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.
Kris Franklin
One of the most meaningful projects I’ve worked on is the drop we’re having on 10-18-24—MOOD LA’s “HOMAGE TO HOME” collection. This collection is special because it’s not just about fashion; it’s a tribute to Detroit, a city that shaped me as a designer and a person. The story behind this drop is rooted in honoring where I come from. Detroit has a unique energy—it’s gritty, resilient, and filled with a sense of community and pride that’s often misunderstood by outsiders. Growing up there, I witnessed both the struggles and the beauty that define the city, from its industrial backbone to its creative spirit. It’s a place that taught me the value of hard work, perseverance, and never forgetting where you come from. Read more>>
Elliott Menace
my latest project is my meaningful project that i worked on called Mind of a Menace 2. I really wanted to speak on situations in the world that were bothering me. How some things seem to be covered up over media to distract certain situations, i also talked about drug use in the world, poverty and war Read more>>
Katrina Storton
Earning a degree in 2019 and then facing a worldwide pandemic in 2020 is already a tough situation. Make your degree a focus in Film & Archival and your job prospects for 2020 are as plentiful as toilet paper in a grocery store. By 2021 I was back in my hometown with a retail job that sucked all the enjoyment out of my days. I’d been wanting to create something, anything, to get me feeling like myself again. I made a new friend who happened to own a local thrift store, and we started creatively collaborating on advertisements and promotional shoots. For Halloween 2022 we created a Rocky Horror Show themed photo shoot and I was floored by the amount of people who wanted to be a part of it. I decided to take the chance and do something that I was passionate about, creating a community Rocky Horror Picture Show Shadow Cast. I had previously been in a shadow cast in college and consider it one of the best experiences of my life. Read more>>
Soo Choi
The meaningful project for me was one where art truly became a place of rest and a seed for growth that eventually shared warmth. I’ve been doing music since I was young, but I’ve always been interested in other things too, like art and video, and I kept up with trends. I’ve always loved music, and at some point, I also fell in love with video art. I taught myself how to make videos by reading books, analyzing videos online, and studying what people like, while planning my own future projects. After that, I won a few video contests, and after getting into college for classical music, I interned at a media company that made YouTube dramas and variety shows. Read more>>
Liz Andrews
My meaningful project is the exhibition and book Black American Portraits. I had been working at the Los Angeles County Museum of Art (LACMA) for four years when the pandemic shook our world in 2020. When I first began at LACMA, I was working full time in the Director’s Office while also completing my PhD in Cultural Studies. My dissertation topic was visual images from the 2008 Obama campaign. I argued that visual images were key to convincing this nation – one founded on white supremacy – that a Black man could be President of the United States of America. I’d spent years researching and writing about presidential candidate Barack Obama as a visual cultural icon, and so I was asked to work on Smithsonian National Portrait Gallery’s (NGP) The Obama Portraits Tour when LACMA was confirmed as one of the venues. Read more>>
Ti-easha Alexander
The most meaningful project I’ve ever worked on? That’s a tough one because I’ve had a couple that have impacted me deeply. But I think the one that truly stands out is one where I was able to make a difference in someone else’s life. I had a client, Jalyn, who came to me regularly for her nail appointments. She was always full of life—vibrant, happy, and never without a story to tell. We’d laugh and chat, and she was one of those clients who felt more like a friend. The funny thing was, she always chose the same color—hot pink! It became a bit of a tradition for us. Read more>>
Otávio Santos De Albuquerque
Some of my most meaningful projects are currently in development, so I can’t say much about them. But from previous work, I would say that my “SCAD Food Drive Triptych” illustration I created for a poster assignment encapsulates a depth of meaning and impact I strive for in my work. That illustration was inspired by a quote by Matt Kahn about donating to those in need, and how the food you may stock “just in case” can be someone’s “just in time.” This is a reminder of an immediate action step so many of us can take to help one another. It can also be clothing. The cold months are approaching in the Northern Hemisphere, so now is a good time to donate warm clothes. Maybe it’s $5 you can donate to a family in need of evacuation from Gaza in order to survive the genocide. “Working for a cause, not for the applause”, a quote I believe by Grace Lichtenstein, is another important quote he shared more recently, and has helped me remember how much tangible positive change we can achieve when not lost in polishing our egos, and instead using our creative voice to serve the greater collective wellbeing. Read more>>
