Working on something meaningful is a common desire – but how? We started asking folks to share the story of how they ended up working on a project they felt was meaningful because we wanted inspiration but also because we wondered if hearing from people from across a range of industries would help us identify patterns making it more likely for anyone to be able to find and work on projects that they would find meaningful.
Cheyann Montiel Reagan
I am been very blessed to say every project I’ve worked on has been meaningful. My last completed script, The Holiday Delay, is ringing to share. My good friend, Raul Pizarro, a fantastic painter, died this previous year from suffering from MS his whole life. I felt so lucky to bond with such a unique soul, I always wanted to take him on a road trip. But with his condition, I knew it would be too difficult for him and his family since he was wheelchair-bound. So I figured if I can’t take him literally why not write a fictional trip for us? I was able to create characters inspired by us and play with the world in the setting to ask, “What would happen if we took off?” Well, I needed to find a clever way to incorporate the hardest time to take a trip, which for Californians like Raul and I, would be the holiday season. So with some movie magic, I wrote a Rom-com script with hints of the classic, Some Like It Hot, set mainly on the Starlight Express train in California. Read more>>
Jhemma Ziegler
I find that every project I’m involved with contributes some kind of unique meaning to my life. Artists can’t really be separated from the work they create as it’s inevitably an extension of who we are, or on some level a reflection of our perceptions and life experiences. Passion tends to be my guiding light when I choose to take on a project, whether it be an acting role, a song I write, or something I produce. In a sense, everything I create feels like a metaphorical child that I birth, and though I prefer to not pick ‘favorites,’ as of late the most meaningful project I have worked on is the one that currently has my attention – my debut album of original music, “Burn The Tapes.” As a creative, anything I’ve put out into the world up to this point has been based on opportunities I’ve been hired for. Implicit in that is the need for external validation – in my case, most often a TV network or studio signing off. However, the making of an album as an indie artist has meant that I could create something so wholly representative of myself and my story. It has been the first time in my adult life I’ve crafted something solely to honor my artistic taste and vision, and in turn, the experience has really re-set my relationship with myself and where I generate from. Read more>>
Deidre Husak
About a year ago my sister (an actual Sister) had asked me to paint a religious watercolor depicting the Virgin Mary and her cousin Elizabeth famously labeled “The Visitation”. Me, not being particularly religious and completely unfamiliar with the subject, I started to feel a sense of dread come over me. I thereby put off this project to produce easier, more familiar ones before finally succumbing to my sister’s continual prodding. One day I sat myself down and forced myself to start the research required to achieve a successful outcome that I could present to the convent where this rather large painting would be installed. After hours of research, playing with the colors and especially light knowing it would be a focal point, I took out my paper and started. Watercolor is a spoiled brat. You don’t have a lot of chances for correction and if you are a control freak like me, you need to practice extreme focus and self-control. Knowing that the pigment and water will fight, someone will win, you are just a bystander who will have to work with the end result. Most of watercolor involves thinking of a strategy and then taking a deep breath, going in with practiced skill developed by countless mistakes, and knowing when to pick up your brush and stop at that exact time. It’s tricky to say the least, but so much more rewarding to me over acrylic and oil. Read more>>
Madeleine Berckley
My summer internship this year was one of the most meaningful experiences I have ever had. I interned for a production company in Las Vegas called 3G Productions which gave me the opportunity to engage with a lot of different aspects and elements of production. I worked on projects with different teams for lighting, audio, permanent installations, and got to work with their video team as well. As a college student pursuing a degree in stage management, many of the opportunities I encountered are related to theatrical production so I found it exciting to work in an environment that was so different to what I am used to. I learned so much from everyone I worked with and the scale and variety of shows that I got to be a part of was absolutely insane. I went from a foam edm rave to working on a cybersecurity convention to working on part of the Wild ‘N Out tour with Nick Cannon. It helped me realize that I really do want to be in production and also reminded me of why I was drawn to it in the first place. Another part that made this summer so meaningful to me was that everyone I worked with was so passionate about what they were doing. Being around such wise people encouraged me to want to learn more about each department and it truly was a summer I’ll never forget. Read more>>
Alexa Grambush
