What is a creative research expedition?
We’re going to find out.
But we already have a theory that such a thing, properly done, involves a dynamic array of interwoven experiences, a dislocation from the comforts of home, a guiding structure, and a shared creative interest and openness to discovery on the part of a small, but not too small, adventurous group.
Inevitably there are four distinct types of creative contexts this trip will provide. These will be ancient outdoor sites, indoor museums that contain much of the discovered remains of these sites, natural settings such as mountains and beaches, and modern Greek towns and cities.
This workshop will not set out, principally, to teach anyone how to do anything in particular. This is not a ‘how to paint and draw ancient sculptures’ course, nor a ‘how to use watercolors’ seminar. More accurately this will be a creativity workshop that is broad enough to allow for self-direction and individual goals, but structured enough to encourage transformative growth, and creative productivity while traveling on the road in a foreign country with a bunch of strangers from who knows where.
My goal will be to cultivate a group synergy that results in surprising, delightful, and spontaneous creative work by everyone. The wonderful thing about such creative travel is it gives license to explore, and to do so in ways never ever thought of at home.
I will encourage each participant to let go of assumptions about what kind of creative work they’ll make while in Greece. Most folks will probably not realize just how distracted one can be when immersed in a strange culture amongst new friends but trying to make art. This forces a fresh approach to one’s creative work that I will help develop.
The final results of all this will be an exhibit at Manifest that documents the work and experience of this group of adventurers and presents your creative research to the public. To accompany the exhibit, a full-color catalog will include writing and images as a permanent archive of the first annual Manifest Creative Research Expedition.
To the expedition team:
The subject of your creative research may ultimately be yourself. However, the work you will do might surprise you. A photographer might find herself making collages out of scraps of paper found at ancient sites. A painter may become a photographer. An architect might make site-specific installations and document them with sketches or photography… and so on. The point of all this is that, although we will be in Greece, and we’ll be moved by the immensity of palpable history both at the sites, in the landscape, and in the thriving cities, the subject of your work may not in fact be Ancient Greece. Rather, that blanket of nostalgia and revered time may just provide the context for something less predictable.
So, do come prepared with basic supplies such as pencils, pens, a sketchpad, a lightweight and well-sized drawing board, a camera, and perhaps even some scissors, glue, and markers. But don’t expect to use them.
I find that both sketching and digital photography are great tools when it comes to such creativity study. So despite the logistical issues of transporting such things safely, a small laptop and even a compact portable printer would be exceptional creative tools to bring along. I will have mine…
This will allow those who are working with digital photography to take that work to the next level, as well as to share with the group in reviews and critiques.
Speaking of which.. The general structure of the workshop is that there is no structure. There are three dates placed on the itinerary (see link) which represent my best guess at when we would truly kick off the learning, review mid-way, and conclude. However, these things have a way of evolving, much like the synergy we will be cultivating amongst you. So we’ll plan to adhere to these three main dates, but we will also meet, either as an entire group, small groups, or individually as needed. Our time on the bus between cities and sites will be perfect for one-on-one and small group discussions.
Also, just because this is not a formal ‘how to’ course. I will of course help folks with technical and aesthetic issues in drawing, painting, photography, etc. as needed and as time allows. So for someone really really wanting to cut their teeth on drawing perspective at the Acropolis, I’m there for you.
- Jason Franz, Group Leader and Manifest Executive Director
Email questions about curriculum here.