Shae Nance
Hoopologie and The Spinsterz are committed to transforming people’s lives through flow arts. We are a stand for your greatest self expression. EveryBODY can access and benefit from the flow state, and it is our mission to empower you through movement, community, and powerful partnership. Over the years, Hoopologie has shifted our focus to (1) sharing the true history of hoop dance by highlighting Native American voices (2) bringing the transformational power of hooping to communities that do not have access to it and (3) embracing inclusivity and diversity. Read more>>
Yiran Chen
It all started with an encounter two years ago. I met producer Yang Yang while working as a production sound mixer on an independent short film in Boston. Our collaboration went really well, and we became good friends afterward. After I moved to New York, Yang Yang reached out to ask if I would be interested in doing the sound design and score for her independent feature film “American Byproducts.” Due to the limited budget, she needed someone who could handle both sound post-production and film scoring, and since she knew I had experience in both sound design and music production, I was a good fit. I was very excited about the project, as I had never taken on the challenge of being both the sound designer and composer for a feature film, making this a unique and valuable experience for me. Read more>>
Julie Simone
FIDDLIN’, an Old-Time/Bluegrass music documentary that I directed in 2019, was by far the most meaningful project I have ever worked on. From the time I was about 10 years old I had known I wanted to be in the film or TV business in some capacity. I realized I would have to venture from my small town upbringing to make this happen but what I didn’t expect was that the story I would most want to share would take me back to my country roots. Read more>>
Sofiia Chubko
I recently attended a birthday celebration of the owner of a local boutique. This awesome woman is pregnant with her second child, another baby boy. So when she came up to my table looking to get her forever bracelet, she asked me to help her create something meaningful and special. Right there, I knew exactly what she wanted. Two heart charms made out of fresh water pearl, each one of them representing each baby. We connected the charms together as a symbol of two brothers being there for each other. This moment was absolutely precious and I was so grateful to be a part of it. Read more>>
Ren Dawe
I’m currently working on a project called The “Here to Pee” tour, This project is a bold and unapologetic journey through the Bible Belt and beyond, using humor to challenge discriminatory laws. The traveling red-state variety show consists of an all-trans performer lineup, using potty humor to center discriminatory legislation that impacts gender diverse people nationally. But the “Here to Pee” tour is more than a comedy show; it’s a movement to flush away discriminatory laws through bringing the LGBTQ+ community together and celebrating trans joy. Read more>>
Paige Polchowski
I created the Daley Sparkle Program and Ambassador Program. This was started in honor of my papa, Victor Daley. He named me “Sparkles” when I was born. He raised our family with the motto of it doesn’t cost a nickel to be kind. In creating the Daley Sparkle Program I was able to build on our family motto, as well as honor his legacy by giving back to others. I make and deliver Daley Sparkle bags to people who are battling cancer. Sadly, that is what I lost my papa to six years ago. My ambassador program encourages women across the country to give back within their own communities. I currently have Daley Sparkle Ambassadors in 26 states across the country. I aim to have at least one ambassador in each of the 50 states! Read more>>
Queen Rahmaya
The most meaningful project i’m currently working on is my upcoming music album ”Blax Sapphire” which will be released October 10th. The album name “Blax Sapphire” was named because she’s my alter ego that has helped me through all of my trials and tribulations including, betrayals, bullying, mental health battles and etc. Releasing “Blax Sapphire” will have a huge impact on others who are currently going through or had experienced these things that doesn’t have an outlet. They will never feel alone. Read more>>
