted, or proud, just by looking at them, and I could tell because his facial expression would change accordingly.  He was genuine.  When it was finally my turn, after I introduced myself, he and I ended up just standing there and looking at each other...and it was wonderful.  He had this inquisitive smile on his face, and I didn't feel that I had to say anything to him; I felt that he understood my passion for music, maybe because it was similar to his own passion.  I had never communicated with anyone in such a way.  I had known that he was creative because his music is exquisitely beautiful, but it wasn't until I met him that I knew he truly was a genius.

Later that day I turned my feelings into a poem:

The Genius

A moment, but a lifetime shared.
A genius, and a passionate soul.
You didn't know me, and yet...you did.
You saw things that you were not told.
As we conversed with just our eyes,
You looked at me, I looked at you,
I stood, and, for a moment, thought...

Perhaps, I am a genius, too.


That was the day I discovered this awesome secret plain upon which artists can communicate with other like-minded artists.  "Multiple Intelligences" asks its readers a difficult question: "Are you creative?"  Z. Randall Stroope helped me find my answer.

#3: The Conductor

Finally there's Dr. Janet Galvan, the woman who inspired me to become a choral conductor, the woman who made me realize the depths of my passion for music, the woman who constantly sets an example of the kind of musician I strive to be, the reason I applied to the Ithaca College School of Music.  I won't get into the story of how I met her and all that I've learned from her, because our journey as "child and master" is only just beginning.  Instead I will share a video that captures her impeccable artistry:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qxMQmryWwR4

First of all, look at her energy.  It never diminishes.  She is a physical embodiment of the excitement of the music, as a good conductor should be.  Second of all, and more importantly, look at the energy of the choir.  Her art lies in her ability to transmit emotion to large groups of people who can then transmit those feelings to their audience.  And lastly, listen to that sound.  It's together, it's lively, it's clear, and it's strong.  THAT is what choral music is all about.

I thought of Dr. Galvan as I read the part in "Multiple Intelligences" about Martha Graham's reluctance to have her performances recorded.  Music, dance, and drama are art forms that take just as much planning, just as much time, just as much dedication as literature or visual art, but they blossom for a moment and then they cease to exist.  Dr. Galvan teaches her students/choristers how to make that moment as immortal as a painting by letting the beauty live on in their hearts and in the hearts of the audience.  She is a creative genius because she brings originality to every realization of every piece of music she conducts.  Each choir is different, and choirs are always changing; therefore no two performances of the same piece could ever be the same.  The notes on the page are the canvas.  The composer relies on the singers to be the paint.  The composer is the creator.  But the color...the color comes from the conductor in preparation for the moment that the piece will be performed.  The colors are the things that change.

Why I'm Sharing All of This

So what does all of this have to do with "Creators: Multiple Intelligences"?  The passage examines the life experiences and personalities of seven extremely successful artists.  It becomes apparent to the reader that no two artists had similar journeys that led them directly to becoming leaders in their respective fields.  The point is that no two artists are alike, and while the "big seven" may have been destined for greatness, they were not born innovators.  Everyone has the power to create.  It's just a matter of finding that power in our minds and in the sources of inspiration that we see every day.  We don't need to take a test to determine whether or not we are capable of being creative.  As Dr. Galvan once told me, everyone has artistry somewhere inside of them.  Everyone does.  It's those who take the risk of exposing that part of themselves who truly become artists.