Creativity Comeback: Pedaling Toward Lift-Off

theartscollaborati
Nov 10, 2025
3 min read

Written by Nathan A. Knick

Illustrated by Ruby “RJ” Jensen

Growing up in the 80s and 90s had its perks—chief among them, the freedom to play

with almost no restrictions. I lost count of how many forts my brother and I built, using

couch cushions, wood scraps, sticks, blankets—anything we could get our hands on.

We created our own adventures: designing new paper airplanes, inventing hallway

games, or discovering that Pledge on linoleum made for a surprisingly slick (and

hilarious) ride.

At six years old, I remember planning with my brother how to build a flying bike. Paper

bags, string, and a little ingenuity were all we needed—or so we thought. It never left

the ground, but the real magic was in the process: brainstorming, experimenting, and

testing our ideas without even realizing we were learning about forces like “lift” and

“gravity.”

So what’s changed since then? Why, in the 2000s and beyond, do we need to

intentionally cultivate creativity when it once seemed so natural? The Partnership for

21st Century Learning, now part of Battelle for Kids, identifies Creativity as one of

the “4 Cs” essential for student success—alongside Critical Thinking, Communication,

and Collaboration (Partnership for 21st Century Learning, n.d.). While I’m grateful it’s

recognized at this level, I can’t help but wonder: Why does creativity even need to be

listed as a skill we need to intentionally develop? Shouldn’t it be a natural part of

childhood?

That question led me to a landmark NASA-commissioned study conducted by George

Land and Beth Jarman in the 1960s, later detailed in Breakpoint and Beyond (Land &

Jarman, 1992). The study tested 1,600 children for divergent thinking—the ability to

generate creative ideas. At age five, 98% of participants scored at the “genius” level in

creativity. By adulthood, only 2% reached that same level. Land concluded that this

decline wasn’t a natural process, but rather the result of uncreative behaviors being

taught and reinforced over time—often in school.

I’ve thought a lot about this. Was it school alone? I had teachers who could put me to

sleep, and others who made their subject matter come alive. Then came the internet,

smartphones, CNC machines, 3D printers—and now, artificial intelligence. With all of

these tools, is creativity still necessary? Absolutely. In fact, it’s more essential now than

ever.

I’m done just asking questions about the so-called “creativity crisis.” It’s time to be part

of the solution. That’s where Art Wars comes in. Our mission is to Advance the Artist,

Build the Builder, Create the Creator, and Inspire the Innovator. Through high-energy,

“in-the-moment” art competitions, we give young artists the chance to develop their

creative skills under pressure—while having fun. It’s action-packed, intense, and deeply

rewarding for students who thrive in artistic expression.

Alongside the competitions, Art Wars Education will develop into a full support system

for young artists—offering career insights, self-development and business tutorials,

artist interviews, college connections, and scholarship opportunities. We’ve already

impacted hundreds of students in South Dakota and Minnesota, and we’re on a mission

to go national, giving more students the chance to strengthen their creativity through the

arts.

I’m genuinely excited for the future of the arts—and for the role creativity will play in

shaping our world. Creativity has always been inside us. It built civilizations, imagined

the internet, and even conceived of AI. It’s not a luxury—it’s the engine of progress. The

question isn’t whether you have it, but whether you’ll choose to develop it.

My brother and I never got that bike to fly—but not for lack of spirit. With the right

resources, I believe we could have done it. Today, Art Wars is that flying bike. The

framework is built, momentum is building, and lift is happening. Soon, we’ll be soaring.

If you’d like to fuel this flight, visit www.theartwars.com and click “Donate.” Together,

we can help creativity take off.

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