Lighting the Path

We each have the ability to bring creativity and connection into the spaces we occupy. We have the capacity to shape the world around us and infuse it with beauty, meaning, and possibility. And as artists, regardless of whether we paint, write, sculpt, dance, or design, we each have a superpower: the ability to illuminate.

Despair is a trap that paralyzes us, conditioning us to believe we are powerless. It's easy to get lost in all that is broken, overwhelmed by the sheer weight of it. But art teaches us that transformation is always possible. With intention and action, we (the creators, architects, and dreamers) can turn raw materials into something new.

Artwork by Pam Imhof in Luminous Lane

I believe that creativity and community should be inseparable. And that when artists come together, share knowledge, and support each other, we all benefit.

It's up to us actively curate the kind of community we long for. That means meeting our neighbors. Showing up for local events and supporting the museums, galleries, and artist studios that sustain us. It means advocating for opportunities, funding, and policies that recognize the value of creative work.

The Light Factory

We can alchemize frustration into purpose. So, let's share resources, offer encouragement, and speak the names of artists when they aren't in the room. Let's talk openly about pricing and contracts. And let's help each other navigate the mind-numbing, insomnia-inducing complexities of making a living through art. We are not alone.

This is not a time for smallness. It is not a time to shrink or to dim ourselves. This is our moment to create boldly, amplify voices, and light the path forward.

This is when we shine.

xoxo

Alexandra Smith