I think what makes my life as an artist rich and full is the posture of finding meaning in just about everything. The happenings of my own life, and the lives of those I love yield rich grounds for exploration and excavation in my artistic offering. While each project, or collection, or exhibition tends to identify some particular musing of the moment, I find they are all, at the very core, a part of the same stream. While attentive to inner reflections and revelations in my work in abstract painting, some of the most consistent variables of my practice are my often-shifting location, and the resources available wherever I settle to work for long, or short duration. Painting from the back of a boat in Lake Michigan, using the Great Lakes as a water source for soaking and stretching paper; from the corner of a room facing flowering sakura trees in Nagasaki, using Nao Washi paper from ancient paper-making traditions; from the hills of Malibu, overlooking cliffs that tumble toward the Pacific Ocean, shielding the small community from the the busy hub of Los Angeles, each place is undoubtedly reflected in my work there produced, and makes its way into the fabric of my practice. Read more>>
Coleman Rogers
About halfway through 2023, I realized that I had been feeling creatively stuck for a long time. We returned from a five week driving trip through Spain and France; during that time, I generated many, many digital images and exposed more than 30 rolls of 120 format film. I developed and scanned the film and went through all of the analog and digital images, but I could only see ‘mistakes’ and bad exposures. I began to work with a creative coach, who redirected my focus and helped me to break free. I had two or three months that blew open my feelings about creation. For one of the first projects, I went through the film rolls that I captured with a Holga 120N plastic camera and selected all of the frames with light leaks. I printed those frames and created a collage connecting the light leaks as a primary focus, and finding and connecting shapes and lines in the image as a secondary focus. The result was very satisfying. A following series in this project was intended to promote the release of intention of the finished ‘product.’ Read more>>
Kiley Bertolacini
The most meaningful project I’ve worked on and integrated into my line would have to be my worry stones. My handmade ceramic worry stones were originally inspired by a calming stone my father kept close to him. My father suffered from a disease that’s often misunderstood and in many cases overlooked – depression. After learning of his struggle, I gifted him a worry stone as a token of my love and with hopes of alleviating his pain. But as time passed, the dark became darker and in 2002 he left us. I was only 12-years old. His passing regifted the stone back into my hands. My young, tender, innocent hands – and I held onto the stone as if it were treasure. While working in my studio one night, I found myself gazing at my Dad’s worry stone. Like the flick of a switch, the concept for my next project became very clear to me. Not just to recreate worry stones out of clay, but to use my stamping technique to inscribe positive affirmations on them, serving as a soothing reminder for oneself or as a thoughtful gift for someone else. Read more>>
Justina Martino
The most meaningful project I worked on was called “Artistic Pathways,” an event series that introduced artists to income-generating opportunities within businesses and organizations in Sacramento, CA. For the series, we invited artists to attend a breakfast mixer at an organization that hired artists, followed by a moderated discussion with a representative from the organization and an artist who had been hired by that organization. Discussion topics included balancing business and art making, networking, mentorship, collaboration, and more. I conceived the idea for this series to satisfy my own curiosity and desire to share knowledge and resources with the artists in my community. By working with artists and being an artist myself, I understood how challenging it could be to find opportunities to earn money from an artistic practice. Read more>>
Rene Mena
Prescience aka Intuitions has by far been one of my most meaningful projects to date. It’s the first full length feature film that I was blessed and honored to be the lead. As we know for anyone in this career we all aspire to have the out of body experience where we can fully and clearly see out dreams come true and in this moment I was able to physically see all of my hard work laid out in front of me. Read more>>
Ariesela
The most meaningful projected I’ve worked on has most definitely been “Doll Linkup” — Miami’s Girliest Drag Show every Friday night at Villain Theater. Most people have the misconception that drag allows you to be whoever you desire but for many trans people, drag reveals who you truly are. When my now co-producer/hostess LinerBaddie reached out to me a few days before RuPaul’s Drag Race Season 16 aired, I couldn’t have anticipated the impact we would’ve made to Miami drag. For context: Linerbaddie is a cisgender queer woman doing drag and I am a trans woman. We quickly realized when trying to build reputation and branding for our new show that we were the only local women-ran drag production. Although drag is a queer art form, the industry is still male dominated and soon Liner & I became committed to protecting and platforming femme & transgender/non-binary drag artists. Now we are Miami’s premier trans drag show and I couldn’t be more proud to be giving back to the community that helped me embrace who I am. Rewarding is an understatement, our work is healing. Read more>>
Kiana Honarmand