Shane Lara
One of the most meaningful projects I have engaged in is starting my own poetry brand called Deadly Medicine Poetry. In Native American culture we believe in acts of good medicine that come in many forms from traditional dance, family gatherings, beadwork all the way to spoken word poetry. I have engaged in the gift of spoken word since I was twelve years old and have recorded music as a Hip-Hop artist and later as a slam poet competing nationally all over the nation from Portland Oregon, Salt Lake City Utah and all the way to Daytona Beach Florida. Sadly as I engaged in these poetic adventures I realized that my people did not have any spaces for them on those scenes. I witnessed Poeticas slams for the Latino community, Valkery slams for the women and other open mics for different groups yet I saw no spaces for Native American people which shocked me because we were America’s original story tellers, the first nations. I decided that I wanted to be a solution to this problem so I created Deadly Medicine Poetry where I host poetry workshops for the Native community. Read more>>
Katherine Espin
Thankfully I’ve been able to work on a couple of them, but the latest has been a recent one I’ve acted in. The feature film is called ‘Raza,’ written by Victor Adame. It’s a reflection of the struggles that a lot of the latino young men and families face in rough neighborhoods, and in this case it takes place in Riverside, CA during the 90’s. It showcases not only the problems with our justice system as it pertains to the latino population, but also the wrongful accusations that come to pass on a young person’s life that cause them to lose precious time spent in jail. Families torn apart for someone else’s mistakes. This story is based on the writer’s actual older brother, who was also wrongfully accused of a crime he didn’t commit, and had to spend wasted years in jail for it. The story highlights a family without a present father, leaving a mother to care for her four children alone. We have the eldest son, Junior (who is later wrongfully accused in the story), next we have Tony, the second oldest later left in charge to take care of the family while Junior is undergoing trial and jail time. We also have Lydia who is the eldest daughter and then we have the youngest daughter, Mariana, played by yours truly. Read more>>
Rahim Ewan
My most meaningful project outside of my custom piece for Dave Chapelle would have to be my recent apparel placement on The Tonight Show with Jimmy Fallon which were showcased by Talib Kweli & J.Rawls on September 12th, 2024 when they performed their new single “Native Sons” off their debut album The Knowledge of Knowing. This was an amazing experience because not only did I get the opportunity to have my designs showcased on a national scale but I also got a chance to watch the entire show and performance live from the audience, I’ve yet to experience anything like it. I have to give full credit to both J.Rawls & Talib as we went back and forth about the idea while they were touring in Europe. Myself and J. Rawls were in constant communication via WhatsApp almost everyday, he’s always been an advocate for the Fortune Over Fame brand and he was sending me pictures while touring with De La Soul, Mos Def and some of his other peers in the music industry. Read more>>
D’shon El Villano
The most meaningful project that I’ve worked on so far is my most recent album, VILLANO DE LA BARBA BLANCA. This is an album that I startedmany years ago with the goal of submitting it to the GRAMMYS® and I’ve been perfecting it little by little and it’s it’s been something sentimental in many ways for me. Not just because of the subject matter but also because of the process of crafting these songs from scratch. I have the fortune to be able to work with my favorite producer: Immanuel “IMA305” Ramirez. He was my teacher at school. I learned sound engineering from him about 15 years ago, he’s a Grammy-winning engineer & producer who worked on incredible projects with Mark Anthony, Ricky Martin, Maluma, as well as many many other international superstars, and of course, many local artists. I’m blessed to have the opportunity to sit down and work with him the way I do. Producing music with him has been a lifetime opportunity I greatly appreciate. One of the most important things that I’ve been striving for is to better myself with each song, with each album, and with each project. A big part of bettering who I am and what i do is my wife who is a renowned creator, here in Miami and Mexico. She’s a magnificent artist and designer. She always has her finger on the pulse of art, hip-hop, and culture in general. I benefit so much from having her in my corner. Also, I was able to work with engineer/producer Drezs of Macana Estudio from Medellin, Colombia. So much of this album I credit to his expertise and guidance. Read more>>
