The Power of NIGO From Fran Tabor

The Power of NIGO

Back in the prehistoric 1950’s, computer geeks gave us a new word: GIGO, from Garbage
In, Garbage Out. The world of art has given us a more valuable concept: NIGO: New Ideas In,
Greater Ideas Out.
Plant an animal breeders know about the power of hybrid vigor.
What is hybrid vigor? From ScienceABC: “Hybrid vigor (heterosis) is the boost in growth, size,
fertility, or yield seen in offspring of two genetically distinct parents. It's why mules outwork donkeys
and hybrid corn out-yields its inbred parents. Hybrid vigor occurs because the hybrid offspring’s traits
are enhanced due to the mixing of genetic contributions of its parents.”
The world of art benefits greatly from hybrid vigor. In music, classically trained Mozart turned folk
tunes into operettas. American folk music plus blues plus gospel merged into Rock & Roll.
In art, Van Gogh trained on classic nineteenth century European drawing techniques, studied
Japanese prints, became immersed with the impressionists, then merged all into The Starry Night -- a
painting uniquely Van Gogh that could not have existed until his fertile imagination first internalized
multiple cultures within.
When two different art mediums combine, hybrid vigor really takes off.
Like an artist selecting colors for a garden scene, a good cook will arrange food on a plate or decorate
a cake, turning food into nourishment for both soul and body.
Most of us watch Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet and experience an Elizabethan drama. Bersein
watched, ‘saw’ modern times, ‘heard’ music and give us West Side Story.
Many of us admire nature. A thread artist turns that admiration into a quilt.
Most of us can admire a chunk of wood with sweeping wood grains; an artistic carver will transform
that chunk into a salad bowl that is as artistic as it is useful.
Creative people do not rest on old laurels. They would rather attempt something new than boringly
repeat past successes. Creatives crave new ideas. They know that whenever they see, hear, touch, smell,
attempt or taste anything not previously experienced, their brains naturally indulge in hybrid vigor.
New Ideas In: Great Ideas Out
NIGO
N…I…G…O spells Creative.