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.
Pragya Srivastava
As the Principal Designer and Founder of Yugen Space, one of my most impactful contributions was leading the design and research for a cutting-edge educational facility as part of a UNESCO MGIEP (Mahatma Gandhi Institute of Education for Peace and Sustainable Development) initiative. The project was a bold vision to create a 21st-century school for children with learning differences, such as dyslexia and dyscalculia, within the broader scope of an “Intelligent Global Hub for Digital Pedagogies”. This ambitious initiative included a centre of excellence for learning science, an incubation center to support startups building EdTech products, and a school for differently-abled learners. Working directly with UNESCO MGIEP’s international consultant, I led the entire design scope for the school, encompassing: Read more>>
Yalan Wen
The project I am currently working on is inspired by a park in New York, the Elizabeth Street Garden, a small green space in Little Italy, is facing demolition of a new construction of the city. My project centers on the preservation of urban park spaces and the profound human connection to nature. These themes intersect with philosophical ideas such as Robert Nozick’s Experience Machine thought experiment, which challenges us to consider whether we would choose to live in a machine that simulates a perfect life, even if it isn’t real. This thought experiment resonates deeply with my exploration of nature, as I believe our connection to the environment is authentic, irreplaceable, and essential to our humanity. Urban parks serve as sanctuaries, providing city dwellers with rare, genuine connections to nature amidst an increasingly artificial world. These spaces offer more than physical relief; they provide emotional and psychological grounding, serving as a counterbalance to the hyper-connected, virtual lives that dominate modern existence. Read more>>
Marianna Koytsan
One of the projects that was meaningful for me was to create my first dance piece under my dance company Neta-Kinetics and perform it on different stages in NY to name a few, Dixon Place Theatre, Gibney Dance Theatre, Mark Morris Theatre. It was very important for me to put together the visuals that I had in my mind into the movement and eventually create a piece out of it. The name of the piece is The Thermocline: It is inspired by the water element – the natural metaphor of the ocean’s thermal layers to explore complex relationships, both external and internal. Two people present the surface and the deep layer. Where you see the relationship between each other in the middle point – the thermocline, one can’t exist without the other. It goes from the relationship between humans, animals, and the law of nature, to the relationship with yourself. Read more>>
David Navarro Collins
At DTANK PLUS, every project we take on is inherently meaningful because our clients come to us seeking branded, custom solutions that simply aren’t achievable with off-the-shelf furniture. Our existence is rooted in the idea that furniture design should be as unique as the spaces it inhabits. Our Think Tank—comprised of furniture designers, engineers, and our dedicated sales team—collaborates to deliver exactly what each client envisions while meeting deadlines and staying within budget. Our ability to work with any material, size, or shape sets us apart, giving us complete creative freedom to address every client’s needs. Read more>>
David Watkinson
After forty years living in Santa Monica and working in Hollywood on movies and TV shows, I moved to Colorado to finally work on my own project writing about the nature of reality, our place in the universe and other topics that I’ve studied outside of work. Read more>>
Jarred Barnes
EP, Anima.exe. This collection of songs marked a turning point in my career, both sonically and aesthetically. Prior to this project, my solo material was primarily bass music. I wanted to step out of my comfort zone and work with amazing singers and songwriters to put forth fully produced songs with concepts and deeper meanings. Unfortunately, listening to this project is bittersweet. After over half a year of creating the music, planning the release schedule and setting up promotional materials, my label and I couldn’t have ever imagined that a global pandemic would shut down the world and essentially halt the entire music industry. No more shows, no more fun, no more outside, just uncertainty and fear. The song Amethyst featuring Madison McFerrin was recorded RIGHT before the lockdown. All in all, when I listen to that project, I remember the good times before the pandemic and also the amazing sessions I had while creating it. Read more>>
Amira Humes
My Filipino mural project for Knorr was a profoundly meaningful experience, allowing me to celebrate my heritage while honoring my mother and the fond memories she created around Filipino food. Each detail and symbol was a tribute to her and the traditions that shaped my life. Growing up, I longed for more Filipino representation, so being part of this mural felt incredibly impactful–not only for me personally but for the community it brought together. Through my passion for food illustration, I had the chance to bring the vibrant ingredients and flavors of Filipino cuisine to life, capturing a sense of cultural appreciation, celebration, and connection. Partnering with Knorr to realize this vision was both rewarding and heartfelt, creating a piece that speaks to our shared stories, warmth, and resilience. This mural became more than art; it became a gathering point for community and cultural pride. Read more>>
