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.
B. Danielle Watkins
It is essential to work on projects that are meaningful to you. So many times, we find ourselves engulfed in the mundane routine of work that we forget that we started this journey on passion. My passion for art pushes me to make it a point to mix in the meaningful with the hustle and bustle, so I never lose the heart of what I am doing. Read more>>
Santyanna Webb
The most meaningful project I have worked on is my youth organization, “Millennials Without Mothers”. Millennials Without Mothers was created for kids who have lost their mothers. I lost my mother at the age of 14, and I know so well how challenging the struggle of living without your mother can be. Kids will be able to come to Millennials Without Mothers to turn their pain into power. It is a space of peace, healing and growth for us all. Read more>>
Melissa Knight
I have been a working artist since 2010. In 2017 I facilitated my first community project called “Interwoven Community Weaving Project” at my local Neighborhood Center – Rosewood-Zaragosa Neighborhood Center in East Austin. The project was supported by the City of Austin’s Cultural Arts Division, Awesome Foundation Austin & Bread for the Journey of Austin. Read more>>
Eric Deal
The film “HBSU? Historically Black Sellout U?” has been the most significant project I’ve undertaken. As a former football player and a devoted college football fan, I’ve engaged in numerous debates regarding the economic impact of prominent black athletes attending major universities rather than Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs). Read more>>
60 Kel
To me every project I start & finish is a special project. I love the creation process of starting something from scratch and turning it into something that motivates, inspires & that people just genuinely enjoy. My debut studio album “Energy” is really special to me because it took years to find the right flow & style of not only my voice but also the beats . But I believe it is a perfect illustration of the “60 Kel” flow & energy (no pun intended). Read more>>
Pelham Taylor & James Qupid
We the HitCre8tors recently held our 1st Annual Songwriting Camp in Florida. The mission of the Camp was to bring Creative artists such as ourselves together to create for Movie Sync Placements & Singles for EPs. We accomplished everything we set out to so. HitCre8tors Camp was a Tremendous Success & Blessing. Read more>>
Leni Acosta Knight
I donate most of the proceeds from the sale of my art to humanitarian programs, most specifically to the Women and Children Cancer Center here in Hawaii. As a cancer survivor, I am dedicated to helping others who are battling the disease and I am also currently participating in the cancer research to identify cancer relapse earlier than standard care tools through Signatera™, a highly sensitive and personalized molecular residual disease assay (MRD). Read more>>
Camille Nugent
In 2018, I was invited to participate in an exhibit at Adobe in Lehi, Utah, for Black History Month. I created a piece called “I Am” that was my first foray into digital collage. While working on it, I thought back to my experiences in Tonga as well as the 20 years, by that point, that I had been living as a black, immigrant woman in Utah. Read more>>
Rodrigo Arruda
My first experience working with performance happened in 2018, right after the Brazilian presidential election, which was won by a neo-fascist candidate. Around that time, I collaborated with the residents of Pivô Research Residency (in São Paulo) for a group show that touched on the experience of the political moment at that time. The result was a one-day exhibition titled “Inauguração Oficial da Represa do Pacaembu” (Official Inauguration of the Dam of Pacaembu). Read more>>
Robert Gray
For the past five years, I have been developing a program to help people work through traumas and triggers through photography. This originally started as a way to help me work through my past, but through word of mouth, it developed into much more. I know help others by doing the same process that helped me. Read more>>
Mauricio Torrescano
Since the invention of modeling clay around 1880 kwon as Plastilin or Plasticine too, it has been considered as sculpture base material or as a Children’s art material but never as a final artwork technique as it seems fragile and disposable. Read more>>
Debora Medici Guetta
I have infused a significant part of my personal story into the work I have created, particularly in my recent projects “Out of the Shadow” and “Landed”. These pieces have allowed me to conceptualize the valuable lessons I have learned throughout my life and felt compelled to share with the world with the goal to inspire. Read more>>
Rachel Davis
Long before being an artist even occurred to me, I’ve been drawn to images of exuberant, charismatic women. Women who know their power and relish it, who enjoy their bodies, delight in speaking their minds. Read more>>
The R&B Representers
JR & Naturally Alise first met at a trip organized for music lovers to meet and felllowship for a whole weekend. No one in the group knew each other and everyone was only connected to the original organizer. When they metfrom the first day it was brotherly and sisterly love at first sight. Read more>>
Darrian Jones
