Every once in a while we have the good fortune of working on a project that we feel truly matters, a project that we’ll still be thinking about years from now. Maybe even something we can imagine telling our grandkids about – surely you’ve had moments like that where something you did in your professional life really mattered?

Goldie Lahr

I am a solo artist and have pursued this as my career for the past eight years. I got a fairly late start to the music scene, though I have always been a singer and enjoyed writing music for myself, I never picked up a guitar or performed at a gig until I was 26. My husband is military so we move around frequently, this posed a challenge to getting my foot in the door in a new town since it takes time, but as soon as I did, I decided I wanted to share that with other military spouses who enjoy singing, but may not have the opportunity to do so because of lack of connections. Read more>>

DJ OB7

The most meaningful project I’ve been involved with is actually the world tour I’m currently on with Conor Maynard and Anth Melo! Being a DJ/Producer for so many years, grinding out blood, sweat and tears in hope to be able to travel to the world for something you’ve worked so hard to perfect is nothing short of a dream come true. I’m a strong believer in fate and things all have perfect timing so when I got the call that I was requested to join the tour as the official DJ I knew my time was now! Read more>>

Omar Kurdi

I think the most meaningful project that I have ever worked on is Masrah Cleveland Al-Arabi. Masrah Cleveland Al-Arabi translates to Cleveland Arabic Theatre. You read right. Cleveland now has a theatre company geared towards the Arabic speaking communities in Northeast Ohio, and a lot of the credit goes to Cleveland Public Theatre for championing this initiative. I was part of the founding group, and joined the talks on establishing this theatre company in February 2018. Read more>>

Mark Joseph

Recap on the Racca Memorial Cancer benefit that I performed at earlier this year. Tonight I had the pleasure of performing at the annual Racca Memorial Disc Golf Tournament @ Blue Ribbon Pines Disc Golf Club. The Racca Memorial team every year busts their asses to raise funds to support families with children who are fighting cancer. I have supported this event for years but tonight was my first time ever attending or performing.. Read more>>

Cory R.

So far its my recent project but it was something I had to get out, “Eyes That Adore” is my first EP a prequel to what’s to come. With these 4 tracks I had to open up about past distractions to help me cope with certain pain. From losing certain family to jail or death made me walk different paths. At one point I was emotionless until I left those things in the past. Read more>>

Kara Tenae

The most meaningful project that I’ve ever worked on would have to be my debut EP, “Faith Over Fear” which released September 6, 2022. As talented as I am, I still would let fear paralyze my movement towards ultimate success because of past experiences in the music industry that I had to face. When I finally decided to really invest in myself and put out music, that’s when things would start to open up for me. Read more>>

Merna Lewis

People ask this a lot, and my mind always trails back to getting to perform for our troops. A good friend of mine, Judi, asked me to play in her band, Wild Gypsy for a few tours for AAFES (Army & Air Force Exchange Service) and the USO (United Service Organizations) to perform for the American troops. We traveled to Guantanamo Bay, Cuba; Andros Island, Bahamas; Thule, Greenland (twice!); and a tour through Italy, Spain and Germany. Read more>>

Katherine Williams

I was recommended by Charlotte Belland(chairman of animation at CCAD) to do a project for a recipient of the Make A Wish foundation. The recipient was a little boy who loves Animation and the foundation was going to surprise him with his own studio space setup. They wanted me to create a short animated clip of the boy so they could play it for him on his new drawing tablet. Read more>>

Stephanie Barnhill Neal

It is challenging to pinpoint the most meaningful project as so much of my work revolves around North Carolina’s history and stories. As a multigenerational North Carolinian, preserving the state’s history is so vitally important and I’m so inspired by the stories, the struggles, and the endurance of its people. I suppose that’s why I went into work mode after my own great loss. Last year, my grandmother’s home was the target of arson, and a month later we lost my step-father tragically. Read more>>

Summer Azul

I enjoy inspiring people and helping others. One of the most meaningful projects I have ever worked on is building off grid villages and helping urban communities learn how to grow their own food. I started my AzulArmy nonprofit organization in order to teach people how to garden, cook, and build. I have helped hundreds of families become self sufficient and I continue to inspire thousands of people daily through my social media platforms. Read more>>

Young String Mentors

Young String Mentors (YSM) was originally founded to spread the gift of music to children who may not have access to such resources. Therefore, we began our recorder donation initiative where YSM donates recorders and hand-made recorder curriculum to Title 1 elementary schools in the DFW area. Our goal is to bring the joy of music to as many kids as we can. We believe that music is crucial, as it serves a key role in child development from boosting confidence to improving literacy skills. Read more>>

Julia Luff

The most meaningful project that I have worked on was my MFA Fibers thesis collection. My thesis represents who I am. My research for the work started by examining my own values, diving into my personal history, and finding the nest way to represent myself through my craft. My background is in fashion design merged with my passion for sustainability and textiles. My interests naturally formed into my thesis collection. Read more>>

