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.

Ivy Brown

There is not one project that is the most meaningful there are many that are. Besides owning a gallery I curate art throughout the tristate area. Doing public art curation is very important as it brings art to the people where they are, curating benefits for a worthy organization is as important, I also curate a gallery in a retirement community and love bringing art and inspiring people who cannot go and see art themselves but so appreciate having it accessible. Read more>>

Kristina Ambrosia

Currently, I am working on my first book. I can’t believe how long and hard the process is, and also how exhi larating and healing. Read more>>

Susumu Kimura

My last short film “Submittan” was completed in 2021, but it took 6 years to get there… Read more>>

E.A. Midnight

The great gift of being a writer is that each new project you are working on becomes this spinning ball of light that you put so much time and energy into crafting, editing, curating, editing more, and eventually trying to find a home for in the world. It gives and it takes. But that act itself is incredible and the way the mind is this renewable resource that keeps refilling astounds me regularly. Read more>>

Kathryn Crawford

The most meaningful project I’ve been a part of, by far, was a mural initiative in Asheville, NC at the Mission Hospital cancer center. A group of artists came together and painted the interior of the parking deck that greeted patients, families, and everyone going to work there. I collaborated on a piece with two other artists, and we decided to paint a phoenix. Read more>>

Thai Ly

Every project I work means something to me… they’re opportunities to learn and grow… to hone my craft and to try new things. Being surrounded by insanely talented people on a daily basis is a driving force and keeps me motivated. The past few years have been filled with numerous highlights including reaching #1 on the British Billboards charts for Robbie William’s XXV album. It was his 14th and my first! Read more>>

Josh Rosenfeld

As Valentine’s Day approached in 2023, my customers were interested in a grounded, heartfelt way to share the day. They wanted something that felt like snuggling into a hug, sipping hot tea, and reminiscing. Read more>>

Kristen DiMercurio

A few weeks ago, I was able to gather a cast of talented actors into two recording booths, one in LA and one in NYC. They each were presented with a microphone, a set of headphones, and an iPad on a stand that was opened to a 200 page script. Getting them to that point had taken me nearly four years. Read more>>

Sterling Scott

One of the most meaningful projects that I have worked on was documenting protests and actions that was centered around George Floyd in 2020. What initially started out as documenting actions all over Los Angeles, eventually turned into a book called “I Can’t Breathe,” with my friend and creative partner Louis Carr. The year 2020 was such a unique time; especially because of the COVID pandemic. Read more>>

Rayhan Stapleton

As a creative, all your work will usually have meaning behind it. With meaningful projects come emotions and a story to tell. Finding people who relate to the stories or help your idea come to life can create long-term relationships and memories. Yes, the projects are tedious and sometimes challenging. Still, the final project and seeing how others interpret your work makes it worth it. Read more>>

Joakim Toftgaard

I’ve been fortunate enough to work on a number of projects lately that I’m really excited about. Some of them aren’t released yet, so I’ll have to keep those under wraps. Overall, I’d say that the one project that stands out to me as something I’m really proud of is my work with the Dallas Horns. This horn section has allowed me to travel all over the world to perform live, as well as record on several film soundtracks. Read more>>

Satoyo Tachio

I’m always thinking about what would be meaningful to offer at a Japan-related event held in Ohio. For example, ninja, who are widely known around the world, are recognized in Japan as beings who use techniques and tools accurately and do not fight. On the other hand, in this area, there is a strong association of ninja with Karate due to images from movies. Read more>>

Alex Tsagamilis

“North Hollywood” Feature Film Read more>>

Amère Blackwell

The most meaningful project I’ve done this year has been The Wild Party at the Jaxx Theatre. I grew up doing musical theatre and performing onstage, I consider it my second home. I have not stepped foot onstage since covid lockdowns in 2020. Not knowing what covid would do, I shifted my focus on film acting. Read more>>

Kat McDaniel

I needed to paint my emotions, to get them on canvas and out of my head where they were festering. I started with the darkness and grief… My brother recently took his life. It was unexpected, violent, and gruesome. I was devastated. I felt broken and empty, like a town that had been hit by a nuclear bomb. Read more>>

Helena Walsh

Creating my own studio was my biggest and most rewarding project to date. The intension driving the vision was to empower an international community of artists to work together and to feel supported in their lives and careers and this has been deeply rewarding and inspiring to watch unfold. To see the studio grow from these curious actors who wish to transform and evolve in their art form and lives by reaching across water and land to be together. Read more>>