One of my most meaningful projects is “Abstraction Distraction,” a project that serves as a personal avenue of expression. It relies on a spontaneous and instinctive approach, allowing pieces to evolve organically. A creative process that offers me a source of liberation and solace. Read more>>
Joe Colomb
Right now the most meaningful project for me is the latest Alfred and the Teddinators record “Speedboat Party.” It’s the second full length studio album for the Teds and we worked really long and hard on it. The band itself is basically a group of longtime friends that have a vision of self sustainability, therefore we do everything ourselves. Read more>>
Jim Arendt
My activity over the course of my scholarly reassignment in 2018 focused on the histories and narratives of racial violence in South Carolina and developing the community partnerships necessary to create social practices sites. While this project is still ongoing, it is one of the more meaningful one I have chosen to work on as an artist. Read more>>
Cara Calvert-Thomas
As an artist, inspiration is everywhere, whether you’re observing the world around you or pulling visions and ideas from within. However, finding truly meaningful subject matter and inspiration tends to require more depth and introspection. My most meaningful and consequently successful projects have emerged from research related to personal life events or challenges. Read more>>
Aryana B. Londir
As an artist, I have been fortunate to create meaningful work in various media. For me, if my work doesn’t have a solid foundation and contributes to the world, it has no meaning. I have explored socio/political issues, primarily overcrowding and overpopulation. Read more>>
Dynasty
I’ve been so fortunate to have an indie career that has exceeded my wildest childhood dreams. Between creating songs with hip hop legends, touring internationally, and sharing with so many people it’s been a beautiful journey. Performing will always be my first love, but being a DreamPusher is where my passion meets purpose. The music has afforded me the opportunity to connect with people on a deeper level. I share my heart and life through these lyrics and invite others to join me in doing the same. Read more>>
Loretta Mitchell
From 2019 to present, I have worked on a number of projects ranging from music promotion, social media, graphic design, web design and music production. Each project meant networking and working alongside various different people with different characteristics and ideas, from all walks of life. With that being said, each project was obviously of high importance to the artists and clients I have worked with and as equally as important to me with each one having the same high level of effort injected into them regardless of the size of the project. Read more>>
Kelly Ali
60% of people have some form of texture movement in their hair, however, 15% know how to work with it. For years smooth texture has been the focus of fashion, which leads most to believe beauty IS smooth hair. This simply is not true. Beauty is in every shape, texture, and form! My passion project is showing people how to embrace their natural texture. Read more>>
Lisa D’Amico
Every new painting is a deep breath. A new beginning to tell a story using color and creativity. My current art series is ‘Sonic Heroines’. Through this meaningful journey, I challenge the expectations of traditional art techniques and the standard themes of portraiture by giving contemporary voices to remarkable women past and present. Read more>>
Lexy Silverstein
In general, the most meaningful cause I’m involved with is sustainable fashion. I’ve been obsessed with fashion since I was a small child but after much research, I’ve also learned how much damage the fashion industry can cause to the environment. It’s been called the second largest polluting industry on the planet. But if I were to pick a singular act, I’d say the most meaningful project I’m involved in is trying to end the partnership between The Fashion Institute of Design and Merchandising (FIDM) and SHEIN. Read more>>
Heather Tyler
Please see my response to the Pivot question – I address that there. Thank you! Read more>>
Kimberly Dodge
There have been many meaningful projects that I have worked on. I can argue, as a sensitive soul and very sentimental person, that all of my journal projects have been meaningful to me. In my creative journals I keep memories, create art, and write about things that are important to me. Read more>>
Ghislaine Sabiti
GHISLAINE SABITI Read more>>
Nathalie Gregoire
The most meaningful project I’ve worked on is a mini document series I did with my little sister called “ thank you mom for music”. Throughout my entire life my mom has sacrificed everything to make sure that my sister and I had the skills to express every part of our creativity. Growing up we were not rich. Growing up we struggled. Read more>>
VVITCHBOY
So this took me a while to really decide what I wanted to share. For me as a whole my art is an extension of myself and my highest values. I love making music more than almost anything else, but if you were to ask me what I’m really excited about right now the answer would be my book series (Immortal Verse). Read more>>
Ryan McVey
My most meaningful project is one I’m currently working on called “Port City.” Read more>>
Lisa Gilbert
