We asked some of the most talented folks in the community to talk to us about projects they’ve worked on that they still think about, projects that really meant something. Have you had such an experience? Are you looking for inspiration for your next project? Check out the stories below, they are exciting, entertaining, and most importantly – inspiring.

Elijah Howard

I have so many meaningful projects but there’s one that’s coming up the tops them all so far. It’s my new album a trip to the 80s it’s so meaningful because I get to play with the Nostalgic feeling of music even though I wasn’t here and the time era. I’ve listen to 80s music growing up so much. I’ve asked all the adults that grew up in that time era how was it? And just as I thought they say the best moment of their lives being a teenager in the 80s. From the legendary musicians, the distinct sounds of Synths, Heavy Guitars etc. so this new album of mine that drops in a couple months is Very Very Meaningful. Read more>>

Heidi Clifford

With the opportunity to create a solo show in 2021, I started with the idea of “what it is to bloom” and let that direct what work I would make. I knew I would make some paintings, but also wanted to go in a whole new direction. Intending to create an interactive experience, I thought a lot on how to manage interactivity within an art piece, and how to fully involve my viewers in the work. What came of this was the design for a simple, rectangular tunnel where the audience would walk through a blossoming floral installation, partially enveloped by it. Read more>>

Ebony Brown

One of the most meaningful projects I’ve worked on was an art piece titled Lift Every Voice. This unique pop art was a tribute to the late great Nina Simone and Eartha Kitt. My aim for this piece was to enlighten the youth. I used modern art themes, popular culture and even advertising which are just a few of the many things that have their attention these days.In my attempt to teach my own daughters about legendary Black Women in Old Hollywood, I realized that our youth are so unaware of some amazing women and men in history. Read more>>

Sharon Moskowitz

I know this may sound a bit obnoxious however, most of my projects are meaningful. I have the most incredible artists that I get to work with or meet and get to know. I learn about their “story” and see how I can help guide, advise or connect them. The art “pop-up” art shop and exhibit has been amazing. taking an absolutely blank space and curating with over 25+ artists. Installing at least 200 pieces of art, salon style is truly gratifying and well gorgeous. The wow-factor and of course selling the work is very meaningful. Though let’s not forget it is HARD WORK. I could not do it without several friends who become staff and staff who become friends. That in itself is meaningful. Lastly, is being recognized and chosen for a metro city wide program that was a selective process for artists and arts leaders. When I made the cut I truly felt gratitude and honored to serve. Read more>>

Tamara Rafkin

In 2019 I had been reading a book about the way in which the Western world navigates grief and mourning with a book group I participate in. While reading that book I envisioned my first performance/installation work ‘Dust to Dust’ which creates a communal space for mourning around a ritual for processing loss. As the pandemic took hold of all of us, I realized the idea of this project needed to be brought forth and created even more than before. So, during quarantine I collaborated remotely with the people that helped me create a soundscape for the project and another artist that formed my vision for the sculptural tools for the project ( a large wooden mortar and pestle). Read more>>

King Aiden

The most meaningful and best project I’ve worked on today is my latest release/album “No Kingdom Can Endure Two Kings”. It is a fourteen song album. I recorded and wrote thirty songs in two weeks and picked the top fourteen. During those two weeks I knew this album had to be different than anything I have ever put out before. Each song sounds completely different and I was the most honest I’ve ever been to myself lyrically. Read more>>

Tyler Michaels King

I am the Founder and Artistic Director of Trademark Theater, a theater company in the twin cities. Trademark is solely a new-works company, meaning we only create, develop, and produce new works of theater. To do so, we commission local artists to create the scripts, music, lyrics, etc, that you might see on stages around the metro. One of my favorite projects we’ve commissioned was from local rock band Kiss the Tiger. I had performed with Meghan Kreidler, the band’s front woman, in a few productions around town and knew she was an incredible talent that we would want to support. Read more>>

Jiyun Choi

One of the most meaningful projects that I have worked on is my graphic novel project titled ‘Out of Orbit’. It was created during my senior year at college. I got an idea from the fact that so many people struggle with self-esteem issues. So, I came up with a story about the moon came down to earth to find perfect body for it. The moon in this story was not satisfied with itself and the place it belonged. So, it went on an adventure to find a new body. However, it realized that it feels the most comfortable to be in its own body. After realizing that, it went back to the sky where it can be true to itself. Read more>>