Paulina Lillian Serrano Elizabeth “April” Meza

By far, the most meaningful project we did was in 2020 when we were able to work with such a talented group of other creatives….. and that is… drum roll…. The project we did with the talented Annie Gonzalez (Actress). We were asked to join this project as the hair and makeup team by our good friend and Sustainable Wardrobe Stylist, Desirae Ramirez. Also on the team, Photographer Laarne Palec, Videographer Ricardo Ramirez, Nail Artist Lizbeth Vee Nails, and Florists Lolos Creations. Read more>>

Angel Riveros

The most meaningful project I’ve worked on in my career yet is the second season of the HGTV show Hogar Star. This wasn’t only a privilege to be selected to participate and compete among seven incredibly talented designers, but the achievement of overcoming every challenge, making it to the final, and winning the competition was a true testament to years of effort, discipline, passion, sacrifice, and love to create beautiful – functional spaces. Read more>>

Max Bartos

I’d say my most meaningful project is my album “Memento Mori” I have coming out on October 13th! This album is my largest creative endeavor, and I’m truly so happy with how it turned out! Read more>>

Cristo Burciaga

My mission for Power Yoga TV (“PYT”) is a platform for instructors to showcase their flows and expose yoga in a fun environment by combining the elements of a live D] set by Agent PYT and lead by a certified instructor promoting their local studio. Read more>>

Kelsey Park

At Tangled Lines Design, I hand write and design beautiful and meaningful art. One option that we offer are our customizable pieces that have already been created with handwritten quotes or verses from scripture. The other option that we offer are our custom designs. I love getting to design and hand write the custom projects because they are just so much more personal. Read more>>

Angela Asatrian

In September 2020, Azerbaijan launched an aggressive attack on Nagorno Karabakh, a region predominantly populated by Armenians and also known as Artsakh. Tragically, my cousin Garnik, who was only 19 years old, lost his life on the very first day of the war. Witnessing this devastating loss and recognizing the widespread lack of awareness about the conflict and its underlying causes, I felt a profound call to action, particularly drawing upon my background in Macro-level Social Work. Read more>>

Janet Gold

The Creative Thinking workshop was created to enlighten and inspire creativity. The high energy workshop includes inspiring stories and innovative exercises ranging from brainstorming and word games to deep introspective interpersonal reflection. The fast paced workshop is a mix of art, inspiration, and education, mixed with just the right amount of stand -up comedy, essentially, a bootcamp for the brain. Read more>>

Gina Loring

Nina Simone said it best: “An artist’s duty is to reflect the times.” For me, activism and artistry have always gone hand in hand. I don’t think it’s an artist’s obligation to use their work as a platform for social commentary, but I do think it’s an opportunity. Artists are vessels for information translated through creative expression, and any art you put out into the world can and likely will impact others. Read more>>

Karina Michel

I just worked on a documentary project this month called “The Way Home”. This is a non profit organization in my community that I have been a part of and volunteered with in the past, so it made it extra special to put a film together for them for their 20 year fundraiser. They offer transitional housing for women in crisis and I volunteered with their Jobs for Life program, which was just amazing to be a part of. Read more>>

Monica Doreen

I create artwork that has an impact in another’s life, or is meaningful in the healing of myself or others. “Looking Up” Wellness is a project that supplies theraputic glow-in-the-dark skylight paintings to be placed over hospital/hospice beds to aid in healing. Read more>>

Rowa Musings

For me, some of the most meaningful projects I’ve done have been through collaborative efforts working with other amazing creatives. This past August I released my 3D universe ‘The ROWAVERSE’ in conjunction with one of my singles “Low Jewel”. This project took over a year to complete and was a collaboration with a talented 3D designer and artist named Vinyl Williams. Read more>>

Roosevelt BlackRose Taylor

One of my most meaningful projects. To have three murals in the historical Minton’s play house the oldest jazz lounge in New York city which is located in my home town of harlem nyc . Iam the second artist in its history to have art in there . Read more>>

Olivia Phare

Genesis is a photographic series about the origins of my unbelief, the Biblical myth, and my family’s myths. It’s the place I’ve gone to work through the fall out of my deconversion from Christianity at the age of 29 and the subsequent rift that developed in my family as a result. Read more>>

