Seven Creative Strategies: Finding Creative Solutions
The task was to use the seven creative strategies to produce images that explore the concepts involved. The seven creative strategies are: Combination; Material Change, Swap, or Focus; Juxtaposition; Change of Context or Environment; Metaphor or Simile; Isolation; and Physical Shape or Similarity. The challenge was to take an ordinary household object and use it to illustrate each of the creative strategies listed above.
This image of a lamp-post on a forest road was inspired by the lamp-post that fulfilled a vital role in "The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe," by C.S.Lewis. The lamp-post is actually made from a photo of a large needle taking the place of the lamp-post's normal iron pole. This is an example of the creative strategy of Combination.
To demonstrate the Material Change, Swap, or Focus strategy, there is a steel needle 'Enmeshed' in steel mesh. Instead of linen mesh, this needle has to try to stitch this; unfortunately with very little success.
Juxtaposition puts two things together that shows their differences. Here both the face and the needle have an eye, but they are nowhere near having the same functions; yet they sound the same. 'eye2eye'
Change of Context or Environment is a hefty-sounding creative strategy, but it can lead one down interesting paths. When flying over farmland, it often looks like a patchwork quilt. Imagination ran wild and came up with this, 'Stitchin' in the Ditch'; not only this image's name, but a clever trick of sewists worldwide.
The creative strategy of Metaphor or Simile produced this image. It explores the theme of what we say when looking for a small object in a lot of stuff. Appropriately, this image is titled, 'Needle In.' There really is one in there. Can you spot it? Hint: look carefully at the sides of the haystack.
Isolation shows how an object can belong in a group of almost-like objects, but still remain apart. The trussing needles and the sewing needle are made of steel, sharp on purpose, and they all have an 'eye', but one would be hard pressed to truss up a turkey with a sewing needle. '1of10'
The last of these strategies explored was Physical Shape Similarity. What is something shaped like a needle? A rapier was the answer. They are both made of steel, both could produce wounds, and they are both thin and very sharp. Which would you rather have in a swordfight?
