Kathleen Katon Tonnesen

Creative Thinking Populations are Assets to their Countries

"We need more Canadian art -- and we need more Canadians to experience it " (Grant Gordon, 2016.)

Creative Thinking Populations are Assets to their Countries

"We need more Canadian art -- and we need more Canadians to experience it " (Grant Gordon, 2016.). In response, yes, I agree. However, it is not that Canadians are primarily a country of hockey fans, that is marketing "normalizing" on purpose, an idea of what it means to be Canadian, fed to society from birth in the media etc., for Canadian business trade. Canada has branded itself, same way Canada branded itself with the Group of Seven artists, for a sense of time and place, and Indigenous art. Thus, the Canadian education system lacks in additional content to expose and create platforms of inquiry for elementary and high school students, to explore all other living Canadian artists and their unique stories and contributions to Canadian societies.

I would suggest that more media exposure be available for living Canadian artists e.g., to be interviewed on television etc., about their stories and their art REGULARLY, as a way to normalize the existence of influencers and creative role models in our midst. By normalizing the expectation that there are many, many, excellent creatives that are representative of our beloved Country, and have their own journeys as Canadian artists valued, then we will uplift our populations appreciation and pride in ourselves as a CREATIVE thinking nation!

Creative thinking is a valuable asset which is likely to raise the health mindset of our populations, thus, boosting health, and is therefore good business practice for Canada.

Creativity feeds on creativity, generating originality across disciplines, and encourages collaboration amongst peoples, therefore boosting business within communities. In my painting "Granville Island Sound", I tried to capture the emotional experience of sound. As Granville Island, Vancouver, BC., is full of buskers and it is their lovely sound and personal musical energy, that gives the venue a whimsical holiday feeling, from daily worries. When I was a preschool teacher on the island, I would enjoy their sounds on my way home from work, amongst a throng of tourists celebrating Granville Islands wares. 

Our future leaders are our children, it is necessary to cultivate a culture of Creative Thinkers, in the home and in our schools, if we really wish to be an asset to the World, in which we live and share, with all life forms.