Patty Hopp

Over the past 21 years, we have worked on many meaningful projects. We created photo books for a family who wanted to tell their parent’s love story using their wedding photos, telegrams, and love letters to each other. These items had been sitting in boxes, untouched, in a basement for years and were fading away until we created photo books for the family to enjoy. For a retired professional athlete, we received several heavy boxes of photos, magazines, and newspaper articles spanning over 20 years and turned those into a priceless legacy photo book that their entire family now treasurers. Another family contacted us to tell the story of their 80-year-old mother using boxes of photos, years of genealogy research, and many personal stories. Read more>>

Will Nuessle

I’ve made some lovely writing friends on Inkitt and one, GT, just happened to get hold of one of my books at a time when she really needed to escape. Like ‘hospital waiting room’ needed to escape. By her own admission being able to dive into a story I created, relate to characters that wouldn’t exist if not for me, helped her cope. Would be enough if it ended there BUT GT has a fourteen-year-old daughter who has big creative dreams of her own, and struggles with learning challenges. Reading is not the easiest for her. GT told me that after daughter Lexi threw a latest YA novel across the room in frustration, GT offered her my book. Hour or so later Lexi was “on Chapter Two and loving it.” Read more>>

Aaron Brown

I believe it’s crucial for people to wholeheartedly invest themselves in everything they do. When approaching a project with passion and love, the appreciation for the work surpasses any monetary reward. The impact it creates on others and the world is what makes working on a passion project truly remarkable. It brings a sense of fulfillment and clarity, guiding you towards the path you should pursue. Read more>>

Alisa Singer

When I retired from a long career as a corporate lawyer, I wanted to re-commit to my love of art and find a way to use it to further meaningful causes. My first project was to design a set of greeting cards for The Chicago Lighthouse, an organization that serves and supports the blind, visually impaired, disabled and veterans. I designed a line of greeting cards that used the beautiful patterns created by the dots of words in Braille to create contemporary art. After that project was completed, I turned my attention to climate change which I believe to be the most critical challenge facing our world. Read more>>

Daniel Crosier

After art school, I worked with a machine, pyro performance group for a short time. I realized I wanted to do something different. I started OFM OdAm fEI mUd with a number of talented friends as a fight choreographed play featuring feudal Japanese themed demons in latex monster suits, fake blood canons, heavy metal band with taiko drummers providing the score, and aerialists depicting tyranny and its affects. Because of this project that went from 2003-2011, I realized the overlapping means of storytelling can exist in any platform you attempt. Read more>>

Becca Wood

Any time that I get the opportunity to create a suit for an athlete that has sentimental meaning for them, It is always such an honor. Competing in bodybuilding is already such an intense and humbling experience. The fact that some competitors wish to take that vulnerability a step further and use their suits as a nod to something or someone near and dear to their hearts is so inspiring. I always put my entire creative being into each suit, but there’s something about tribute suits that push me to make It that much more special. Whether it’s as subtle as a single pink rhinestone on a teal suit for the client’s best friend battling breast cancer, to as bold as an entire suit embellished with pink ribbons, they all tell a story, and I’m so honored to have been part of them. Read more>>

Miley Carterr

Other than the one I’m currently working on? Ha! I would honestly say my documentary that I released in 2016 titled “Revive: Becoming Miley Carterr” which also ties into my 1st book I wrote. The documentary took a year and a half to create. I scrapped my original version of how I wanted it to be after watching Beyoncé’s “Life is but a dream”. I knew then I wanted it to be as authentic as possible instead of me going into a full blown studio, hiring others to come in and dictate and control my vision. I directed & edited it all on my own. I was very popular prior to my documentary but after i graduated in 2015 I started to get nearly double to triple the attention I had before… Read more>>

Black Prez

I recently released my album BERLA and am working on new projects at the moment. I have also had music on Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater, Fast & Furious, Netflix, Call of Duty, Fortnite, Power, Empire, NFL Network, MTV, BET, HBO, Disney, and more. Read more>>

Sahar Hasan Al-louthai

I have curated art exhibitions within the Qamaria for Arts project, aiming to present and empower artists unable to travel, especially those who have endured wars. One of the most significant projects was the art exhibition ‘Do You See Me,’ held on July 17th, 2023, at the Brooklyn Children’s Museum. This exhibition focused on young artists aged 7-19 who experienced war during their childhood. Months of preparation, coordination, and communication with these talented young artists resulted in a touching and impactful event. Read more>>