Joshua Gatling

My album “*JADED*” most meaningful project I have put now. I started working on it after a very hard time in my life, and it went through so many changes. I worked on it with the help of my best friend figuring out the direction. I met so many great artist and creatives working on the album. And to see the reception once I put it out made me realize the potential my art has. It was therapeutic and fun to create and will always be a staple in time for me. Read more>>

Monica Ikegwu

Since 2017 there has been a main project that I focus on. This project is a collection of portraits of people who identify as Black. I had started these portraits as a way to respond to the negative stereotypes that are associated with Black people. The next year in 2018, I wanted to flip the narrative and direct the attention towards the way that Black people identified themselves rather than continually focusing on society’s view of us. Of all the work that I have done I believe that these portraits are the most important. Read more>>

Krishna Narra

Currently, I’d say my most meaningful project is my debut poetry book, Linguistic Therapy. It is a book where I take fifty Telugu words and make English anagram poems out of them. As a Telugu-American, it’s a really special representation of how my mind works, constantly translating Telugu words and statements into English, or even at times, English to Telugu. While all my projects are personal and special to me, this one feels especially close, because it actually puts a spotlight on various aspects of Telugu culture, with a hint of positive nostalgia as it slowly works its way towards deeper and darker aspects of my personality. Read more>>

HQTheGOAT

The most meaningful project I’ve ever worked would have to be my first beat tape to go on all major platforms “Play Me 4evr”. It was my first time doing a concept album and I had a lot of fun curating it. I wanted to make something very personal to give listeners an insight into my life. I had close friends and family call me and leave me voicemails and used them throughout the project. It was also a form of closure for me when I used my late grandmother’s voicemails. She was the first person to believe in my music. Read more>>

Cassandra Davis

A few years ago, I was looking for ways to give back to my community around the holidays, preferably by sponsoring a child and providing gifts for them. A flier was posted online for the Homeless Education Department of the county where I live, so I reached out. I was able to provide the child gifts from a wish list that they had prepared. During the ceremony, through general conversation, the organizer and myself got on the subject of the program’s graduating seniors. Read more>>

Kelli Munkel

Fortunately for us, majority of our projects are meaningful as most of what we do is custom order. Whether it be a map of that epic vacation or a portrait of a first home, we know that every custom project coming in holds a special memory to our clients. Recently I had a moment with a client that meant very much to me. One of our standard items that we sell is an wooden ornament of the state of Georgia with a heart cut out of the center. Once these items are cut, there is always a ton on hearts sitting in the “trash” bin but I just can’t seem to throw them away! Read more>>

Jack The Underdog

Hi there! My name is Jack The Underdog! I am a pop punk/rock artist originally from Saint Paul, Minnesota living in Nashville, Tennessee. I make music for the kids that got bullied, got picked last in gym class, the emo kids that never grew up, or more generally – the “underdogs” of society. I put out my EP titled “Junkie” in September of this year and then immediately started looking to get features on each of the songs to re-release with the goal of getting some more attention around the music. Read more>>

Jeanelle Toothbrush jesus

Frayser Local Arts Festival at Arkwings Foundation. There I am a board member, organizing artist, and co-founder of our arts festival (FLAF). Four years ago Jana Wilson, Lurlynn Franklin, Devin Kirkland, and I came together and started an all inclusive arts festival for performers, visual artists and artisan vendors. Creating a space for Frayser to experience the local crafts and entertainment of Memphis people. Networking, community building, positive interactions, and a space for artists to grow are all available in this space. A chance for artists to make money from their craft. Read more>>

Susan Irish

In 2017, I curated a show called We the People, How Artists Respond to Racism. For me and many of my artist colleagues, the 2016 election was a cataclysmic call to action. We use our mediums for expression and this was a time of raw emotion looking for constructive outlets. Artists came from across the country representing diversity in race, gender, socioeconomics, age, and artistic experience. The oldest artist was once a Freedom Rider and was perplexed that she still needed to “protest this stuff”. Read more>>

Bianca Breed

Working with resin & specializing in preservation allows me to memorialize a variety of significant materials for others. Meaningful projects I’ve worked on have included preserving wedding and funeral bouquets, pet ashes, dog fur, bird’s feathers, found beetle, and deceased pet insects such as a scorpion and mantis shrimp. It is extremely difficult to choose the one most meaningful as each project has such a significant backstory, but today I will share about preserving a deceased pet praying mantis, one of my first memorial projects. Read more>>

Rose Rodriguez

It’s hard to choose which is the most meaningful project I’ve worked on because each one has been so unique and special. But I can share some of my most recent ones. :) Doing a songwriting 101 workshop for youth centers and schools partnering with the Country Music Hall of Fame has been so encouraging. For me as an artist and for them as well to write a song for the first time; taking the pressure off of writing. Read more>>

