A Creative Scavenger Hunt

Example of creative flexibility. Floorboards become vertical textured background!

If I haven't mentioned this before, I'll take a moment to mention it now: I'm currently taking a graduate course on creative problem solving (which I talked about Friday) for my master's degree.  If you don't know what creative problem solving is, I highly recommend taking a moment to peruse the Wikipedia entry.  It's a fascinating subject!

Even more fascinating than the subject of the course itself are the assignments and projects I have to complete!  Before the end of the semester, I have to 1.) create an invention, 2.) practice a new creative skill, 3.) fill an "idea" notebook, and 4.) complete a creative scavenger hunt.  That's one heck of a creative portfolio in less than four months!  Cool, right?  Who knew one could get so excited about homework?

I'm excited about all the projects, but my creative eye is presently fixated on that scavenger hunt assignment.  The idea behind the hunt is to gather photographic evidence of seven creative "items" from two different environments.  Participants should visit one stereotypically "creative" environment (e.g. an art museum, a fair ground, an art festival, etc.) and one unexpectedly creative and/or stereotypically un-creative environment (e.g. a warehouse, a mattress store, a mega-mall, etc.).  In each of these environments, participants should photograph samples of creativity as per the checklist.  Once samples of each creative "item" have been found, the information should be presented in an interesting and creative way (e.g. a photo essay, a slide show, a music video, etc.).

Wanna play along?
Of course you do!

Here's what my professor wants us to find:

1.  A person going about something run-of-the-mill in a creative way
2.  Three examples of creative flexibility (e.g. how many different ways something can be used)
3.  Lookin' for Art in all the wrong places (e.g. art in unusual settings)
4.  Personification and conversation (e.g. give an object human qualities and make it talk!)
5.  Unique and original problem-solving
6.  Quoth the Poet (e.g. something Shakespeare would find pen-worthy)
7.  Quoth the Diva (e.g. something one would find in an R&B or Country song)

The final project isn't due until the end of the semester, but I've already started snapping shots.  This is, by the way, a fantastic idea for brainstorming and inspiration.  Why?  Because it is an exercise in looking at old things from new perspectives and getting great ideas from the good ideas of others.  If you've found yourself in a creative rut lately, this might be just the shovel you need to dig yourself out.

Come on!  Let's go scavenge ourselves up some inspiration.  (And maybe an "A" on that assignment?)

What would you add to your own personal creative scavenger hunt?  Any additions?

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