One of the most meaningful projects I’ve worked on is an installation titled A Shadow in the Depth of Light. It’s a tribute to the Woman Life Freedom protests in Iran, which erupted in September 2022 after the tragic death of Mahsa (Jina) Amini at the hands of the morality police. The protests have been about more than just her—it’s a fight for freedom, dignity, and equality for women. Sadly, the Iranian government responded with extreme violence, killing hundreds of people, including children, and brutally attacking and arresting thousands. Many artists, lawyers, and activists have been imprisoned for simply speaking out. This installation brings attention to these human rights violations and the bravery of the women leading the charge in Iran. At the heart of A Shadow in the Depth of Light are around 300 3D-printed hands, each bearing the name of a victim of the government crackdown. These hands rest on reflective surfaces, interacting with light and shadows cast by a vinyl installation on the gallery windows, creating a haunting yet powerful tribute to those who have made the ultimate sacrifice in the fight for freedom. Read more>>
Ian Melamed
I think it’s probably Serov, the feature film I worked on. I was completely immersed in the project. I wrote, directed, acted, edited, and composed the music for it. So I really got to see it through from beginning to end. I also had the best team I could ask for. My cinematographer, Brandon Whipple, and I were in lock step with how we shot it. My actors were all incredible! I remember discussing my ideal cast with my friends and we were all like “these are the best actors in our program” and we got em’ all! I also think the project was a breakthrough for me in terms of what I thought I was capable of. Before we started on the project I was not really in a good place, mental health wise, and I kinda figured that I had plateaued creatively, professionally, personally. But really hammering down on Serov and seeing it through to completion was the victory I really needed to get out of that. Read more>>
Rob Isquierdo
I launched a project at Sierra Pacific High School called Mental Health Mondays. This initiative stemmed from the tragic losses I’ve experienced during my time here, including the suicide of my principal, a student from my class, and my best friend’s younger brother. I also lost a student to domestic violence. These experiences highlighted the urgent need for mental health awareness in our community. To kick off the project, I received bright green wristbands from Kings Behavioral Health Network in Hanford, California. I began distributing these wristbands to teachers, encouraging them to wear them on the first Monday of each month as a non-verbal signal to students that they are approachable and ready to help those in need of mental health support. Read more>>
Kiira Benzing
One of the most meaningful productions I’ve created was the immersive VR Theatre production “Finding Pandora X.” I created this production during the pandemic at a time when the myth of Pandora felt very timely. My creative studio built multiple storyworlds so that we could bring live Broadway talent together in a 3D virtual space with audiences from around the world. Those audiences had an opportunity for meaningful connection but also for an embodied presence that made the production very special. The audience asked for the opportunity to fly, so we built that interactive ability. At a time when we were all very bound to our homes,, finding the freedom and agency to fly in a virtual world was empowering. Read more>>
Kristen Holland
My college background includes graphic design, journalism, and magazine production. I spent my college summers serving in Summer Missions and had always dreamed of opportunities working in graphic design/journalism for a missions organization. Since then I found my way into freelance graphic design and have been doing design work for non-profits and churches for many years. (As well as small business, etc.) Typically, freelance work can be very word-of-mouth and you often find yourself doing similar projects based on recommendations to new clients. The majority of my work has been around presentation design, branding and marketing pieces. A few years ago I started contracting with a global missions organization and about a year into working together they came to me with a magazine print project idea. They didn’t know my college background emphasis was in magazine production and we had the opportunity to build their first 98-page magazine together. Since then we’ve produced three additional print magazine pieces, and it has been such a joy to create these projects with them. Read more>>
Glitteress
Through the drag lens, I have been to travel abroad and produce local LA events to celebrate a queer art form i’ve dedicated over seven years of my life to. Every performance has been meaningful in its own right but to produce drag events to celebrate kings, queens, and everything in between all in the name of charity has been beyond rewarding. To be able to give back to the LGBTQIA+ community in a real way is beyond rewarding. To create save, loving, and meaningful spaces continually inspires me. No two artists are the same and it never ceases to entertain me to see what comes to life empowered by a drag artists personal expression and evolution. Read more>>
Moss Ying Loke Oconnor
The most meaningful project I have worked on was in the summer of 2022. I applied for a solo exhibition of my work at one of the many ChaShaMa locations available across New York City. Apart from the space ChaShaMa provides, you are left to your own devices. It was a daunting prospect to present my work. Especially with the added responsibility of arranging the opening, marketing, installation, gallery sitting, and all the other devilishly easy-to-forget details around exhibiting artwork left me initially feeling somewhat overwhelmed. The exhibition, which was cheekily titled Effeminate Encounters, was equally exhausting and rewarding. The excitement, and more accurately, I’d like to describe the emotion, probably as joy from sharing work with an audience, is electric. Since then, I have continued exploring less conventional approaches to curating and organizing art. I have coordinated and curated two shows at my current residency in TriBeCa at the Hercules Art Studio Program. Firstly, with the Angelito Collective who are a multidisciplinary artist initiative dedicated to radical trans visibility. The exhibition NC7DS is a love letter exploring lineage and self-discovery. The most recent show with Flush Gallery explored Susan Sontag’s seminal text Regarding the Pain of Others. Both group exhibitions have helped shed light on phenomenally talented artists and helped bond all involved further into the longevity of their creative pursuits and friendships. Read more>>