Trine Bumiller
I’m currently working on a project that is deeply meaningful to me, entitled Wetland Narratives. This project explores wetland landscapes from around the world, focusing on their ecological significance and cultural impact. It consists of forty watercolor studies and forty oil paintings, each depicting a different wetland environment. In addition, I am creating large-scale hanging textiles featuring images of specific plants found in marshes. These works will be installed in varying arrangements, depending on the space they occupy. Read more>>
Yazzy Simons
The most meaningful project I’ve worked on has been my band Spinning Jenny. When Jenny started I was in a very difficult place in my life. I was friends with a few musicians but hadn’t been singing for about 4 years. I knew Kylan, the Jenny guitarist, through mutual friends and was a fan of his band Clog. Eventually we became friends and I tagged along to the studio he worked at for him to test some equipment . He tracked some guitar and asked me to go into the booth and sing whatever. I ended up writing the words to our first song Tell Me How. A few weeks later we talked to bassist Dani Garcia and drummer Erik McCready and they agreed to help us start the project. Even though we’ve had some swapping of members Dani and Erik were integral for helping us identify the original concept for the band. This project has been so meaningful for me as it’s what brought me back to music after a difficult relationship with it and it holds the first songs I’ve ever written and has been my first experience working for professional musicans. Read more>>
Masoud Bahmani
The most meaningful project I’ve worked on is Nothing to Hide, a five-minute animated documentary about Zara, an Iranian amputee navigating life after childhood cancer and amputation. It was deeply impactful because it used animation to portray her memories, emotions, and societal challenges in a way that live-action couldn’t. The project pushed me to creatively represent abstract and painful realities while fostering empathy. Zara’s resilience and the unique challenges she faced, like navigating inaccessible infrastructure and costly prosthetics, inspired me to craft a narrative that combined artistic innovation with social impact. Read more>>
Savannah Warner
Ever since my sisters and I were little, our Dad has always made sure music was a big part of our lives. His favorite game to play with us growing up was: “Hey, who sings this song?” and I remember always feeling so proud when I’d get it right. Music was constantly on in our house growing up and if you ask what kind of music I listen to, my answer is going to be, “Literally everything!” It is a big part of who I am now and has gotten me through some really, really hard times. I like to think my love for music and photography go hand in hand. If you’ve ever done a session with me, you know my phone is out and my first question is: “What kind of music do you want to listen to?” It’s helped with connecting me to my clients in so many ways. Whether it’s been bonding over an artist we both love or just hearing the stories of songs that mean a lot to them. Read more>>
Aykeh
“Art For Art’s Sake” was the first independent show I co-curated with a fellow artist friend. This project holds great significance for me, as the message behind it stemmed from experiences with the shifting culture and direction of the arts today. Our goal was to gather the purest form of art and bring the community together without cost barriers. We did not charge artists to submit or display their work, nor did we charge the community to visit the gallery space. The aim was to make sharing and experiencing art as accessible as possible. Read more>>
Stephanie Haff
How much space do I have?! ;-) I’ve worked as an actress throughout most of my life, along side working in the fitness industry and raising my family. I’ve always had an interest in writing and directing. Up until recently, I had only directed small stage productions and as far as writing goes, have been in the process of writing my first book. A little of two years ago, my 30 year old niece shared with me a story that her husband had experienced. I was incredibly moved by it and took the opportunity to share it with several other people who were also greatly moved. About a week later, the Lord impressed on my heart to make this story into a film. But at that time, even though I had worked in the industry for a long time, I did not know how to write and produce a film… My mind went immediately to other filmmakers that were in my network. But then God said, “Stephanie, you do it.” With that clear instruction, I no longer saw it as an option but as an act of obedience to the Lord. I knew that as I stayed close to Him in my walk with Him, that he would guide and provide. Read more>>
Kassie Miele
