In the recent demo for the Down Under DIG, where we experimented with the DIG framework with a group of Australian educators, Penny shared her creation: a mandala.
And with that mandala, she created a moment – a moment we will long remember.
Her base was culture, her scrambler was plants. Her interest was flowers. How might flowers be used to tell stories that helped shaped culture?
It was in her exploration that she came upon mandalas as an example of art created in the world, with the world, that only existed in a moment. Where nature quickly reclaimed that brief moment of patterns. Patterns that might hold a meaning for others.
Penny's Mandala
Penny had earlier struggled with the concept of the 'product' thinking that this was the purpose of the DIG. In order not to 'fail' she, as the others did, grasped quickly. We encouraged her to let go, reminding her that the product was not the purpose, but the the purpose was to 'inspire wonder'. Her creation would emerge and was simply a metaphor to use to help tell her story. Explore further, we encouraged, and find your story – a story that might hold a surprising for others.
A story that creates a moment of meaning that is remembered. A memory that leads back to the story, leads back the creation, where something worthy is revealed.