Angela Dimarco
One of the most meaningful films, was my directorial debut, Always. Dedicated to our son, Caleb, who we lost in 2016. At first we made it for ourselves, to help us through the grief. Then we decided to share it and we are so glad we did. I was invited to be interviewed by Bill Radke on KUOW, also by Nancy Guppy on the SIFF Red Carpet. Always, had its international premiere in the Short Film Corner in CANNES and it’s US premiere, at home, in SIFF 2018. After the interviews and reviews came out, I was contacted m=by strangers, friends and family from all over the world. People sharing their stories of loss and thanking me for starting the conversation. Always was the perfect reminder that telling your story can and will help others. With that, here I am going into the final week of filming, A Trapdoor, a short film based on a true story, about addiction, loss and trauma. Our hope is to continue the conversation about the crisis many of us have battled with addiction. My husband and I are so proud of all the films Mighty Tripod has produced and like I always say #DontWaitCreate #YouAreMighty Read more>>
Anna Buksowicz
I’ve been fortunate enough to work on plenty of meaningful projects, and collaborate with strong, highly creative, and incredibly thoughtful heads of departments. Most recently, I wrapped short film “Flutter” (written & directed by Sofia Ayerdi, and produced by Tracy Dillon). This short was created for the Academy Gold Rising program, a competitive, demanding, but likewise rewarding mentorship program for production roles, hosted by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts & Sciences. I was one of the 7,000+ applicants to get accepted (less than 1% acceptance rate) this year, one of the 5 production design mentees, and the Production Designer (head of department, as selected by the director). I received a handful of brilliant Art Department mentors — Production Designers, Illustrators, Set Dressers, and Art Directors — who pushed me to excel and guided my work towards the right direction. My mentors were particularly incredible, because they didn’t criticize the content of my work, but my methods and ultimate execution. Read more>>
Mai Moua Thao
Collaborating with performers Kalala Kiwanuka-Woernle and Skye Reddy under the direction of Cláudia Tatinge Nascimento, the most meaningful project I’ve worked on so far is “Reasons for Moving,” an interdisciplinary, multilingual performance about geopolitical displacement. Presented at the historic Southern Theater in Minneapolis, MN, this devised dance-theater piece was anchored in intergenerational stories of moving away from the places we call home. The performance contained found and original texts of migration and diasporic narratives, as well as fragments of real and imagined memories of our own families’s (im)migration– memories that we hypothesize to fill in the blank pages of history books, memories we dream up to fill the gaps in the stories our elders have passed down. Read more>>
Christopher Montano
I’ve had the absolute pleasure of working with many inspiring and wonderful souls. As a wedding photographer, most of the weddings I’ve worked on have been incredibly meaningful and heartfelt. However, this year has been especially amazing, with projects and weddings I never thought I’d experience so early in my career. I’ve always loved traveling and photography, so I decided to fully focus on destination weddings to bring both passions together. Working destination weddings in glamorous locations has been one of the coolest things I’ve stumbled into. What makes some of these weddings feel extra special is that I’ve often felt like I was dreaming, especially when I photographed a wedding in the jungle in Mexico. Well, technically it wasn’t in the jungle, but at a stunning resort surrounded by lush vegetation. The wedding planner went all out, styling everything perfectly, with beautiful overhead lighting and magical details. That night, monkeys even ran through the wedding – it was pretty epic. In that moment, I felt like my dreams were slowly but surely coming true. Read more>>
Alexis Jacquelyn Smith
The most meaningful project I have worked on has to be the short film, EDGE OF 23, which I wrote, starred, and served as a co-producer and director. EDGE OF 23 focuses on the cycle of prostitution and sexual exploitation that too many women face behind closed doors. Most recently, it has won Best Actress and Best Short Film. As we continue our festival run, I hope many more. Like most of us during the pandemic, I was watching a lot of YouTube. I stumbled upon these videos of interviews with prostitutes in LA and I was extremely moved by their stories. I would watch hours of these interviews, intrigued by their lifestyle. More importantly, I was shocked by how the women got into the world. Many started extremely young, running from an unfortunate background of abuse and neglect and finding some form of solace in their pimp and the lifestyle. Read more>>
Devin Akers