Jessica Rose

Performing has always set my soul on fire, ever since I was a little girl. There is so much I love about acting and getting to live a creative life, but I think the hardest part is that my passion is kind of entangled in an industry of gatekeepers. When you’re an auditioning actor, you rarely have say on the kinds of roles and projects you’re cast in, and you certainly have little control over when you get to do it. Read more>>

Ryan Conner

I’ve been a stand-up for 20 years and have written for TV for 12 years. Stand-up is my greatest passion, however there are ideas that are too complex and serious to distill into stand-up without losing too much of what you want to say. In early 2016, with the increasing presence and acceptance of authoritarian rhetoric in politics and media, and eventually action, I couldn’t think about anything else. Read more>>

Tawnylawns

My formal training is in music, but I’ve always had a desire to work with my hands. So when my bandmate and I decided to take a year off to build the set for our miniature marionette video “Oh You Two,” it felt like a big risk. Looking back, it was just what we needed, as we wound up spending hours on end building tiny set pieces while active-listening to our favorite albums and soundtracks. Read more>>

Xinhao Lu

For me, the most meaningful project is the film “Red Man,” which I recently won the Best Experimental Film award for at the LA Shorts International Film Festival. Prior to this, I had never taken on such a significant challenge. My previous films did not involve such complex long shots, but I managed to achieve it this time. I have never collaborated so closely with a cinematographer as I did on this project. Read more>>

Cécile Dumetier

Nature Morte has been the most meaningful project I’ve worked on so far. It was my first artistic collaboration with the photographer Ruth Ward. Read more>>

Yante Ismail

It may not be a project per se that is meaningful, but the activism art that I do in general that I consider as meaningful. I am a feminist artist. My art portrays issues broadly related to human rights, with an emphasis on women’s rights and issues around women’s empowerment. My art activism is seen through my art that challenges patriarchy, and the damaging social, religious, cultural, and social norms that dictate how women exist in society. Read more>>

Jes DeVille

The most meaningful project I have worked on is currently underway! Forgetting Tree is a meandering exploration of dialogues with (and love letters to) the natural world. It features an intergenerational cast of musicians, dancers, circus artists, scenographers and permaculture designers tapping into their relationships to self, each other, and our changing environmental landscapes – appearing as a dance-theatre installation disguised as a sensory garden at Z Space, San Francisco November 3-5. Read more>>

Weidi Zhang

One of the most meaningful projects I’ve had the privilege of working on is a collaborative project with Rodger Luo, titled “ReCollection.” The inspiration behind this project stemmed from a personal experience, specifically my grandmother’s battle with memory regression. Witnessing her struggles served as a profound motivation for us. Read more>>

Noah Witenstein

Contemplation Bench and the Table of Connection Read more>>

JazzEra

My most meaningful project to date has to be my debut EP “Moody” set to release November 3rd 2023. “Moody” is an ode to the little moody girl who feels it all. Growing up I struggled with feeling safe to express myself fully, creating a stagnancy within my body that translated into what I know now as anxiety and depression. Read more>>

Hannah Bladh

Something I recently did was participate in the Strada Easel Challenge – where you are supposed to paint from life (not from a photo, but with the setup actually in front of you) every day for 30 days. I’ve done this challenge before a couple other times, but this time was different because 3 months ago I became a mom. My beautiful little girl, Olive, was born in June. Read more>>

Shannon Lucas-Westrum

My most meaningful project to date was a “pilgrimage” I took to rural Ireland. As creatives, especially in a field with thousands of years of history, our journey is to bridge technique and skill with vision. After 20 years or so as a primarily solitary artist, I was longing to research my ancestry in a hands-on way. Read more>>

Maudlyn Monroe

I have quit independent music several times. The reasons are complicated, related to health, but also undiagnosed neurodivergence, upregulated nervous system, and sensitivity to sensory overload. Let me be clear—the music industry is hard on anybody. It’s hard to break into, it’s hard on the body, it’s hard on the ego. Read more>>

Joe Jarvis

A meaningful project I’ve been working on behind the scenes with my team is the Love N Laughs Tour 2024. Our goal is to openly talk about mental health: trauma, abuse, addiction, depression, anxiety, etc – to connect people with mental health ministries and resources for a lasting impact in their lives. Read more>>

GEMZ Dance Chapter

G.E.M.Z Dance Chapter has been serving communities since 2018. We hope to not only be affiliated with eastern Michigan but to spread women empowerment within the communities. Some meaningful projects we’ve accomplished has been hosting dance class for the local Ypsilanti area, as well as traveling to other universities. Read more>>