am 10 years into my comedy career, and meaningful comedy events are what I am focusing on now. My favorite type of events are fundraisers for mine and other communities. I also love churches and womans events. I enjoy events where I get to share a bit about myself and motivate others. Read more>>
Aasha Francis
My latest project “Signs of Life” was created during the COVID-19 pandemic and my main producer/best friend was hospitalized for 8 days. It was such a scary time where so many people where falling ill and dying it halted the progress of the EP and the future of the project was unknown. Each song is rooted in a gospel truth from the bible but also the traditions of gospel both sonically and lyric-wise infused with contemporary flair. Read more>>
Tony Stewart
I’ve recently gotten to help create visuals & graphic designs for Alicia Keys & Ann Mincieli. I’ve done a couple things for them now but my favorite thing would have to be working on designs for the 20th anniversary of “Diary of Alicia Keys”. I can’t wait for that. Read more>>
Beoncia Dunn
All of my projects are meaningful, but if I had to choose one that still has major impact on Me it would be a project I did back in 2021 – 2022 with my Art Sister Chelsey B Davis & my Brother Chad Lupoe called MINOR ALTERATIONS. It was a Love Letter dedicated to my Mom & Aunts highlighting their personal style and how they have shaped me into the Woman that I am today. Each look is dedicated to an Aunt & my Mom and a visual interpretation of how I was inspired by their stylistic approach to Life. Read more>>
Rob Hammer
A few years back I began working on a long term project about cowboys and cattle ranching in the American West. It’s an important but dying part of this county’s culture that deserves continued documentation. Among my travels to various ranches I came across a guy in Texas – Boots O’Neal – 90 year old cowboy that still gets on a horse every single day to work cattle alongside guys a third his age. Read more>>
Janet Milhomme
n my previous career as a journalist and photojournalist I had many significant and interesting projects. At heart, I most enjoyed the ones that brought me in contact with people from other cultures. Through my work I not only learned about others, but much—and sometimes more—about myself. Fast-forward to the present, however, as I am now working solely in the visual arts. Read more>>
Double AA
The most meaningful project that I have worked on has been my latest album, TITAN. This project is important to me for a few reasons. Read more>>
Benny Gallegos
I have a ton of projects going on right now. I have recently begun my cartoon/comedy channel on YouTube @BenBoomComedy; I have been performing quite a bit of standup comedy with my comedy group, Joke Junction, and through my agent, Barry Neal with Entertainment Max; I’ve been accepted to a few film festivals and am creating and producing more films; I do a lot of event hosting for music events, burlesque showcases, and cultural events—all this, on top of being a business owner. Read more>>
CHRISTINA SICOLI
My most meaningful projects are commissioned pieces. It’s an opportunity for me to connect with my client on a deeper, more creative, and playful level. They trusted me with their vision, so to honor that I wouldn’t just go away with my own ideas, have a one-sentence conversation, or even a quick phone chat. Instead, we entrust a creative partnership to bringing the canvas to life. Read more>>
Bill Oberst Jr.
I find redemption stories the most meaningful. We all crave some sort of redemption, if only from the tyranny of ourselves. On film, the strongest redemption story I’ve been a part of is writer/director Chris Eska’s movie, THE RETRIEVAL. The plot is replete with chances to be a better human being – chances both missed and taken – but the filming was itself redemptive for me. I was on a roll at the time; doing an average of 10 movie and tv appearances a year; and was quite full of myself, on the dangerous edge of becoming a “difficult” actor. Read more>>
Emily Schaubeck (Tai Qiujing)
As a mental health speaker and advocate, I’m currently focusing my work towards opening the conversation about adoption and adoption trauma. Often times we are overlooked in the mental health scene when in reality adoptees are 4 times more likely to commit suicide or self harm than non-adoptees. Read more>>
Rachel Kylian
Meaningful projects: -Making Short Films Read more>>
Anna Mariko Seymour
My musical brainchild, Prismia, is a project where I wear many hats – main songwriter, composer, producer and performer. Prismia has been my debut as a lead singing drummer. As a person who has always written and collaborated with teams/bandmates, this new solo endeavor has given me an opportunity to explore my innermost thoughts, feelings, goals and desires. By doing this, I’m pushing myself out of my comfort zone, which is something that is integral for growth. Read more>>
Carmel Mercado
I have a had a number of fun projects recently, but if I were to choose one, I would say that the one project that was particularly meaningful to me was creating a mural for the waiting room of the Ophthalmology Clinic at Seattle Children’s Hospital. The clinic staff invited me to create wall art for their waiting room at the end of last year. Over these past several months, I have worked with the hospital and clinic to bring this art to life. Read more>>