Creative Generation is pleased to announce the Capstone Project of our Resident for Research Analysis and Documentation, Audrey Maxner. This project, “Recognizing My Wholeness through Art-Making,” is a heuristic, arts-based self-study exploring the questions: “How can I begin to liberate myself,” and “How can I begin to liberate my art?”
Through this qualitative study, Audrey engages with her disabled identity through the seven processes of heuristic inquiry: identifying the focus of inquiry, self-dialogue, tacit knowing, intuition, indwelling, focusing, and internal frame of reference. These processes allow Audrey to reflect on her own internal pathways and her connections to others with shared experiences, leading to a more holistic understanding of the ways we experience the world. She then conducts arts-based research to reflect her processes and her findings, resulting in six knit squares and creative writings.
“I began this project at the onset of the Summer Residency program. In alignment with the heuristic approach, I did not enter this project with a topic of inquiry and research goal in mind,” said Audrey Maxner, resident for research analysis and documentation. “Rather, I wanted to explore methods of research and inquiry that took an emergent, self-reflective approach in order to illuminate deeper understandings over time. I think this project accomplished that. It allowed me to connect my own subjective experiences with the shared experiences of others in order to gain new understanding about living as a disabled person in the world.”
Creative Generation was founded in April 2019 as a research initiative and has grown its work throughout the United States and around the world. Through pioneering research in the arts and cultural education field – and the relentless support of arts and cultural educators in their work to cultivate the creative capabilities of young people – the organization regularly introduces new forms of inquiry and examination into the field of arts and cultural education. This project is an example of how heuristic inquiry and arts-based research can be utilized to draw conclusions about oneself, others, and one’s relation to the world.
About Creative Generation
Creative Generation believes that youth create change. We are a values-driven global collective that collaborates with young creatives and those who cultivate their creativity to take local actions towards global changes in pursuit of a more just world. Founded in 2019, Creative Generation operates five signature programs: The Campaign for a Creative Generation, the Institute for Creative Social Transformation, The Academy for Creative Leadership, the Incubator for Creative Impact, and the Foundation for a Creative Generation. www.Creative-Generation.org