The most meaningful project I’ve worked on has definitely been with Bad Moms That Dance, a parade team I joined in 2023. This wasn’t something that started with big business goals or a clear plan. It actually began from a very personal, difficult place. Like so many others, when the pandemic hit, my life and career as a musician, audio engineer, and studio production manager came to a grinding halt. The creative industry I had worked in for years was decimated, and to top it all off, I lost my mom. I was in a really dark place, battling depression and isolation, not really knowing who I was or where I was headed. Read more>>
Joel Celaya
Oh boy, they’re so many! Let me tell you about two of them that I did back in Mexico. The first one is a short film called Decision Facil (Easy Decision, 2018), directed by Farid Evangelista and produced by Creando Redes MX, in which I played a street drug dealer named Tavo, who takes advantage of the desperation of this innocent fella to get money for his sick mother’s treatment and introduces him to the world of drug trafficking. I know it sounds crazy to mention this project been so dark and with such a controversial theme, but what I loved about it is that I got to play a character that’s so different than me, but at the same time finding how could I relate to him in a very human level. They did a whole characterization for me: they put tattoos on me, dressed me up, made my hair messy and gave me a gun, haha! All of that really helped me to immerse myself in the character and made me completely change my way of talking and behaving, it was such an incredible acting experience. On top of that, the short film ended up being part of the official selection of two film festivals! The first was Faro de Aragon’s 2018 Audiovisual Showcase in Mexico City — where we were also nominated to Best Fiction —, and the second was the Lift-Off Sessions UK 2019 in London! It was a thrill! Read more>>
Antony Rozwadowski
In 2017-2018, the Milwaukee Bucks hosted an open call for artist submissions as part of the opening of their new arena, Fiserv Forum. The group in charge, Sports & the Arts, wanted to include as many homegrown artists for Bucks-inspired paintings, photography, sculptures—you name it—in order to build an arena art collection with ties to Wisconsin. I was born and raised in Milwaukee, spending half of my upbringing in Green Bay. As a sports fan, I have always rooted for my home state teams, and most exciting of all, the Bucks were on the cusp of being a championship level team after years of mediocrity. There was a lot of buzz around the franchise, the team, and the revitalization of downtown Milwaukee. Read more>>
Michelle West
It’s hard to rank projects by meaning because that shows up in different ways. Every story requires me to discover something inside of myself that needs to be expressed, whether it’s an idea, emotion, or experience. Allowing that internal something to manifest through film is the most meaningful thing I can imagine, which is why I work so hard to do this. But some projects are more meaningful externally, because of the people it touches, information it shares, or a social issue it illuminates – when a project can reach far beyond myself. For example, with Lesbophilia, I internally resonated with the struggle of the main character, Chase, who confronts the belief that they’re not good enough for someone to love. But on a larger scale, Lesbophilia highlighted hot-button issues within the LGBTQ+ community with levity and warmth. I’ve loved witnessing how such an absurdly heartfelt comedy has been received and the meaningful conversations it has sparked. This intersection of something internal connecting with something external is the art of it all for me. Read more>>
Kiana Parsons
“Materialized Visions” was the first exhibition at our brand-new space, Evoke Gallery, co-founded by myself and my business partner, Fabian Sotelo. For years, we had been curating events throughout Chicago, but we decided to take a leap of faith—transitioning our skills as artists, creatives, and production specialists into something permanent. We envisioned creating what we felt was missing in Chicago’s cultural and creative scene. As two Chicagoans in our 20s, with no outside funding or backing, we took on the challenge of building a gallery from scratch. We secured a stunning industrial warehouse space and transformed it into an art gallery—literally building it with our own hands. From constructing the walls to installing the doorway and kitchenette, every inch of Evoke Gallery was a labor of love and determination. Read more>>
Magdalena Wosinska
I ve documented my late mother for the last 10 years of her life. We were not always very close, but as the time was running out, we created an amazing love language and bond between us both through my photos. We played out the role reversal between each other and learned so many parallels in our lives, in those last few conversations we had together before she transitioned. Since then Ive been working on a photo book about her that is becoming a blue print to a feature film I hope to make in Poland in the next 1-2 years. Read more>>
Matthew Del Carmen
My most meaningful project to date is unequivocally my most recent series of tribute paintings to my late mentor, Terry Reffell. For the most part, these paintings have been my only subject for the good part of 2024. My relationship with her was an intriguing one, her fire to create and satiate the eye burns relentlessly inside of me yet our personal relationship was not fully dissimilar to the rest of her students that had no ambition in the arts. She was truly an extraordinary woman. Energies would possess her and she had a reputation of ripping pencils out of her students’ hands to perform on their work herself. She had a much better understanding of my practice at the time than I did and her urgency to help actualize my ambitions was like that of a mother to her child. My time with her was painfully short but her influence on me is a constant. Attributing this latest body of work to her has allowed me to produce art that I’ve never felt as confident in and has set the precedent for the future of my practice for years to come. Read more>>
