PASTOR DAVE’S MUSINGS FROM THE HEARTLAND

August 4, 2021

LOVE WHERE YOU LIVE (X)

Create Something

From 1948 until 1957 I lived in a small town in Ohio.  One year at Halloween there was a contest in which students were invited to paint the windows of the merchants of downtown Cortland.  My assignment was a window at the local locker plant.  My picture was not very good; in fact, it was really terrible.  The people at the store were nice.  They never commented to me about the quality of my work and gave me nothing but encouragement.  I did not come close to winning anything.  Some students did an outstanding job.

Before my artistic effort I had never been in the locker plant and had no idea what they did.  The owner gave a tour of the plant gave me some ideas of what people stored there.  This was before the day when most people had home freezers.  If you bought a side of beef, you stored it at the locker plant.  As I remember the store also sold meet.  After that every time I passed the store I remembered the day I painted my Halloween picture on their window. My experience painting a window at the down town store in Cortland, Ohio, gave me a greater attachment to the place where I lived.

Melody Warnick’ ninth basic place attachment behavior is “create something.”  Melody’s premise for this behavior is that culture, creativity and the arts “happen to be excellent at fostering long-term attachment to places.” (This Is Where You Belong, pp. 200,201)  One can either be a part of the creative process or one can enjoy the creativeness of others.

Since moving to Plymouth, Indiana, in 2005, Diane and I have looked forward to performances by the Maxinkuckee singers and the Maxinkuckee players.  They are community groups who bring music, plays, and enjoyment to the people of Marshall County.  Over the years we have had the opportunity of hearing the Marshall County Community orchestra several times.  For a number of years students going to state solo contest performed in the sanctuary of the church I attend.  Every year the schools in the county have plays and musical presentations.

One way to be creative and enjoy the creativeness of others is through music and plays.  Across northern Indiana you can find duplicated the same types of programs and presentations that I have found here in Marshall County.  Almost every week during the summer you can find a community group putting on some type of presentation.  You may well know some of those involved.  Several members of the Maxinkuckee singers and the Maxinkuckee players are members of the church I attend.  Those involved in school presentations may well be your own children or grandchildren or the children and grandchildren of someone you know. Over the years these offerings become almost like family gatherings.

Heartland Artists Gallery, located at 101N. Main St., Plymouth, Indiana, is a nonprofit visual art organization and art gallery geared toward showcasing and supporting local art and artists.  Their mission is to:

Welcome artists and those interested in the arts

Promote multi-media art forms

Encourage mutual support of local artists

Share art exhibits, classes, programs, and education

Build an artistic link with the community

Strive to make exhibits, buildings, classes and events accessible to all individuals.

One of the artists associated with Heartland Artists works with stained glass.  We had her do a piece for the window in our front door.  Every time I see it I am reminded of her, of Heartland Artists and of Plymouth.  We have a small picture of a county scene that was my mothers.  It had been given to her by the artist who pained it.  She lived just two blocks south of us in Cortland, Ohio.  When I look at the picture I am reminded of my mother, the artist and Cortland.  Buying a piece of local art can help cement one’s sense of place attachment.

At most farmer’s markets you find vendors selling local arts and crafts.  They are also a staple of the Blueberry Festival held in Plymouth over Labor Day weekend.  One could almost decorate one’s whole house with items locally produced by just shopping from venders selling arts and crafts.  If one was so inclined, you could also include in the mix items that you have.

A neighbor on our street has taken her creative talents outside.  She has transformed her yard into an interesting collection of art, plants and objects.  I always feel good just looking at it as I walk or drive by.  She is not the only one on our street who has taken their creative talents outside. Others have found ways to express themselves in the great outdoors. Every time I do a lap around my street seeing what my neighbors have been up to gives me a sense of belonging and community.

Another way that one can create a creative attachment to where one lives is through construction.  The projects might take place at one’s own place of residence or they might occur somewhere else.  A place to use one’s creative construction talents is through Habitat For Humanity.  They help families build and improve affordable places to call home.  Habitat is always in need of volunteers with a variety of skills to help with their projects.  This is a great way to develop a place attachment where one lives.

The arts are a wonderful way to increase one’s place attachment.  On the one hand this can be done by enjoying and supporting local artists, musicians, and artisans.  On the other hand this can be done by engaging personally in the creative process.