everyone’s benefit.”
Marvin Gram is a master car-
penter and stonemason in Louisville,
Ohio, who puts his artistry to work
through these exacting sciences.
Whether Gram is creating magnifi-
cent stone fireplaces, meandering
trapezoid slate sidewalks or garden
teaching centers, he finds it satisfying
and inspiring to step back and let his
eyes feast on the works of arts that he
brings into being.
“All my life I’ve acted on my
ideas,” Gram muses. “Action keeps
my mind open, builds confidence in
my skills and talents, and increases
my resolve that I can do anything.
It’s the only way to fulfill dreams and
stay excited about life. Next to rais-
ing my two sons, my work requires
Jim Walker
the most imagination and creativity.”
In Elizabeth Lake, California, Jim
an hour.”
and watching them sprout and grow is
Walker stood back and gazed upon his
Sandy Henson might agree with
the height of co-creating.”
life’s canvas for six months, until the
that sentiment as she spends her Artist’s
Julia Cameron says that the winds
new direction for his Magnum Opus
Dates observing hummingbirds and
of creativity are neither fickle, finite nor
took shape in the form of environ-
butterflies in the themed gardens that
limited, and that life is pure creative en-
mental advocacy. For three decades,
she maintains in Kensington, Ohio.
ergy. This means that everyone has the
Walker’s natural talents for innovative
Visual evidence of Henson’s creativ-
ability to unfurl their artistic sails and
thinking, research, communication,
ity blooms in a multicolored quilt of
chart a unique course, fueled by the
negotiation, strategic planning and
flowers and herbs spread over five acres
same creative force that shapes snow-
politics served him well as a labor rela-
of her property. In 2002, her dream
flakes, designs seashells, and creates
tions representative for the California
of sharing this beauty morphed into a
breathtaking landscapes. The challenge
School Employees Association. Now, he
business. Today, Treasures of the Earth
is to remain open to inspiration and act
uses these same talents to teach envi-
sells plants, offers landscape design
upon it.
ronmental advocacy skills in his region,
services and provides classes in nature
“There are always ideas. Good
aiming to help conserve 165 acres of
spirits, biodynamic gardening and the
ideas, workable ideas, brave and revo-
open water, trees and shoreline that
medicinal and culinary uses of herbs.
lutionary ideas, calm and serviceable
provide habitat for the wildlife he en-
“We need art for life,” says Hen-
ideas,” advises Cameron. “The trick is
joys observing on kayaking adventures.
son, “and mine is all around me, nur-
to gently access them and allow them
Walker’s creativity also paddled
turing, bringing peace and stirring my
to flow into any area of our life, that
onto the computer screen, where he
creative juices. For me, planting seeds
which is our Greatest Work.”
assembled some of his nature photos
into a PowerPoint presentation for town
For more information and inspiration,
Sandy Henson
council members and residents. “I like
contact Jean Shinoda Bolen at JeanShi-
using my creativity for this noble cause
nodaBolen.com; Julia Cameron at Julia-
of protecting the interest of something
Cameron.com; Tama Kieves at Awaken-
that has no voice,” says Walker. “It is
ingArtistry.com; Treasures of the Earth
fulfilling and uplifting.”
at SandysGardens.com; In Dreams
Nature is a powerful and abundant
Awake Life Coach Jennifer Parrish at
source of creative inspiration and ex-
awake2dreams@yahoo.com; Cricket
pression for many. Poet William Blake
Lee at FitLogic.com; and Jean Houston
expressed this ideal when he wrote,
at SocialArtistryInstitute.com.
“To see a world in a grain of sand and
a heaven in a wild flower, hold infinity
in the palm of your hand and eternity in
To see a world in a grain of sand and a heaven in a wild flower,
hold infinity in the palm of your hand and eternity in an hour. – William Blake
33
September 2008
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