Ellen Ancui
Shooting my short film, SAVERIO, has definitely been the most meaningful project to date. When I originally wrote the script, it was on the heels of an upsetting incident at the supermarket. Outside, a crowd was gathered around an old man in a wheelchair who had been abandoned. The store manager reassured everyone not to worry, that social services had been called and everything would be taken care of. Of course, telling me not to worry always guarantees that I will worry! I wanted to know who this man was, who left him there and what would happen to him. When I got home I did some research and learned that there’s a name for this kind of incident. It’s called, “Granny Dumping.” Well, that sparked my imagination and I wrote a short film script about a young woman on her way to a big party in the dessert who finds an man abandoned on the side of the road. At the time, it was called, FOUND. Then, other projects came about and I put the script away. Until last year. My sister had decided to take our dad into her home after our mom died. He was in good physical health but he had age-related short term memory loss, and we didn’t think he’d live very long without his wife. But he turned out to be very vital and in fact, became stronger under her care. In just a few months we realized he could be around for quite some time, and in fact, he lived for another three years Read more>>
Susie Borhan
Like many artists, my work is a very solitary escape and this has always been a place I can go to for comfort and introspection. I have been honing my craft and small-business practice in textiles and bespoke clothing for over 10 years now and something meaningful I have found in my practice over the recent years, is the value in creating work with those in other artistic disciplines. Working collaboratively presents a different challenge and perspective to a project and I especially love the experimentation that this ignites when working with different mediums or talents. I have been able to learn more about other mediums and my own from creating works with musicians, web designers, dollmakers, archivists and small business owners among others. This has made me feel like my work is more expansive and allows for more expression. I also think there is a value of getting an insight into what other artist’s practices require and it makes you appreciate the work and grows your knowledge. Read more>>
Anthony Amadeo
I’d have to say my collages. They really feel like the purest expression of who I am as an artist. I love the process of taking pieces of the past—photos, textures, ideas—and merging them with the present to create something new. It’s such a freeing medium where there are no rules, just a flow of creativity that feels very personal. What’s especially meaningful to me is when I take my collages to the next level and bring them to life in video form for my social media pages. That’s where you can really see the movement, the layers shifting, and the way everything interacts. I pull a lot of inspiration from Monty Python and the Dadaists, both of which had this wild, experimental approach to cutting, ripping, and sometimes even sewing things back together. It’s a little chaotic, but that’s the point—it’s where everything clicks for me creatively. Read more>>
Nestor Barrientos
Well I’d say my first album, Cutting Ties, was definitely the most meaningful. I’ve always tried putting my all into my projects. With Cutting Ties being my first album it was a big deal to me, it felt like this massive milestone I’d built up in my head. I look back and the album comes from a place of frustration and confusion, not just in the industry but key points of my life. I felt, at the time, like everyone was against me and I didn’t know it at the time but I had placed a massive weight on my shoulders. I like to think I’m a very different person now, and honestly at times when I hear songs from the album, I feel a bit sad. Sad, because if you listen to the album start to finish I wanted to take listeners on the same emotional roller-coaster I felt my life had been on. I succeeded, but all the things I spoke about came from a place of anger and hurt. I don’t regret the album, though I don’t think some of the things I’d said at the time were justified. I do believe in that time I was just a kid who felt he needed to be heard. That album still echoes in my life today, it tells my story and my feelings at the time. I see things differently now, because I’ve grown, but it was art, it was my raw expression and for that reason I have no regrets. Read more>>
Josh Fairmont
The most meaningful project I have worked on was going to Iceland last fall to make a documentary about sheep farmers in the highlands. It all started by getting connected with a National Geographic photographer Ragnar Axlesson. We didn’t really know what we were getting ourselves into, but it turned into the coolest experience i have ever had. Read more>>