Jeremy Reyes
For close to ten years I was stuck behind a desk climbing the corporate ladder. Fresh out of school I landed my first “Real” job as an adult. Growing up within a Southeast Asian family (Filipino) it is expected that you work in the medical field. I went against the grain and decided to work in Information Technology. Finding a happy medium in a field that is ever-changing I dedicated a great deal of energy chasing the dollar with the enjoyment of constantly learning something new everyday. Cash really did rule everything around me. In my early 20s I moved out of my parents house, purchased a new car, built my credit, went on vacations, and bought whatever I wanted – all on my own. I felt as though I needed to prove to myself that I really can be independent. With this passion to learn and excel, I was able to land some truly incredible jobs for multi-million dollar enterprises; I was part of the App development team working at the Taco Bell Headquarters in Irvine, to building and implementing the network infrastructure of all of the 76 gas stations on the west coast. I was really proud of myself and all the work I accomplished, but I still felt a little empty inside, I wasn’t truly happy but I was happy enough to keep going. Read more>>
Katie Mccann
I trained as a ballet dancer my whole life. I went to Butler University for Arts Administration in dance, was in a ballet company for a few years, and freelanced as a dancer for more than a decade beyond that. While I LOVED performing as a dancer, my best (and worst) idea will always be founding Dance in the Parks. While I was a dancer at Kentucky Ballet Theater in the early 2000s, I participated in their annual collaboration with the Lexington park district called Ballet Under the Stars. Before our regular season started in the fall, the company performed an outdoor rep show on a temporary plywood stage built around a huge old oak tree in the city’s central historic park. The stage was always a little cockeyed. One year a squirrel kept throwing acorns on the stage during the show. Did you know that acorn guts are slippery? It was August in the south, so it was hot and so so humid. But it was my favorite show of the year, every year. Read more>>
Robert Murphy
The project that means the most to me now is actually a project I’m doing next year. It’s a script I’ve written called “King of Pain” about a struggling alcoholic who gets fired from his low-wage warehouse job, and then decides to move to Nashville to make it as a country singer. I used to work in a warehouse in Texas myself, and I met a lot of the guys who worked there. I could see how trapped they felt, and how they would work so hard in such hot temperatures, and never get promoted. I mean, these guys could take a car apart and put it back together, but their personal lives were pretty messy. I thought it would be good to explore one of those characters in a feature film, and write a story that would give them hope for a better life. Also, country music is such a big part of the culture in Texas, and I thought it might be interesting to see someone from that culture writing country songs that explore subjects that country music usually avoids—-including songs about being bisexual, songs that question systemic racism in the south, songs that question our addition to alcohol as a society, and songs that show a desire to move out of that world and into a more open, just place. So it’s still country music but with a progressive philosophical edge. Read more>>
Gloria Montiel
The most meaningful project I’ve taken on was my most recent adventure; photographing Kenyan wildlife in three different national parks I grew up in a rural area, where my family raised and butchered our own livestock. I’ve been an animal enthusiast my whole life. As a kid I’d spend my summers outside on the farm, or inside watching Animal Planet until it was time to do evening chores Although it was rural Iowa, I grew up around people of many different cultural backgrounds. I became really interested in learning about the cultures from African countries specifically because of the Muslim holiday Eid al-Adha. On this day of celebration, customers came dressed in beautiful traditional garb to butcher sheep for their families, neighbors, and charity. As I grew into adulthood, after watching hours of Animal Planet, becoming passionate about sustainability, and learning about big cat conservationists and photographers, Jonathan and Angela Scott, I knew it was a dream of mine to visit the African savanna. I spent a months saving money, and hours researching an ethical tour company for my trip. When I finally found the one, I gathered my equipment, and spent two weeks between Amboseli, the Massai Mara, and Nairobi National Parks, with a pitstop to bird watch at Lake Naivasha. Read more>>
