A Stereo made from an 8" PVC pipe. An act of ingenuity even though it plays a lot of Nickelback.
I drove my Ford Econoline van loaded with tools up
the hill to Simon Fraser University. Eight years had passed since I last made
the journey. Subsequently, I decided to abandon my studies to pursue a career
in residential construction - a choice that would leave my study in literature
and language use underutilized and unappreciated. Walking the halls of the university,
I spotted the flyers and posters projecting both political and social
initiatives that don't get a lot of airtime during construction site
conversation. Part of my mind was being reawakened. A multiplicity of world
views and ideas flashed at me from the cork boards as I walked to class -
philosophies that had become casualties in the wake of my time spent in a
working class culture.
Two years ago I went back university to continue my
literature studies in the evening after work. Not only was I busy with my young
children and a demanding job, I was also shaken by the negative attitudes I encountered
regarding my occupation.
This became clear to me during one of the classroom
discussions. The word, "creativity" had been used in almost every
discussion and in every possible form. It was becoming redundant so I took a
different approach to the idea and asserted that there is an element of creativity
in construction and manual labour. The flow of the conversation stopped dead. The
instructor broke the silence: "What is it that you find creative about
construction?" It was an honest question but still, I was surprised that
my assertion demanded an explanation. My words seemed to fall flat on the floor
as soon as they left my mouth. There was an awkward silence and the
conversation moved on. Clearly this was not a receptive audience.
What isn't creative about working with your hands?
It is, in fact the very essence of creating. Writing, visual arts and music are
truly creative disciplines but they are abstract in nature. After many hours of
work, the only physical evidence left behind is a stack of paper, a canvas or
sound waves travelling through the air. I need a continual reminder that I am
actually taking part in something tangible. When something tactile is created
with your hands, no such reminder is necessary.
It is painfully obvious what you've accomplished after shovelling an
entire truck load of sand. When it comes
to mindless and repetitive jobs, there are nuances to the work that only an
expert will recognize (on a typical job site, they'll certainly let you know).
The process in which a job is carried out is unique once the minutia of the
work is understood. Also, as problems and deviations occur in the course of the
work, the act of problem solving is undoubtedly creative.
The word "creative" is often used as
a means of differentiation. The work of others is often perceived as banal and
uninventive - as if being creative is unique or special. It isn't. Being
creative is simply part of being human. We all create objects, ideas, images
and beauty as we perform our daily routines, whether it’s a stay-at-home parent
finding a way to distract their children from melting down on a car ride, a
carpenter planning out the most efficient way to cut a stack of 2x4s to length
or an artist applying oil to canvas. One just happens to draw a lot more praise
and prestige.