Harrison Linden
One of the most meaningful projects I have worked on so far has been a piece I created called “The Desert Took Over, and I Can No Longer Hold Onto the Memory of Your Once Bright Face”. Admittedly, I tend to just shorten the title to “The Desert Took Over” for the sake of convenience when explaining my piece to strangers. But this very long title has a very intentional meaning behind it. It was a piece I created sometime after I ended a relationship with somebody with whom I was sort of romantically involved at the time. “Sort of” because it was more of a situationship than a relationship, but the feelings were there. However, time did its thing, and things couldn’t make it past that ambiguous relationship stage. In the aftermath of that situation, I found myself feeling incredibly lonely and sad. I didn’t have anybody to be with again, but also, because this person, who I found myself finding much joy in, was no longer a relevant part of my life. This is where this piece came to life. It came from this idea I had of a statue that was in the desert. Read more>>
Lin Wang
In the first begining, Squeeze Sour is only a distribution project ,which inspired by one of my friends who does a delivery job while still making photo books in China. Due to censorship and the cultural environment, self-publishing in China has become increasingly challenging, with fewer supporters. Squeeze Sour gathers China-based creators who rarely have the opportunity to express themselves. Our mission is to showcase to a wider audience and also bring some fresh air to the US self-publisher community. Despite the constraints of our mundane world, I believe the tang of the squeezing process yields bittersweet yet rewarding outcomes. Read more>>
Frances Praet
My first album was definitely the most meaningful project I’ve had the opportunity to create! Similarly to most musicians, I’ve spent the majority of my life writing music. Releasing recordings of that music into the world is an entirely different beast, and the first collection of songs on my first album were my favorite ones I’d written up to that point in my life (so at the time, my life’s work!!). There is also a song on that album, the second single I ever released, called “Rest Assured” that was written while my grandfather was passing away. He suffered from dementia, and that song was my way of processing the loss of him before he’d actually died. It’s such a gut wrenching experience that I know many people can relate to, and releasing that song (as well as the accompanying video) meant a lot to me. Read more>>
Jon Harrison Taylor
My dad, Johnnie Taylor, was an R&B singer who spent much of the year on the road. But no matter how busy he was, he always made it home for Christmas. Always. That made the holidays extra special for our family—it was a time of joy and togetherness that I cherished growing up. As I got older, though, I realized not everyone feels that same warmth during the holidays. For some, it’s a time when loneliness and the weight of the season hit hard. That contrast really stayed with me. This year, I decided to write a song for those who might feel alone, to remind them they’re not. That’s how “You Won’t Be Alone This Christmas” came to be. It’s more than just a festive pop tune—I wanted it to carry a message of hope and encouragement. This song means a lot to me because it’s a way to share a little Christmas cheer while reminding myself and others that no matter what, we should hold on to hope. Read more>>
Cedric Israel
As an independent creative I work with many independent artists and writers. I love writing and producing music for artists who are leveling up and taking major steps forward. I’ve had the chance of working alongside many talented rising artists such as Emma James and McKenna Faith Winters. Check them out, they are outstanding and have a bright future. There is one song in particular that I wrote a few years back that was very, very meaningful to me. During the fall of 2021 my family was in the process of making the move from Texas to Nashville and it was a high stress as we were getting our house ready to sell and trying to purchase a new house in the crazy Nashville real estate market. One Thursday night my family (my wife, son, and my parents) and I were having dinner. I looked across the table and saw that my father was motioning like he was trying to talk but no words were coming out, only mumbles. Read more>>
Cristina Cotruta
One of the greatest advantages of my profession is the opportunity to work on a wide variety of creative projects, each unique and special in its own way. While it’s incredibly difficult to choose just one project that stands out, I would say that the most formative for me as an architect was the first large-scale professional project I worked on after earning my bachelor’s degree: the design of a new penitentiary in Chisinau, Moldova. This project was a collaborative effort between the Moldovan government, Dutch engineering partners, and financial support from the Council of Europe Development Bank (CEB). It was significant not only for its complexity but also for its mission to address systemic challenges in the country’s prison infrastructure. Its importance lay in its impact—delivering a modern, humane facility that met European standards and marked a pivotal step forward for Moldova’s justice system. Read more>>
