On the importance of creating in community
A few details about CREATIVE RESISTANCE
Hello fellow creatives!
Yes, I do believe that everyone is creative, so Hello to all of you!
Thanks to everyone who shared their input on the CREATIVE RESISTANCE program that I’ll be offering soon. A large percentage of your survey responses favored creating in community rather than on your own. Why is creating in community so vital, especially now?
Why Creative Community?
In my last email, I noted that a creative community provides a way to support each other, offering empathy and encouragement in challenging times. As social beings, we are hardwired to be in community, so searching out community is a natural instinct.
Being in a creative community gives us a sense of belonging, and helps alleviate loneliness. Sharing our common interest in creativity could help reduce the growing divide that is splitting our country apart, if only a small bit.
Creativity is a way to express what is truest within you. Doing that in community surrounds you with a crowd of supportive non-judgmental souls who can witness your truth and your bravery for showing up for you.
Why create?
In the powerful words of poet Andrea Gibson:
We have to create
It’s the only thing
Louder
Than destruction
There are so many reasons to get creative! Here are just a few:
Creativity is a way to express yourself.
With creativity, you can find clarity around your feelings.
Creativity is a mindful activity, one that can keep you fully engaged in the present moment.
Creativity can turn down the outside noise and turn up the sound of your inner wisdom.
Creativity is a way to connect with the Creative Source.
Creativity can make the invisible Spirit visible.
Creativity is a way to slow down and take care of yourself.
Creativity adds more beauty, more whimsy, more color and brightness to the world.
Creativity lets you shine the light of who you are.
Through creativity, you can learn something new that may be a wee bit out of your comfort zone. That will drop you into the fabulous flow state, the place where all other distractions, including the habit of doom scrolling, drop away for a bit.
A personal art journal is a safe place to let all of your emotions out.
While creating together, we can help each other find our voices and embolden our expressions.
What else did I leave out?
There are so many more benefits, some scientifically proven! Two resources for you: Your Brain on Art: How Art Transforms Us, a book by Susan Magsamen and Ivy Ross, and a Substack post by author Amie McNee, “Art is the Front Line.”
Why now?
So many of us are struggling with knowing what to do once we turn away from the news cycle. Though it feels like we have little control over the mayhem, we do have choices. We can choose to find pockets of joy in spite of all the evidence to the contrary. We can choose to add something positive to the world instead of amplifying the negative.
In response to a comment sent to me by a dear fellow creative, let me be clear about my choice of wording. By calling this program “CREATIVE RESISTANCE,” I am not calling in violence or negativity. There is already too much of that! I use that word “resistance” to activate our collective power to resist - to refuse to accept - to push back against the forces that want to keep us scared and despairing, paralyzed and silent. This is not a call to arms, but a call to paint brushes and glue sticks!
What to expect
Here’s how I envision each Saturday morning session will unfold. We’ll enter into this special time set aside for our creative community with intention setting and guidelines establishing a safe and confidential space.
Note: To ensure this confidentiality, I will not be recording any of the sessions. You can sign up for only those sessions that fit into your schedule; you can get all six for a wee discount.
After a brief demonstration of a creative technique, we’ll create together for a chunk of time. Of course, you are free to create in any manner that feels right to you. We will spend a few minutes journaling about the process, and then you’ll have the opportunity to have your artwork witnessed by the group, if you choose.
The dates and techniques for the first six session are as follows:
March 22: Create art around the news headlines
April 26: Clay: Releasing emotions in air drying clay
May 17: Collage: Let your feelings rip as you rip up paper and glue it down
June 14: Mandalas: Embrace imperfection by creating your own wonky mandala
July 12: Graffiti: Express your loudest feelings in this bold manner of expression
August 16: Doodle your way to calmness
Creating in community gives us the gift of sharing our need to cope with other creative souls. It would be a wonderful gift if you could join us!
Whether you are able to join us in CREATIVE RESISTANCE, I urge you to follow the advice of author Gretchen Rubin:
In a time of destruction, create something!
Let me know if you have any questions!
More details coming soon.