Brett Yanoski

It’s really important that everyone has something they do that they’re passionate about. It may not be your full-time job, but passion projects drive us forward. They encourage us to learn new things we otherwise wouldn’t have and they can lead to positive, new relationships. My passion project for years has been The Inner Gamer. It started with a night drinking some beers with friends and quickly turned into something way more than that. I love to talk video games but I don’t have many people in my life that share the same enthusiasm. The podcast gives me an outlet to continue to explore this world and discuss it with anyone who will listen. We have listeners all of the world, many of which i’ve never met. It always fascinates me when people reach out about a game we talked about. Read more>>

Adam Gasser

The most meaningful project we’ve worked on over our 9 years as a group has been our last EP album Growing Pains. This album was the first album that both of us wrote completely together. The album showed a lot of very real aspects of our lives coming from backgrounds where we experienced poverty and loved ones with addictions. During 2018 our oldest daughter was hit with a terrible case of pneumonia that collapsed her lungs and put us in the Children’s Hospital in Milwaukee Wisconsin for two months. As she underwent a series of surgeries we were fortunate enough to able to stay at the Ronald McDonald house. It was at that time, that we wrote the song Growing Wings. The song was the entire basis for our EP album “Growing Pains” with the concept of changing, growing through our struggles and emerging as new, better versions of ourselves. Read more>>

Courtney Cotton

My current project is most meaningful because it incorporates sculpture into my repertoire, starting with an ambitious project called “The Circle Conversation.” The Circle Conversation: A three piece foundry bronze sculpture consisting of three 8′ circles. In honor of everyone who has navigated through suicide, schizophrenia, depression and other brain chemistry challenges themselves or with ones they love. Read more>>

Rebecca Szabo

In 1990, my terminally ill mother-in law asked me to make christening outfits from her wedding gown. This inspired me to create and repurpose precious items into keepsakes for family, friends and now dozens of others that I have met through live events, social media and my Etsy shop online. Read more>>

Yuelin Zhao

It is a short film called “Summer Knows” shot and produced in a small city called Wanzhou in China. Last year was the worst year for me – I got severe depression during COVID and I stopped working on any film set for almost a year. I seriously doubted my talent as a designer – as someone who does not have an art background, I compare myself with other designers all the time and I was overwhelmed by toxic thoughts. Then my friend Hongshi reached out to me and asked if I want to work on a short film that she has developed for quite a while. The key crews of the production are all my really good friends. Read more>>

Zanib Salih

The most meaningful project I’ve worked on undoubtedly has been the creation of “Freedom Waves.” This project holds a deeply personal and profound significance for me as it represents something far greater than just myself. It all began with the desire to be a voice for my identity as a first-generation American, carrying the heritage and rich culture of Sudan within me. Growing up, I often found myself torn between two worlds—the culture of my ancestors and the society in which I was raised. However, through introspection and self-discovery, I realized that this unique fusion of identities could be a powerful catalyst for positive change. Read more>>

Dylan Brown

I’d say the most meaningful project to me is an album I engineered and mixed for a band called Eddie Roberts & the Lucky Strokes. Eddie Roberts is the president of the record label I work for called Color Red. He brought in Shelby Kemp, a singer and guitarist from Hattiesburg Mississippi and Ashley and Taylor Galbraith (Ashley is the bassist and Taylor is the drummer) to make an original southern rock record. I have a soft spot for the genre and Shelby’s songwriting is incredible so I was super excited. During the process of making that record I became good friends with the group and we made something that all of us really love and are very proud of. Read more>>

Anthony Annis

There is a project I worked on for an artist called “If you take me home”, it’s the first song we wrote together called “Thoughts on god”. I played a major role in the production for this song and have a solid relationship with the artist we cultivated over working together for years. This is one of the songs that this artist based most of his identity on and the meaning comes from working together to create something we both really wanted to listen to. There’s a sense of freedom from creation that is genuine to your identity. Read more>>

Angie Edwards

Since I am at the beginning of my art career, I really only have one project to speak of, but it is incredibly meaningful to me. When I started painting, I was a young mom making art in my kitchen that ended up hidden in my closet and no one ever saw. I didn’t set out to make art as a way to heal or help others, but that’s what happened. I now have a body of work that tells a story of a struggling young mom with a secret trauma and addiction, through exposing the trauma, and then the continual journey of recovery from both trauma and addiction. These paintings have been a part of my healing and now I am sharing them with others as an example of how art can be a part of their healing, too. The meaning for me is not only in helping myself, but in being able to share this with others. Read more>>

