Mary's CREATIVITY Garden

Dr. Mary Murdock of the International Center for Studies in Creativity at Buffalo State College, shows off her "Creativity Garden" at her beloved home in the Carolinas. The Garden was the inspiration of ICSC colleague Dr. Susan Keller-Mathers, who traveled south to Mary's home with plants and hoe in tow to till the earth and to toil with Mary to bring their vision to life. The flowers and plants which decorate the lavish landscape are all gifts from Mary's students, colleagues and friends, all of whom are wishing her well during her second bout with chemotherapy after a recurrence of her cancer.

Like her own beloved mentor and Creativity Hall-of-Famer Dr. Paul Torrance, Mary has enlightened minds, inspired the hearts and lifted the spirits of those around her. The CREATIVITY GARDEN is a living tribute to Mary's many years of ongoing tireless work (and play) and the many lives she has enriched. After providing the gifts of creativity to her minions, Mary has been known to say, "Now get out there and kick butt!!" And that's what many of her proteges have done --- in sharing the gift of creativity with the world.

Do you have a "Creativity Garden"? We all do in some measure -- We have people whose lives we have touched and have touched ours. So plant your own Creativity Garden for inspiration -- or make a collage representing it -- Maybe it's comprised of photos or images that represent the richness in your life. Maybe you cut out images in flower shapes and mount them to green pipe cleaners potted in clay. Or, make whatever suits you and "tills your soil" -- a sculpture, a poem, a drawing or a song ... Let your "garden" inspire you to wellness and a richness that comes from doing great things.

Doug Stevenson for The Innovise Guys