Art School Every Day With Dave Gray: Insights From School Of The Possible
Dave Gray delves into the transformative power of embracing creativity as a 'possibilitarian,' highlighting the critical role of sketching in unlocking potential ideas and fostering meaningful connections within communities.
On this episode of the Cohere podcast, co-hosts Bill Johnston and Dr. Lauren Vargas interview Dave Gray, Chief Possibilitarian at School of the Possible.
In his conversation with Bill and Lauren, Dave shares his perspective on creativity, possibility, and the art of sketching as a foundational tool for exploring and realizing potential ideas.
He unpacks his journey from art school to artist, and then on to embracing the broader concept of being a 'possibilitarian'—someone who actively seeks and creates new possibilities. Throughout the episode, Dave emphasizes the importance of sketching—not just as a drawing technique but as a way to engage in creative thinking and problem-solving. He also touches on his experiences founding the School of the Possible and the significance of creating spaces for meaningful connections and community building, particularly in a virtual environment.
“Art school is very different than a lot of other types of education. It’s focused on making and creating and doing things with your hands and making things happen in the real world. So, in one sense, there was a whole approach to learning that I picked up in art school. And also, when you graduate from art school, it’s not like there’s a lot of people waiting with jobs for you.
You have to apply those creative thinking skills to designing your life, thinking about What is it that you want to create in the world? How are you going to make your way in the world? And it’s really interesting to watch all of my peers and colleagues, all trained in creativity, all figuring it out in different ways.
It all stems from this idea of “what are you going to create and what are you going to make?” In a lot of types of education, you can just solve the problem in a way that everyone before you solved the problem.
When you’re in an art school, you’re not allowed to solve problems in the way they’ve been solved before. You’re required to think about a different way or a new way.”
Key moments in the episode include:
[00:00:00] Introduction and welcome by hosts Bill Johnston and Dr. Lauren Vargas.
[00:00:56] Dave Gray's introduction and his definition of a "possibilitarian."
[00:02:24] The transition from artist to broader creative endeavors and the significance of creativity.
[00:06:12] The importance of process and sketching in creative problem-solving.
[00:11:03] Exploring the concept of sketching beyond traditional art, including role-play and prototyping.
[00:16:27] The founding and development of the School of the Possible.
[00:20:00] Building virtual communities and creating spaces for serendipitous encounters.
[00:26:24] The shift towards more intimate and meaningful digital relationships post-COVID and social media fatigue.
Mentioned in this episode: Links to relevant materials mentioned during the episode
About our guest, Dave Gray:
Chief Possibilitarian at School of the Possible
Author, The Connected Company and Gamestorming
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/davegray/
Call-to-Action(s):
If you liked this episode, check out: How Hopeful Stories Can Shape a Better Future with Ed Finn and Imagining Tomorrow Through Community with Rob Hopkins