Jennifer Whelan
Communities found connection during the global Covid19 pandemic through The Front Steps Project. This was a fundraiser started by Kristen Collins and photographer Cara Soulia that became a social media sensation as photographers captured images of families sitting — socially distanced — on front stoops and porches to raise funds for local nonprofits helping those struggling in their communities. When I saw this massive effort of goodwill I had to participate since more than 50% of students in the Hull School district qualify for free school lunch. My camera gave me a way to take my lens and help the healing of the world at an unprecedented time. Wellspring Multi-service center is a backbone in our community, helping the most needy, the elderly, the hungry. My spearheading 10 photographers to capture 200 families raised $14,000 — and spirits. Beyond the obvious immediate benefit of money, the love and laughter that emanated from these photographs at a time when all hope seemed lost nourished all participants and our community in less tangible ways. I could, through my lens, see that families still laughed, that people were eager to help, that humanity can feel close even from afar. Read more>>
Jetty
My debut EP “Take Off” is by far the most meaningful project I’ve ever worked on. I wrote every song from that project when I first moved to Harlem in 2017. Between 2017 and the EP’s release in 2023, I faced numerous obstacles that nearly prevented me from releasing any music at all. As a way to honor all the years spent sitting on those masterpieces, I decided to give each song its own animated character reflective of who I was at the time of writing it. That is what truly makes this project special to me – it is a tribute to all the versions of myself that kept music alive. Read more>>
Indigo Johnson
In 2021 I was in the last semester of my Bachelor of Education. Our final project was to write a children’s book. At this point I was heavily involved in search efforts for a young man, Ryan Shtuka who was missing at a ski resort just 45 minutes from where I was living at the time. Ryan Shtuka disappeared in the early morning hours of February 17th, 2018. This tragic event heavily impacted the community and prompted extensive search efforts and an online campaign to raise awareness. Being so close to home, I joined search efforts and witnessed thousands of people coming together to support a family. many people did not know the Shtuka’s prior to Ryan’s disappearance and yet they attended searches day after day, organized meal trains, shared posters both online and in their communities and offered words of support and strength online. So, there I was trying to write a children’s book that aligned with values I grew up with – community, kindness, compassion… The Kindness Quilt came to be. A story of a missing dinosaur and a community who came together to share in acts of kindness and help Little Dino find his way home. Read more>>
Joseph Anthony Marcello
The most meaningful project is the one I am currently working on. Named T1Determined, my attempt is to build a platform where Type-1 Diabetic Athletes can share and learn from their experiences in their desired sports. The mediums include documentaries, podcasts, and written forms. We are beginning a documentary titled, “Low Blood Sugar at High Altitude,” which is about tracking blood sugar on a Denali Climb. This topic is essential to me in many ways. In 2019, at the age of 21, my life flipped upside down when I got diagnosed with the auto-immune disease Type-1 Diabetes. So far, I am the only person in my family to have this condition. For the past five years, adapting to a new lifestyle has been very difficult. Yet, throughout the ups and downs, I discovered multiple passions growing within me. One passion is to escape to the mountains whenever I have the chance. This often means hiking and climbing in New Hampshire while trying to also plan big climbs once a year to larger arenas like Mount Rainier in Washington. The other passion is to live a healthy lifestyle and to bring out the best sports performance possible. Read more>>
Sara Armstead
My most meaningful project has been my very first publication, the children’s science book Nature’s Dark Treasures. I outlined the project before even planning to start my business, Kids on the Wise. As a Black mom, I began to wonder how children feel about people of color being called “Black” when, at the same time, they learn negative terms like “black market,” “blacklist,” “blackout,” or “black sheep.” I also noticed that in children’s movies black and darkness forebode danger, discomfort, lifelessness, and are often the ultimate colors of villains. Why can’t children’s movies use black and darkness in a more creative, noble, brilliant? I was determined to offer children from all backgrounds a broader perspective, and I knew I could get some help from nature and science. Nature’s Dark Treasures was born—a science book in the form of a calendar that explores how nature itself celebrates the beauty and value of black and darkness. This concept is unique in many ways, as I am entering uncharted territory in children’s nature and science literature. Children not only read and learn about geology, biology, chemistry, and astronomy, but Nature’s Dark Treasures also encourages independent and creative thinking. Read more>>