Starting Stello Church in 2018 with just 15 passionate people in the North Raleigh area was a leap of faith. We launched with a deep conviction that a Spirit-filled church was exactly what our community needed, and despite facing early challenges, including navigating the impact of COVID, we’ve experienced incredible growth year after year. What makes this journey so powerful is seeing God’s undeniable provision—miracles have unfolded before our eyes, and the unwavering dedication of our members has fueled our momentum. It’s been nothing short of extraordinary! Read more>>
Devyani Mahadevan
The most meaningful project I have worked on is Street View, my graduate thesis at MICA. Street View celebrates the perpetual evolution of urban streets by zooming in and out on everyday details through four different projects. I wanted to explore a subject that was ubiquitously accessible, and since I had a habit of photographing small details on the streets back home in Chennai, the idea naturally evolved to focus on streets. Through Street View, I explored how the smallest elements of everyday life like type on manhole covers, street patterns, and road maps tell a story of constant change. It became a way to document my surroundings while familiarizing myself with this new place. The project also became an exercise in learning to integrate the momentarily interesting details I had photographed into my design work, making them just as meaningful to the audience. Read more>>
Lalit Kumar
The publication of my latest book called ‘Yosemite of My Heart, Poems of Adventure in California’ earlier in the year 2024, has been a deeply meaningful project for me. In this book, I not only explore the lush outdoors of California, but also explore the inner journey of personal growth and rejuvenation that go hand-in-hand with outer exploration in the physical world. This book is borne out of the various experiences that I have had over the years, which has taken me Hiking in the Redwoods, Mountaineering in Mt Whitney & Mt. Shasta, Motorcycling through the cities of San Francisco & Sausalito, Kayaking in Channel Islands, Skiing in Tahoe, Horse Riding in Half Moon Bay, and various other adventures. Undoubtedly, California has an abundant playground with landscapes ranging from mountains, deserts, islands, meadows, lakes, rivers to ocean, providing a lavish palette of colors for every poet to experiment with the different strokes on his canvas. Read more>>
Valerie Durant
The most meaningful project I’ve worked on involved bringing awareness to the challenges of homelessness in our City, through the arts. I conceptualized a project called Out of The Rain: A Project for Homelessness in the CIty of Vancouver many years ago. Begining with a core group of four women artist with unique skills and connections , we introduced the concept thoughout the community and it expanded and took on a life of it’s own. Artists from all over the lower mainland donated artwork for an auction that supported an art centre for street entrenched youth and a gallery that supported artists with mental health challenges. Elementary school students and Community Centre participants painted and decoratedumbrellas. The artworks and umbrellas were auctioned during an evening of lively community participation. All levels of government participated in a roundtable and plenary to address the challenges of housing and homelessness in our city. This was significant due to the project’s collaborative nature, which developed organically within the community, fostering a profound desire to assist those in need and highlighting that together we can achieve more than alone. Read more>>
Miles Hobbie
One of my most meaningful projects that I’m currently working on is outdoor equipment for migrants in the Americas. With my teammates Saskia Eberman, Emma Wosje and Avery Boone Jackson, we decided to try to design solutions for the most vulnerable. What we found was that some of the most preventable causes of deaths were happening at shocking rates along migrant routes such as the Darien Gap. Deaths from flooding, fatigue, and lack of outdoor experience are increasing every year as a result of larger systemic issues. We decided that we needed to work on solutions outside of these systems and help individuals more directly through industrial design. Namely, by designing migration-oriented camping equipment for civilian use. Read more>>
Yinghua Lu
One of my favorite and most meaningful projects is the HYPEX Creek shoe. This design seamlessly merges outdoor functionality with the bold, trend-driven aesthetic of hypebeast style. It features innovative elements like safety-belt-inspired closures for a secure foot lockdown and customizable fit options, ensuring both performance and comfort. The shoe also incorporates speed-dry materials and ergonomic design principles, making it both practical and stylish. What makes HYPEX so special to me is that it reflects my philosophy of blending fashion and functionality in an unexpected way, pushing the boundaries of traditional footwear design. The recognition it received through awards like the Red Dot Design Concept Award, NY Product Design Award, Muse Design Award, A’ Design Award, and Fit Sports Design Award made it even more meaningful, affirming my belief in the power of creative innovation. Read more>>
Tanya Gorlow
In 2016, I produced and acted in Hamlet with Inner Circle Theatre (Los Angeles). This was an especially powerful experience for me, because it helped me trust my voice as a creative, not just on-stage, but during the production process. The throughline that we chose for the show was “there is nothing good or bad, but thinking makes it so.” That message was especially important for me at the time, and it continues to inform how I reframe challenging situations in my life. I can’t thank enough the amazing talent, friends, mentors, and creatives who supported that show and brought it to life. It was truly a pivotal moment for me and has forever changed how I see myself as an artist and a human. Read more>>