A Snapshot: Car to Class

            As I considered what to create for this process piece, I decided I wanted to design something that illustrated life in an authentic manner. I determined that I would choose a time to record audio in my day and then record whatever took place during those moments. I chose to record the moment from right after I parked until approximately two minutes had passed. There were some unexpected events, as well as expected ones (including a car horn going off in the background). However, the moment represented the reality of my morning walk.

            This creative process relates a bit to creating something with what was available in the world around us. I decided to allow the process of the world create my piece, rather than “staging” something to be recorded. Artistic inquiry, in this case, represented a curiosity of the unexpected, perhaps. I became more aware of what sounds were being created (such as my footsteps, breathing, etc.), in addition to those that I knew would occur (such as the jangling of keys or doors opening and closing). I think students gain power as they find the means to create immediately around them. This occurs not only in recognizing the value of their own spaces, but in acknowledging the immediacy of resources, sources, and inspiration. The next step in the process would be to encourage students to consider when creative acts can be taken in other spaces in their life. How can they create at home, outside, in the classroom, at the park, with their siblings, and in other areas? How can I, as an educator, help students find and engage with a creative spark and then to encourage them to nurture it?