Welcome to my column about all things art and the science of positive psychology. Discover how creativity fuels Philomath’s community spirit all year round. Join me as I describe all the fascinating ways the arts are positive health interventions for individual and community well-being.
My name is Sophie Grow, and I serve as the program director at Maxtivity Arts and Crafts Creative Space in Philomath, Oregon. Before teaching art classes and orchestrating community art programs, over the last 10 years I taught vegetable gardening to families, facilitated parent education classes and led perinatal mental health support groups all right here in Philomath. I want to share my firsthand experience of the transformative power of community engagement and how creativity fosters an upward spiral in happiness.
You may be wondering, what does creativity have to do with health and well-being?
First, research shows over and over again that engaging actively or passively in arts and culture can build resiliency and a sense of belonging. Being social and laughing boost the immune system. The benefits are not just for children doing crafts, but for all humans of all ages participating in lots of different kinds of creative activities. Even just 45 minutes of creativity with collage materials or clay can reduce blood pressure and improve cardiovascular health, according to a study out of Drexel University.
Let me point out, whether it is creating art at home in your downtime or attending community performances, all the research hints at a greater theme. Humans have the unique ability to experience a fullness of human expression. In doing so, we can experience tremendous measurable benefits. We are capable of increasing our own happiness through positive interventions that bring us “north of neutral,” as my coach Emiliya Zhivotovskaya says.
Our bodies are designed to inspire and be inspired. Big gasps, laughter, covering one’s mouth, smiling, clasping the chest, and crying are physical responses all humans feel in response to creativity in action. Physiologically, humans have a dopaminergic, or chemically rewarding, response to works that move them. So what stops people from pursuing benefits of art or creativity if, well, to put it plainly, good is really good for them?
I don’t know about others, but the stress of adult life hijacks my own drive to feel inspired or express my fullest human potential. I have kids to pick up, deadlines to meet and the dog needs to go to the vet, again. Stress redirects my focus to an achievable, although languishing, baseline of “OK” or “fine.” Just a few engagements with art could provide more catharsis, relaxation or excitement to set me up toward more flourishing.
Creating art in community is about being seen, feeling belonging in safe community spaces and having positive human contact. It is also about the permission to experiment, try new things, engage with new ideas and feel the hum of creative flow.
In future columns, I’ll dive into defining creativity versus arts and culture, as well as the research on the health benefits, and the positive effect art has on local economies. I’ll also discuss what gets in the way of accessing all the admittedly joyful health benefits of art. Lastly, I will leave you, the reader, with some real and actionable items to pursue for your own benefit.
If you too are really excited about the science based benefits of art, creativity, and positive psychology interventions of this column, I encourage you to email to tell me more or ask questions.
(Sophie Grow is the program director at Maxtivity Arts and Crafts Creative Space in Philomath. She can be reached at programs@maxtivitycreative.space).
