Childhood, Creativity, Chaos and Crayons

September 8, 2001

Easton, PA and the Delaware River Valley

 

So many of our trips have flirted with the question of what is the difference between being childish and childlike. Artists and writers exhort us to rediscover the creative soul which we had when we were young. How closely are the questions of creativity and chaos? Who gets to name the crayon colors?

Our trip will begin with a trip to the Crayola Crayon Factory in beautiful Easton, PA. We'll ask questions about the ways in which we encourage creativity or have it discouraged. (Maybe they'll even let us take a swim in the red dye # 2 vat!)

Later in the day (after the necessary lunch and ice cream stop of course) we'll spend some time along the Delaware River looking at the ways in which rivers relate to chaos theory. Naturally, there will be lots of time for coloring, frolicking, and good conversation.

Definitely a day for coloring outside of the lines!

 

Suggested reading:

If you're looking for some good writing on the relationship between chaos, creativity and play, try:

James Carse, Finite and Infinite Games

Leonard Shlain, Art and Physics

F. David Peat, Seven Life Lessons of Chaos and Turbulent Mirror

David Bohm, On Creativity

Web Resources

Crayola Home Page (with coloring activities!)