A car ride to some long-forgotten place or a favorite vacation spot—places that somehow stretched farther than it should, as impossibly long spaces. Sitting in class for an infinitely stretched amount of time, wondering when you’re free. Your hand begins to wander then something interesting happens.
Magic. Mythical worlds, welled from the lowest, deepest, unconscious recesses of ourselves. And of course, you grow up. The world grows up alongside you, and in this interim, the wilderness of these youthful spolariums of creation stay locked and secured. Some look upon this well of old wonders to paint the lens for life afterwards, and some just keep it there. It was only in the last century and a half that societies have realized this deep well, still scratching the surface.
Do you still remember those daydreams? Those bouts of creativity spurred by youth, born from the freedom, the encouragement, and the carefree nature of your peers, your community?
Where are those dreams now?
Illustration by Keith Andrea B. Vocal, 7 years old
What do you want to be in the future?
“Pangarap ko po sa aming kinabukasan ay maging maginhawa ang aming buhay at magkakasama.” (My wish for the future is to live comfortably and in togetherness.)
PURVEYR is teaming up with Barefoot Philippines highlighting ‘Innocent Creativity’ to create beautiful shirts that do two things: showcase the innate beauty and innocence through the perspective of youth, and inspire others through these works to be more in touch with their artistry—as our youth once has. The shirts produced will take elements and notes that ring strongest with the submissions from the kids, then place them in the most caring and curated light.
Barefoot is a student-led organization that envisions an inclusive nation where all children enjoy their rights within empowered environments. Composed of diverse members who study different disciplines and embody the organization’s core values; namely, humility, inclusivity, and empowerment, Barefoot advocates for the holistic development of children in rural communities. By empowering these children to hone their creativity and express themselves through their art, the narrative shifts: How does creativity affect outlook later in life?
There’s a sentiment among many cultures, that children are our future. Developmental psychologist Jean Piaget noted that children in a developmental phase imitate observed actions, and through its importance, mark the phase that the child begins to think symbolically, associating behaviors with actions and set them for deeper layers of symbolic thinking later on.
“Naturally, children are surrounded by many different types of people that influence their actions and behaviors, including parents, family members, teachers, peers, and even characters on television programs.”
Illustration by John Mark B. Buensalido, 17 years old
Do you like being creative? Why?
“Masaya dahil po ang pag-guhit ay nakakapag pagaan ng pakiramdam at lumalawak ang iyong imahinasyon at dahil sa pag-guhit na ibabahagi mo ang gusto mong ibahagi at gusto mong sabihin o ipabatid at ang pag guhit ay punong puno ng imahinasyon at may damdamin na nakakagaan sa kalooban.” (I’m happy because drawing helps lighten and expand your imagination and because it helps you convey what you want to say while focusing on creativity. These feelings help lighten my mood.)
Children are natural creators, often drawing on from things already present to fuel worlds that can exist, as they see it. PURVEYR partnered with Barefoot Philippines to take from this same fuel, to bring the light to others, and to show how to bring the same light of creativity out. When you let kids create, sometimes all the right magic comes out. Cognitive research does suggest after all that fidgeting can be associated with stimulation, a self-regulation mechanism for boosting or lowering attention levels for whatever purpose is urgent at the time. Though the same can’t be said, about the sense of urgency during tasks and singular focus—with many findings and the better part of common knowledge—fidgeting is also associated with the greater mental gears that point to daydreaming and mind-wandering.
Ultimately, it would be these formative experiences of idle self-occupation that would affect their productivity in later years. When left to their own imaginations, children inadvertently flex their creative muscles through mediums most available–whatever’s around them. It’s instinctive, in a way, pointing at the influence that the outer world of impressions and influences can stimulate and instigate in young minds—dance, visual forms of expression, and acting out scenes are a great example of this.
“Creative play develops preschooler confidence, language, physical and thinking skills, imagination, and emotional understanding. Dramatic play helps preschoolers make sense of the world. Arts and craft activities encourage self-expression and decision making.”
Illustration by Raymart B. Badillos, 19 years old
What makes your family proud of you the most?
“Sa tingin ko po ay ang aking pagiging masipag at mapagmahal sa kanila.” (I think it is because of how hardworking I am and how much I love them.)
Drawing notes and influences straight from the submission of these bright-minds-in- the-making, ‘Innocent Creativity’ sets out to put the fuel to the fire of innate and unborn imaginations—the paint to splatter and consequently blossom onto a canvas.
Aligned with Barefoot’s mission along with the penchant of PURVEYR’s greater lens of “creative spirit through objects,” when imaginations run wild, then skill and limitations don’t matter as much as expression, creation, and curiosity do.
By purchasing any of the exclusive designs we made with Barefoot Philippines, you will be able to aid in donating educational gadgets for the students of Barangay Looc (UGMMARIZ) — one of the partner communities of Barefoot Philippines.
