Free Play

Free Play is about the inner sources of spontaneous creation. It is about where art in the widest sense comes from. It is about why we create and what we learn when we do. It is about the flow of unhindered creative energy: the joy of making art in all its varied forms. Free Play is directed toward people in any field who want to contact, honor, and strengthen their own creative powers. It integrates material from a wide variety of sources among the arts, sciences, and spiritual traditions of humanity. Filled with unusual quotes, amusing and illuminating anecdotes, and original metaphors, it reveals how inspiration arises within us, how that inspiration may be blocked, derailed or obscured by certain unavoidable facts of life, and how finally it can be liberated - how we can be liberated - to speak or sing, write or paint, dance or play, with our own authentic voice. The whole enterprise of improvisation in life and art, of recovering free play and awakening creativity, is about being true to ourselves and our visions. It brings us into direct, active contact with boundless creative energies that we may not even know we had.

Stephen Nachmanovitch is a musician, author, computer artist, and educator. He is an improvisational violinist, and writes and teaches about improvisation, creativity, and systems approaches in many fields of activity

Free PlayPrologue: A New Flute Introduction The Sources Inspiration and Time's Flow The Vehicle The Stream The Muse Mind at Play Disappearing The Work Sex and ViolinsPractice The Power of Limits The Power of Mistakes Playing Together Form Unfolding Obstacles and Openings Childhood's End Vicious Circles The Judging Spectre Surrender Patience Ripening The Fruits Eros and Creation Quality Art for Life's Sake Heartbreakthrough Notes Bibliography Illustrations