Experience Over Expertise

A Spacious Place is founded on what we call our six “Playground Principles.” We’ll employ the next six “Soul & Solace” columns to give an overview of each principle.

1. Experience Over Expertise: A Spacious Place employs attentiveness and encouragement while avoiding “dangerous praise.” Dangerous Praise robs the participant of power while placing too much power in the hands of the guide. Dangerous praise includes flattery, condescension, and shaming. A Spacious Place also avoids comparisons, which can create disharmony and can discourage participants from taking creative risks. Last, A Spacious Place focuses on the person and on the creative process, rather than on the finished product. While we hope participants will create art that delights them, our primary focus is on the person doing the creating. Why? Because we believe each person is creative and because we believe the act of creating can both empower and transform.

Are you willing to take a creative risks? Would you like to challenge others in their creative process? Then you are our kind of people and we’d love to hear from you!