Alex Righetto

Sure, let me share the story of the most meaningful project I’ve worked on! So, back in April, my artwork titled ‘Mona Lisa’s Daughter’ got a fantastic opportunity. It was displayed on two massive screens in the iconic Times Square for a whole week, including this massive 100-foot-long screen! It was undoubtedly one of the most significant moments of my career. The whole event was organized in collaboration with a gallery, and we had everything planned out meticulously. But here’s the crazy part – just before the launch, the gallery mysteriously disappeared! Read more>>

Sarah Schultz

Dark Web Mystery Box was a special film to make for me and my husband. Dark Web is dubbed by letterboxd the first movie made in isolation during the height of Covid. My husband, actor/filmmaker/musician/videographer Josh Schultz, and myself, along with other YouTubers in different parts of the country, filmed our scenes in our homes and sent them to Tony Newton, a director in the UK. He wanted to partner with Josh, hence Dark Web became a Mort House Films production. Mort House Films is the brain child of Josh and myself, chock full of independent horror films. Dark Web is the oldest child of Mort House Films, which makes it very special to us. Read more>>

Seraphour

Professional classical singers train for years – learning the canon, digging into repertoire, building vocal technique and developing the skills of the craft of singing. If you are fortunate enough, all that work translates into a career that sees you through from contract to contract – slotting into what an opera company, choir or church might need. Life for a working singer is project-to-project with a handful of favorites you get to repeat a few or many times. Read more>>

Night Sky Alumni

Honestly, the most meaningful project to date for us as a band would be this latest 3 song EP we are currently recording. We just completed tracking, and are in the stages of them being mixed and mastered. This would be the second release for us as Night Sky Alumni, and I can truly say that it has been a wonderful experience so far! We are working with the very talented Bryan Reilly out of Ferndale, Mi, and he has been such a pleasure to work with. He is very professional, has all the gear one could ever ask for, and really takes time and care for the artist. We went into the studio with the intentions of doing a single of our song “Let’s Take A Shot”, and we ended up cranking out two more while we were setup, and we are so glad we did, for they have turned out way better than expected. Read more>>

Chloe Smith

Starting and building 490 Farmers, a community garden and urban farming non-profit, has been the most meaningful project I have worked on. When I was 25 I was feeling something was really missing in my life, and wanted to pursue my passion for growing community. I had the idea for 490 Farmers from walking by the vacant lot on a daily basis. I wondered why it was vacant and if it could become a community garden. That year, November 2017, I got in contact with the NYS DOT who owns the land and made a proposal for its use as a garden, brought it to the Neighborhood Association, and 490 Farmers got off the ground the next spring. Read more>>

Tiffany Nesbit

Past Work: My studio practice has been heavily influenced by childhood memories learning how to shepherd the family’s small farm in Louisiana; protecting the domestic animals on the property from monsters that come out from the woods and water systems at night. The characters in the work use humor and play to memorialize the animal’s spirits that once lived there. The body of work “Piles and Bundles,” started by forming hundreds of small fragmented oceanic-like forms made with various clay bodies. Read more>>

LuAnna Gerdemann

About a year ago, one of my friends, Carla, ran for a seat on our local City Council. Ever since I had met Carla, she has been extremely community focused and has had a good pulse on what our community needs in local government. I had the opportunity to help her with her campaign through my design and photography services. I worked with her on designing her yard signs and door hangers and took photos of her for her campaign. This project was really meaningful to me because it gave me an opportunity to support my friend and her efforts to create positive change in our local community. Read more>>

Abigail Hewitt

I can vividly remember the warm weekend afternoons I spent gathering myself after completing my chores for my adventures. There was a patch of bamboo on the neighbouring property behind my house that I discovered on my walks with my dad. This was my safe place, my sanctuary. I packed myself a bag of goodies including art supplies and wandered off unnoticed (until my mom called my name in the distance). It was such a thrill and I daydreamed along the way. Read more>>

Tom Chambers

My most meaningful project is “Mother’s 45s”. It was created and exhibited in 1990 in Providence, Rhode Island. It was also picked up through national search for exhibition as part of the “Parents” project at the Museum of Contemporary Art, Wright State University, Dayton, Ohio (1992): https://photoartshistory.blogspot.com/2021/06/mothers-45s.html It is a tribute piece to my mother. She passed away in 1983. It perpetuates her existence. Read more>>

