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. To infuse it with beauty, meaning, and possibility. And 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 is easy to get lost in everything that is broken. To feel 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.
I believe that creativity and community should be inseparable. That when artists come together, share knowledge, and support each other, we all benefit. We have to actively curate the kind of community we long for. That means meeting our neighbors. Showing up for local events. 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.
Alchemizing frustration into purpose. Sharing resources. Offering encouragement. Recommending an artist for an opportunity. Talking openly about pricing and contracts. 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. It is a time to create boldly, to build bridges, to amplify voices, and illuminate the path forward.
This is when we shine.
xoxo
Alexandra Smith