Kevin Francis O’gara
The most meaningful project I’ve worked on is undoubtedly my first area rug collection, the Labyrinth Collection. Inspired by a trip to France I took when I was young, this collection is deeply personal and represents the foundation of Kevin Francis Design. While exploring the historic hedge mazes of a French château, I was captivated by the intricate patterns, the sense of discovery, and the connection to nature’s quiet elegance. This experience sparked a vision to translate those timeless, labyrinth designs into handmade wool rugs that fuse my passions for travel, history, and nature. Launching this collection at 18 was more than just the beginning of my career; it was a testament to the values that continue to shape my design practice—crafting pieces that tell stories, evoke wonder, and stand the test of time. Read more>>
Jessica Barfield Graham
During the peak of the pandemic, my husband and I decided to create a promotional video to highlight all the wonderful contributions the people of Mebane, NC were making within the community. The community came together to help each other by making and distributing free masks or by sharing food with those in need. The people of Mebane showed true camaraderie during a difficult time. We approached some of the small businesses in town and the town councilman, Sean Ewing, to participate in our project. After releasing this video onto social media, it gained attention from WRAL, which extended an opportunity for us to broadcast it. As a newly established small business, we did not have designated funding for broadcasting media. After several weeks of seeking financial backing for the broadcast followed by a GoFundMe kickstarter, we raised the minimal funds required for a short-term broadcast of our commercial. Read more>>
Cass Reinhardt
The most meaningful project I have worked on is my upcoming EP “In The Safety of My Room”. In August 2023 I moved to New York City to pursue a career in songwriting and producing and attended Berklee NYC’s masters program in songwriting and production. I wrote and produced this EP throughout my time at Berklee, and this record captures a period of significant growth and creativity. For me, music has always been personal and songwriting has been a way to express myself and my feelings. This project challenged me to take the songs I was writing and produce them in a way that supported the story. This EP is titled “In The Safety of My Room” because my bedroom is my therapeutic space and where most of my songwriting takes place. My room has always been a space where I can be emotionally vulnerable and let out how I’m feeling, and each song in this EP was written in the safety of my room<3 Read more>>
Shubham Rajpal
The most meaningful project I’ve had the privilege of working on is ‘Words of Pride’, a powerful docuseries produced by Star Hopper Productions in collaboration with Disney Star. It was one of my first opportunities to step into the role of Production Designer, and it remains incredibly close to my heart. The series explores the stories of multiple queer individuals and couples across India, each navigating their unique journeys of identity, self-expression, and the challenges posed by a lack of inclusive vocabulary in Indian languages for the queer community. These interviews delve into how the absence of appropriate words impacts communication, acceptance, and belonging. It’s a poignant and socially significant initiative, and I’m proud to have been a part of it. Read more>>
Simeon Hall Jr.
The most meaningful project I have worked on is Season 2 of The Caribbean Cookout Show of which I was the Casting and Talent Director. It is a Miami-based project that highlights the diversity and similarities of the rich food culture of The Caribbean. I was a featured chef in season 1 but in Season 2 I was tasked with finding and preparing the chefs that appeared. That in itself was a huge task but the reward of being nominated for an Emmy certainly made it worth it. I have always been a polymath in my approach to food culture and hospitality but with this recognition, we continue to build up accolades in and out of the kitchen. Read more>>
Del Kary
I’d say my most meaningful project, so far, is my latest movie, ‘Cheater, Cheater’. It started out from a Facebook post asking if any writers had ideas or stories that they might be interested in collaborating on and an independent author named Scott Donnelly contacted me about a book he had written titled ‘Cheater, Cheater’. He sent me the book and I couldn’t put it down. I instantly could see certain scenes playing out in my head on the big screen. So after getting the ok from Scott, I wrote the screenplay based off his novel, and began scouting shooting locations and auditioning actors. The movie was being shot on an IPhone 12 Pro Max and we were filming for a few months, but had to stop production due to the fact that I needed two more actors casted before we could continue. Read more>>
Christi Bertelsen
