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| on the mountain Winter/Spring 2013
SinCE iTS inCEPTiOn, THE
philosophy of The Creative Arts
Center (CAC) has been “The
World Runs on Ideas…use your
Imagination.”
Can imagination and
creativity be taught? If a student
has the desire and a willingness
to create, the required skills can
be taught, but creativity must be
cultivated. Imagination is the
source of every human
achievement.
The CAC uses a recipe of
both organic and technology-
based ingredients to open a
student’s consciousness to the
art of creating. This potent
combination has broken
through writer’s block, cured
mundane rank and file syn-
drome, and instilled the
necessary confidence and
courage in my students to
enable them to blaze new trails.
Instead of teaching students
what to think, they are taught
how to think. Students are not
required to attend the classes at
the CAC; they voluntarily sign up
because they want to and they
are curious. Students learn from
The Art of
Creating
by
Frank Annunziata,
Head of the
Creative Arts Center,
Creative Arts
the experience, good or bad.
They are taught not to be afraid
to walk out on a limb because
that’s where the fruit is. They are
inspired to go deep and be
unconventional, unique, and
innovative.
Students receive assignments
to hone their individual
capabilities and to foster
team-building skills. Classes
combine lessons, workshops
and internships. Many parents
have said, “I would love to take
some of these classes”. It’s a
wonderful experience for
students. It’s a community, a
creative consortium that is
working and is growing.
Part of the CAC experience
includes guest appearances by
visitors invited to SKS by me for
workshops, concerts and
surprises. Students have also
been treated to field trips, to see
and experience up close, the
real world applications of the
creative arts they are studying. I
also continue to mentor and
work with alumni in a variety of
ways, including securing them
internships, helping to produce
their videos and recordings, and
sometimes just giving advice.
Here is a list of just some of
the events students and alumni
have experienced to date:
1.
Lecture by Chief
Oren Lyons, Faithkeeper of the
Onondaga Indian Nation,
Lacrosse Hall of Famer, 35-plus
year professor at the university
of Buffalo, named a SuNy
Distinguished Service professor
by the SuNy Board of Trustees.
Syracuse university commemo-
rated Lyons Hall in his honor,
and he is also an acclaimed
artist and sought after lecturer,
invited around the world to
speak on a variety of interna-
tional topics of interest. Oren
came to SKS during Native
American Heritage month and
gave a world class presentation
on the environment, Native
American history and Lacrosse.
2.
Trip to Grammy Sound-
check in New york City. Seven
students visited Grammy Sound-
check in Manhattan, and were
able to get on stage and ask
performers questions.
3.
Concert and backstage
visit with my long-time friend,
Todd Sucherman, world class
drummer for the pop band Styx.
Students and I were invited to a
This page:
Top: Students at
Grammy Soundcheck in New york
City a few years ago. Center:
Emma Landau ‘12 interviewing
radio personality Ken Dashow.
Bottom: James Sweitzer ‘08 with
Todd Sucherman, drummer
for the pop band Styx.