Luba Carlson
The most meaningful project to me is Gratitude Art Journaling. It all started when my family and I lived in Texas. Money was tight, we only had one vehicle, and I had an 18 months old at home with me. To make the ends meet I opened an in-home daycare. Running a daycare was rewarding and, at the same time, isolating experience. I was so consumed with everybody else’s needs, that I forgot me. I knew I was approaching burn out fast and needed to do something about. In my search for a relief, I tried guided meditations. Being a busy body and not able to sit still and do nothing that really didn’t work for me. I turned to adult coloring books. Surprisingly, those books filled me up with rage. They were filled with lines that somebody else put in for me, just like every other demand I had to fulfil during my day. That was when I remembered my mathematical background, pulled out my pencil and a drawing compass, and created my first mandala. I was 39 years old. I was never interested in artsy expression of myself. Until that day, that is. Read more>>
Jennifer Hilliard
Probably my modeling. I started later in life, about 3 years ago now this month. I was 44 years old then; I had always had issues with self-esteem growing up because I was heavyset. It took me until I was about 38 years old to really start loving myself. I had lost a bunch of weight, I was feeling good, strong, healthy, and self-assured, so I began my modeling journey. I set out with the goal of only wanting to be published. In 2023, I was selected to be a model at Shutterfest in St. Louis. This year, I was selected as a model to be a Morbid Goddess for Morbid Awakening LLC, I finally achieved my goal to be published, and I have been selected to walk the runway for Rx Republic at LA Fashion Week in a few weeks, as well as the Geek Gala Fashion Show in Kansas City, Missouri in November. All of these things are meaningful to me because everything I do is with the goal to promote positivity, acceptance, self-love, and disability awareness. Not only am I a later in life model, but I”m also disabled due to a back injury and the fact that my doctor cut my spinal cord during a routine back surgery. I’m extremely honored and proud to be representing plus size, disabled, alternative models. Read more>>
Cody Sullivan
My theater project CODY PLAYS has brought me an insane and unexpected amount of joy. For each show at the Gifford House, I write a new one act play, usually within a week, with the help of and for a guest collaborator to highlight their work/life. So far these have been people from my community here in Provincetown who make the town run, who give the town life. My guests have included writers and artists like Jeanette De Beauvoir, Forrest Williams and Pete Hocking. They’ve also included the journalists at our paper, the people who work at the pizza shop Spiritus, the people who run our local sandwich shop Pop and Dutch, my coworkers at the The Nor’east beer Garden and my friends who landscape in town. This show was the first time I worked with a company of actors who gave my words life on a regular basis. It was also the first time I wrote and directed people who didn’t act. I didn’t expect the joy this would create. Seeing people step into the light and share their story and get to be seen and heard for the work they do, to get recognized for their contributions to the town is the highlight of the work for me. Read more>>
Cameron Blair
So the most meaningful project I’ve gotten to work on for the band is organizing Cures for Love Fest, a music festival we have put on for the past two years. One day back in 2022 I thought to myself, and then made a joke tweet, “What if we threw a small music festival that the main goal was showcasing Columbus and by extension, Ohio bands?” Which ultimately led to what was the first year which we held at Big Room Bar (rip) with a bunch of our favorites/friends we’ve made on the journey through being a band. There were eight other bands that played that day and we had some food trucks and honestly it was pretty stressful but by the end of it I was really glad we did it. Plus, it really just was a one off idea, like “Why not? There are other bands who are doing this.” Ultimately us being smaller isn’t a hinderance, we don’t have anyone telling us what to do, we just get to look at bands in Columbus and do our best to make sure we get them some recognition. Read more>>
