AN ecosystem of creativity, knowledge, and culture

Creating new from old while maintaining our foundations

Want to find something out? Usually we can find answers from the big pool of what is already known.

Whether we learn  from education, internet search, life experience, or the advice of an expert, someone who already has the answers can provide (if we ask) knowledge or support.

But what if you want to know or do something that no one else has figured out? What if our creative vision is for something we can't find a model for?

There comes a point for most of us when we want to make a change no one can easily guide us through, invent something unique, or discover what we can only--so far--imagine. These creative urges may be on a very small scale, or a very large one. Either way, this new quest requires us to step away from the shores of what is known to discover something new for ourselves.

This, too, is a learning act--a knowledge-seeking activity that is also a knowledge- (or culture) creating activity. This is the kind of learning that eventually advances our cultures and species.

 In the knowledge-creativity ecosystem, we have that pool of knowledge and culture that already exists. It is there for us to share and maintain, though standard learning and education.

But that edges of that existing pool of knowledge and culture are rich with opportunity for something new.

Working with what is known, and playing on the life-giving edges of that knowledge, takes us into the creative work of the knowledge nursery.

We play and define, solve and enlighten, test and deliver something fresh and new back into the knowledge and culture pool.

That act expands and refreshes what we all share, and what will be possible for the next person who chooses to play around the edges.

That distinction of stepping into the unknown to create our vision or solve our problem is the most helpful test for noticing when are participating in the generative, creative engine of our knowledge and culture ecosystem.