The free act, the activity of art, does not exist by natural necessity. If it did, the act would not be free. It must be awakened by each individual. The human community which attends to the creative possibilities of each person develops a sense for true human dignity. Knowledge regarding the human person has been one-sidedly cultivated around the concepts of heredity and environment. Schiller is exploring a new outlook."
This is the answer to those who believe that 'everyone is an artist' which is sometimes often heard. Notice that Klingborg quite rightly indicates that free creativity (emphasis on 'free') must be awakened 'by each individual', meaning within the individual. It is the task of the educator to provide the nurturing conditions for this awakening to occur. Encouragement is the foundation....inner motivation may result. No one can awaken for us we must awaken from within ourselves and if there is another person to sensitively assist in this process and it is a successful process, then this is called the art of education.
When will humanity resurrect the art of education on a broad scale ensuring that each child or adult not only has this opportunity to become freely creative but are then allowed to exercise and remain freely creative throughout life? This seems to me to be a fundamental question in view of growing global conditions brought on by human beings themselves which seek to hinder, imprison and even obliterate the free human spirit of others!
Arne Klingborg (1915-2005) was a great Swedish-European artist, master gardener, educator and community builder. From first hand experience I can say that in his lifetime he was certainly one of the most remarkable figures in the modern European life of the 20th century. His influence stretched globally effecting thousands of students and professionals in every field of life.
Arne acutely recognized Schiller as the one who showed the way to authentic education...an education which nurtures the 'urge to play' ....where all motivation 'exists in human nature' ....where 'freedom should be first aroused'...'be awakened by each individual'... engaging and making real the 'free creative act'.
Friedrich Schiller 1759-1805 'The Freedom Philosopher'
The beginning quote by Klingborg is excerpted from his article 'The Arts in Life' which is contained along with chapters on various themes in 'Work Arising from the life of Rudolf Steiner'.
Waldorf education which Steiner founded in 1919, is today the vibrant and on-going example of Schiller's aesthetics put into practice. Waldorf exists worldwide starting from kindergarten and continuing with grades 1-12 in many schools where there has been time and opportunity to develop.
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