Walter Anaruk
I don’t really think I can list one. If I’m being completely thoughtful about my answer, I think I have to list three for very different reasons. They all marked major formative events for me as an actor. 1. – An indie film called Reaper. This was the first really meaningful project I ever worked. It made me understand so much about what is involved in a production. I was a VERY new actor professionally. And originally, the role I auditioned for was a one-scene bit part. About 3 lines and a couple of speeches. I booked the role. And for whatever reason, the writer/director felt like my character, and the story I told in that scene warranted a bigger role. The next thing I know, I am being asked to shoot almost 20 shooting days and my role is being rewritten as a lead in the ensemble. I learned a lot about maintaining continuity across months of shooting. I learned what it means to have to carry a huge weight of the project. But I think the biggest reason this project was so meaningful was because it allowed me to shake my initial imposter syndrome. All actors carry it. We wonder if we belong, if we have what it takes to make anyone see us. Not about fame, or notoriety, but about being good enough to be wanted. The evolution of this role, and the part I got to play gave me confidence that I did indeed belong in this industry. The film itself hasn’t been completed. It has been in post production since before Covid. And I am not sure if it’s still being worked on. But even if it never comes out, It meant the world to me. Read more>>
Wanda Lopez
HerStoryInASmile Movement, previously the HerStoryInASmile Project in 2020, originated during my internship at the YesSheCan Campaign, a non-profit organization dedicated to women. Within their Climb Tour Program, I was to submit a draft for a project that came with creating an idea that would uplift or inspire a community. This task led me to deep reflection, contemplating how I could make a meaningful impact. As part of a women-focused organization, I naturally concentrated on women’s issues. While pursuing my Bachelor’s in Psychology and with a keen interest in Photography, I was captivated by the question: “What lies behind my smile?” or more poignantly, “What lies behind HER smile?” In this time, as I balanced my academic and professional endeavors, I faced significant personal challenges that affected my mental health and forced me to confront silent struggles with past and ongoing traumas. Observing a photograph of a smiling woman, or anyone smiling, prompted me to question what we truly observe. Is it just a smile, or is there more hidden behind it? What stories, pains, and struggles are masked by that smile? Read more>>
Tamara Knox
With support from a 2023 Seeding Creativity grant from the Sacramento Office of Arts and Culture, I created a series of photographs and an accompanying book entitled Surviving to Thriving: Narratives of Community Thrivers Surviving Traumas. I used therapeutic photographs and ethical storytelling to record, preserve, and share the stories of thrivers via the book and a traveling exhibit with accompanying workshops. This was a trauma-informed and healing-centered project that showcased the strength and resilience of individuals who have faced trauma and emerged as thrivers. This deeply personal project has been incredibly powerful and meaningful to me. It was born from my own journey of escaping a violent household and finding healing through photography and storytelling. Collaborating with participants and witnessing their transformation, while sharing their stories, has been a humbling and empowering experience, reinforcing the power of narrative and visual representation in healing. Read more>>
Jacob Watson
I feel fortunate that most of my creative work these days feels meaningful. That has been the result of a lot of reflection and curation around the types of projects that feel worth taking on. I’m currently about to start performances for a new pop-punk musical called Sofa King Queer with the group Nothing Without a Company, here in Chicago. This will be my first time acting in five years and I had no idea until we started rehearsing how much I had missed actually being onstage! While I got into theatre originally as an actor, my career has since drifted more toward directing, design, teaching, and other expressions of that craft. SKQ is particularly meaningful to me because it’s about a group of queer friends navigating the music scene (and their own identities) in Chicago in 2008. That’s a reality I actually lived through, and which I think marks an important in-between time for gay rights in our country’s history. The score is also influenced by the music of that era — Green Day, Blink 182, Good Charlotte, Alanis Morissette — artists whose songs were the backdrop to my own coming-of-age in the early 2000s. I’ve always loved new work and I have an extensive background in musical theatre as well. So, this project has been an exciting culmination of the various types of theatrical work I’ve done over the years: everything from devised and original work to community-based storytelling. Read more>>