Sierra Barnes

My debut graphic novel, HANS VOGEL IS DEAD, is definitely the biggest project I’ve taken on to date. Starting in 2015 as a webcomic inspired by my experience on a Fulbright in Austria and my undergrad research in Interwar German history, it has since grown over 250 pages and the first volume was released in hardcover this year. It tells the story of a German fighter pilot in WWII who dies during the Battle of Britain, only to reawaken in an afterlife of the Brothers Grimm fairy tales where he must unlearn the fascism of his life and become a better person. Read more>>

Russ Hapke Dan Wolters

For us, one of the more original (at least in our minds) ideas was the beginning of our microbust series. We love tabletop figurines, but theatre of the mind always takes precedence over a miniature frozen in a pose that would be tumbled or set on its side to emulate an action. We thought we would rather start seeing busts at the table that would be slightly larger, and be given a lot more character; not only by our sculpt, but in the end result of a player painting the bust how they pictured their character. Read more>>

Francisco Da Silva

For over 40 years, Francisco da Silva been teaching and transforming lives through the art form of Capoeira! Francisco founded the World Capoeira Maculele Arts Foundation a non-profit organization whose mission is to use capoeira as a vehicle to teach, celebrate cultural diversity and support people in building vibrant communities though the preservation and teaching of Afro-Brazilian Culture. Read more>>

Stacey Smith

The most meaningful project that I’ve worked on is my personal Project 52. Where I try to take out my camera every week and take personal, meaningful photos. A lot of these ended up being photos of my daughter and her everyday life at home. It was an endeavor that I started to be more in touch with the whole reason I started my photography business. To document beautiful memories that will be cherished by families for years to come. Read more>>

Christine Kosiba

A truly meaningful commission was The Sixteen Frogs project. I have a soft spot for art that raises awareness of environmental concerns. I feel strongly that we as a society have become disconnected from our place in the natural world. We share this planet with all living creatures and this disconnect is to our detriment physically and emotionally. The Sixteen Frogs project was entirely community funded, strives to create public awareness while providing an interactive at experience for the community. Read more>>

Chad Wilson

I’d have to say my most recent single/video release was the most meaningful. Not only was it a big deal for me to release another song as a solo artist, but to do it with such a big cause, THE Devil is def my most meaningful project. Released sept 5th on the same day as SUICIDE AWARENESS WEEK began, we intentionally shot the video for the song with that as our goal. And we met so many people who have been touched in one way or another by suicide. The numbers are staggering. Read more>>

Lianne Hutcheson

I am in the process of completing a collection of recorded songs and accompanying visuals at the beginning of 2023. The project is called States of Grace: Vol. 1. I have been writing my own music since 1998 and have many songs that I have been building into sonic landscapes in my mind. These songs have been developing and curing for a very long time. After finally meeting my friend and collaborator, Chris Turpin, we began carving out the peaks and valleys of sound waves and the songs began coming to life with his production and recording gifts. Read more>>

Nick May

Currently I am working on my queer repetroire project. Although it is in its early stages, I am working with more than 20 LGBTQ+ composers to create a collection of new music for the saxophone. I plan on touring and performing these pieces over the country and releasing them on a multi volume album, with plans to be released by Pride of 2024. Read more>>

Christine Ilewski

Faces Not Forgotten personal story Christine Ilewski Like most Americans, gun violence tragedies like Columbine and daily reports of child deaths closer to home hurts to watch. As an artist, what could I do? On May 18, 2009, a phone call woke me. A good friend, Fr. Lorenzo Rosebaugh OMI, was gunned down in Guatemala. My world shook. This was not the first time I received such a call. 38 years ago, another call told me my dad had committed suicide by gun. Read more>>

Carolyne Naomi

My debut EP “Miss Naomi” is definitely the most meaningful, because it is the first body of work I’m putting out. I’ve previously released singles and so i’m so excited for this release coming out on Friday, November 4th, with a release concert at Icehouse MPLS. “Miss Naomi – The EP” is a 6-track album that reflects much of my experiences through the subjects of love, disappointment, hope, fear of being hurt, wisdom, staying the course with my dreams and goals, etc. Read more>>

Mónica Linares

The most meaningful project I’ve worked on and continue working on was creating the class The Happy Habit of Daily (or most days) Painting. I’m an artist, and I also coordinate painting workshops for well-known artists, but it wasn’t until about 6 years ago that I realized that my work wasn’t getting better. The cause? I wasn’t painting often enough! My days were filled with the business side of coordinating the workshops, planning, promotion, website maintenance, and of course family life and everything this brings. What else I realized? That I wasn’t the only one having this problem! Read more>>

Constancia Leshin

I first traveled to Guatemala twice in the 1970;s and fell in love with the textiles, culture and the colorful Mayan people. When I became aware of the horrific civil war, I delayed going back until 2006.. I had a wake up call and realized before I permanently left the planet, that I wanted to share my bilingual skills, education, experience and passion with an organization. Either Friendship Bridge found me on the computer or I found it! Friendship Bridge is a “Microcredit Plus” organization that serves over 32,000 mostly underserved Mayan women empower themselves, create their own solutions to poverty and step into a brighter future. benefitting themselves, their families and their communities. Read more>>