Keith Sanders

Up to date our most meaningful project is our first recorded EP. We are a covid band and kinda got together piece by piece with guitar player Chris Pena being the first piece. Then we added our friends and talented musicians, Angelo Dulang, Jacob Rapp, Justin Malone to fill out the sound. Later we would add keys player John Cherry to complete the band. But like I said we’re a covid band and it was pretty hard for us to play out and put this EP together, so it meant a lot to us to be able to put together an albeit short list songs we had written to show people what we’d been working on. Read more>>

Rachel Ortega

When I first decided I wanted to do photography a couple years back I did not know what I exactly wanted to focus on I just knew I wanted to to be a photographer. I am also a YouTuber so I had the chance to attend Dallas Cup for a couple years and interview some players from different teams. The last year I went to Dallas Cup which was in 2022 It was when I decided I wanted to do sports photography, I had met some amazing people that are photographers and I got inspired to do it. I love soccer it is my favorite sport and I decided to say why not do it if I enjoy the sport and it is my happy place I enjoy it very much. Read more>>

Tensas

The most meaningful project to me is my band that helps me record and perform my original music. We just release new song called Carnival that has my bandmate Desha Martin performing the trumpet and more on the track! Read more>>

Peri El

The most significant endeavor I have undertaken so far is the creation of my feature film, “Born in the Metaverse.” Over two years ago, I embarked on the writing process, pouring my heart and soul into this project ever since. My intention behind this story was to shape my own destiny and raise awareness about cyber safety for young adults. The online world can be a terrifying place for children, and through my film, I aspire to bring about change. I want to demonstrate that it is possible to navigate the Metaverse safely while still pursuing your wildest dreams. Prior to the outbreak of Covid, I had never given much thought to virtual reality. Read more>>

Jeanette Morrow

While I love creating a body of pieces for a collection release, commission work is at the heart of what I love to make. My most meaningful pieces mark or honor something for the collector. A late grandfather’s flight wings, a vintage brooch worn during a wedding, a shell from a special beach vacation – all of these little treasures getting a new life in a medium that in and of itself holds so much memory can capture so much sentiment. It’s humbling to be entrusted with those types of commissions. Read more>>

Kelsey Kleinow

In 2020, I was at a crossroads. I had spent the past 7 years working in the social work field and neglecting the creative part of me. I had graduated from the University of Iowa with a degree in psychology and Studio Arts in 2012 and had really only dabbled in the arts since- doodling on notebook paper during long meetings, painting when i felt the stress of my job, etc. I continually turned to art when I was struggling, finding reprieve in the creation process. I had just left a toxic workplace where I felt like the job I was doing was not actually making a difference and I was losing myself in the process. Read more>>

Jasper Cole

I have had many incredible projects over my long career but some of the best for me were the stage plays: A FEW GOOD MEN. THE NORMAL HEART. BOYS IN THE BAND and TV shows like MARRIED WITH CHILDREN, TONIGHT SHOW w Jay Leno. KOMBUCHA CURE and an upcoming film SAGE about the opioid crisis. Read more>>

Nihal Ahmed

The most meaningful project I have worked on to date is undoubtedly my undergraduate thesis exhibition, “nascent.” Really, this project was far more than simply an exhibition featuring work from my 4 years at Xavier University, but rather it was a culmination of years worth of research, music, visuals, and wandering that amalgamated into a larger experience. After feeling incredibly lost in my journey as a visual artist, I took what was essentially a 2-month retreat to Pakistan over the summer of 2022. It was there that I found myself able to escape the confines of my everyday life and experience a bit of personal metamorphosis. Read more>>

Kali Lewis

In a business where more than half of the time money speaks more than meaning, I am always elated to have the opportunity to create something with purpose. Our motto for Let’s Talk Productions is “We start the larger conversations”, and we have been dedicated to meaningful projects from day one. My name is Kali Lewis CEO of ” Lets Talk Productions” and I have a question for you: Have you ever left a movie and immediately you and your friend or family member debate who you relate to, who the bad guy/girl is or a whole perspective on life? Or did you watch a dance movie and felt so inspired, you dance to your car? Read more>>

Sadé Jones

The pandemic was a time that caused a lot of dissociation for many people, where we had to isolate ourselves from one another, become hypervigilant in our efforts to stay safe, yet still lost a lot of people in a short amount of time. I kept this in mind when I worked as the creative director and choreographer on a project called Bright Mother: An Invitation into being. Writer and co-director, Rachel Long and I wanted to help people acknowledge the complicated emotions of this pandemic, move through them, have the space to grieve and also help them birth into new ways of being. Read more>>