Nöelle Overturf
I’ve been blessed to have many meaningful projects over the past few years, but I’ll share one in particular that was incredibly meaningful that also sparked a few other projects! Last year I had a mom reach out to me on Instagram about wanting a large painting for their home, but asked if I’d be willing to let her 3 year old daughter (who loves art) help paint a piece with me so that the piece would have even more meaning for them. I immediately said YES because I am also a mom and knew how special that would be. They were thrilled! We set up two different sessions, both about 30-45 mins long with the parents present. It didn’t take long before the little girl got in her groove, using her hands, elbows and feet! At one point she even walked on the canvas leaving a little trail of toe prints that we subtly kept in the piece! We listened to the Frozen soundtrack, danced, took breaks, swapped painting techniques and got super messy! After the second session was completed, I used the next week to study the piece and give it an aesthetically pleasing flow while keeping those precious touches from the little girl. After I finished, the parents got to view the final look and give their approval before framing. Read more>>
John Alan H.
As an Actor, you spend a lot of your time working towards the next role. Given the state of the industry in the past couple of years, I didn’t see that dream role coming my way any time soon. So, I stepped away from auditioning, and decided to dive deeper into learning how to make movies myself. If anyone was going to cast me in my dream role, it was more than likely going to be me. I’m somewhat of an idea hoarder. I write a lot of scripts and stories that I end up tucking away for later because I didn’t know the next steps to bring them to life. When I took a break from auditioning in 2023, I started studying how to make movies online. Most advice was technical and really helpful, but the best advice I found was simple, “just start making things.” I decided to create my own personal productions that I called, “Panophobium! Haunted Home Movies” where I experimented with story ideas, cinematography, lights, sound, and everything that goes into making movie magic. Sometimes I made magic, sometimes I made… something. However, I found a lot of my voice in making movies by simply experimenting with ideas. Whether they were good ideas or bad ideas, I could see growth in simply just making things. Read more>>
Sae Tamiya
One of my most meaningful projects for me is a personal project I worked on for our illustration course graduation show. I wanted a project that reflected on my three years at university and how I’d grown, as well as re-remember some things that I’d forgotten, like what I’m drawn to visually. The whole process of painting it was a reflection on how linear my approach can sometimes be, in that I enjoy experimenting and coming up with lots of varied ideas, but at one point I become trapped in some logic that I’d built for myself. I was annoyed with this way of working, but I thought that at least for my last project I’d think of it positively and take advantage of it. The outcome is a combination of a colouring book and a crossword puzzle, and the image in the center are symbols of some of my unfinished projects overlaid. It’s a visualisation of my thought process made up of elements I’m aesthetically drawn to, like grids, lines, and certain colours. Read more>>
Adiba Nelson
All of my children’s books are the most meaningful projects I work on. When my daughter was 2 years old I couldn’t find a book that represented *her* – Black, Latin, disabled, girl. It just didn’t exist and I felt that was just ridiculous. From my work as a school social worker and child/family social worker, I knew that a child’s self esteem and understanding of their value and place in the world is boosted by seeing themselves represented in the world around them. And my child was being denied that opportunity. Not on my watch. So, I decided to write and then self-publish my first children’s book, “Meet ClaraBelle Blue”, so that she (and children like her) could see themselves in the world around them. Why did I self-publish? Because after querying numerous agents and publishers who said “no”, one particular agent told me it was too niche, and that the world wasn’t ready for a book like mine yet. Read more>>