Let’s go dissect a squid

What does dissecting a squid have to do with creativity?

Jessica knows me well because when she offered to take me to Action Potential Lab for my birthday, I immediately said yes!

She organized an experience that involved getting up close and personal with a squid. We learned and explored the entire anatomy of the squid, compared it to an octopus… and then used the squid ink and parts to create some art.

Getting out of our regular routine and away from a computer screen was a great reminder that mixing it up and trying something unusual is very effective at stimulating our creativity. The tactile nature of the session helped keep me focused (even though the smell stayed on my hands for longer than I thought it would). The activities used my right and left brain. It made me 100% present in the moment, with distractions seeming very far away.

This experience is consistent with what others suggest as ways to increase creativity - change your surroundings, learn something new, and challenge yourself in new ways.

Walking out of the workshop, Jessica and I immediately had many ideas for what we could try next.

What’s next for Action Potential Labs? We are looking forward to when the studio begins offering adult workshops again. Particularly the dissection of a cow heart and lungs. … because why not?