I am working on my graduate thesis film for the Master’s in Directing program at the School of Visual Arts, under the instruction of Bob Giraldi. We students are tasked with creating festival-worthy short films, supported by a professional cast and crew. My project, Two Socks, is a unique blend of live-action, puppetry, stop-motion, and traditional animation, inspired by my time doing laundry in a New York laundromat. The story follows a pair of living socks—Loafer and Derby—who are tragically separated in a laundromat and end up in the wardrobes of two strangers. In their quest to reunite, will these cotton soulmates bring together very human ones? The film, along with the street art I’m creating throughout the city, explores themes of absence, rediscovery, connection, love, and destiny, focusing on the overlooked and forgotten, while possibly finding love in unexpected places. Read more>>
Brianna Campbell
The most meaningful project I’ve worked on is two parts. The first part being the journey and creation of my professional contemporary dance company “STYX The Company”. Having the ability and confidence to start the process and have the foundation to create an artistic company was hard. It started with me finding a co-director for the company to help with the work load and creative direction. Then came the audition for the company. I had established my name here as a choreographer in Miami for about 2 years, so fortunately we had an incredible turnout at the audition. From there we needed to fundraise and obtain non-profit status (501c3 status). That’s a mountain in itself to get ahold of. From there we started training the company, holding rehearsals, and putting on professional contemporary shows around South Florida and South Carolina. The first year was an incredible success which my intellectual side perceived to be a failure while my heart and soul knew that this was going to be the best decision of my life. Fast forward about a year and a half and now I have produced, directed, and choreographed by very own show, “The Teller”. Read more>>
Chris Calogero
The most meaningful project I’ve worked on has been my debut stand-up comedy album, “Husky Boy”. There are so many obvious reasons why recording and releasing a comedy album would be meaningful but beyond those surface-level ideas, the album is my proof of comedy life. I believe that “Husky Boy” stands as a testament to not just my years in comedy, but to the fact that I found my way forward in the world of performing despite a series of setbacks, some self-imposed and others thrown at me by life. There was a time when I could very easily have given up on doing this thing that I love, it would have been easy to throw in the towel, but I found my way forward. I had begun to succumb to the bitterness that can envelop a performer when they don’t get the things they want out of their art form, milestones that act as recognition seemed so out of reach to me. Read more>>
Karen Smith
Upcycled Collective by Sizzle Arts The Upcycled Collective program by Sizzle Arts goal is to foster a sustainable fashion ecosystem that inspires and empowers creativity. Through the art of upcycling, the program seeks to reduce waste, raise environmental awareness, and promote a culture of sustainability. By supporting designers and artists to reimagine and repurpose materials, Upcycled Collective aims to drive innovative solutions for climate action while building a community dedicated to eco-conscious living. The initiative provides resources, platforms, and opportunities for collaboration, culminating in creative presentations such as Upcycle Fashion Week, to spotlight the transformative power of sustainable design. Read more>>
Jeff Petescia
I’ve been lucky to work on a number of projects in my career, and the most meaningful has been my band, Cold Weather Company. We are an independent alternative folk trio of singer-songwriters who connected and officially formed in college. I met my bandmate, Brian Curry, serendipitously on a park bench, and my other bandmate, Steve Shimchick, through the open mic scene. As I write this, we are in the process of finalizing our fifth album in our eleventh year together. Cold Weather Company is a creative outlet for me unlike any other. It surfaces a unique approach to my usual songwriting style, and time seems to disappear as we improvise in new territories and take a sonic canvas from blank to full. Creating music in this band is meditative, and it feels wonderful to be part of something greater— something that always outweighs the occasional band disagreement, and it is a privilege to hold one-third of the responsibility representing our collective brand. Cold Weather Company has been a vehicle of life lessons and connections, and a launching pad for personal and professional growth. We crossed the bridge from kid to adult in this band, and through it we continue to grow into better musicians and people. Read more>>
Zach Coffman
Working on our debut EP titled Cross In The Field Where The Memory Bleeds was very meaningful to the band. Zach Coffman used to share the stage and musical ideas with his older brother Christopher Coffman. Christopher Coffman who was in the band unfortunately lost his life in 2022. The EP is a tribute to him and goes into some of the most vulnerable writing Zach has done. Christopher also plays on the EP. Thankfully we recorded a solo he wrote for our song “Why?” Before he died. Now, we all play in his name. We want to do this for him. Zach still writes music regarding his older brother’s death. And now with the addition of his younger brother Sam Coffman on drums. The band is no complete and at every show they always pay tribute and honor to their older brother Christopher and always provide a way to relate to others who have struggled with the same issue of loss. Read more>>