Creative Communities

The myth exists that creators, especially in visual arts and creative writing, are loners, seek solitude, write or paint in their attic garrets, wander alone throughout the world, that they are crotchety and their utterances may be simulated by Greta Garbo's iconic words, “I vant to be alone.” This is far from the truth. Jane Piirto, in her rendition of the Piirto Pyramid of Talent Development, listed five environmental “suns,” among which is the “sun of community and culture.” She showed, in the domains of visual arts, architecture, creative writing, music, science, entrepreneurship, mathematics, acting, dancing, and athletics, that creative communities do exist and have a major influence on the work of creators in these domains.