Can’t join us in person on June 21st? Watch the livestream!
Register on our livestream page to get the link.
Thanks to our partners MPB and Harvest. And special thanks to Newlab for hosting us.
Recognizing, forming, and breaking patterns are core components of creativity. Visuals, sounds, movements, and the passage of time all form patterns that shape our existence and our work.
Our Chennai chapter’s selection of this theme was inspired by the art form of kōlam; which features patterns of dots that are encircled or connected by straight and curved lines. These intricate, geometric designs are created on the thresholds and floors of houses, temples and businesses using rice flour. The practice is deeply rooted in South Indian culture to welcome guests into the home and bring good fortune and prosperity.
Traditionally created by women, our Chennai chapter shared that these beautiful designs are often created by family members and neighbors as a communal activity. Connections between people form patterns in our lives too.
Which patterns in your relationships, work, and habits are worth repeating? Which ones should be changed? What new pattern do you want to create?
(Photos via Wikipedia.)
Thanks to our partners MPB and Harvest. And special thanks to The New School for hosting us.
When was the last time you experienced something that made you feel more alive?
Heard a melody pulsing with a beat that made your body move. Taken in the view of a lush landscape or sparkling city skyline bursting with light and shadows. Locked eyes with a striking stranger. Poured yourself into prose that crackles off the page with electricity. Lost track of time in a conversation punctuated by spirited laughter. Stopped in your tracks in front of a canvas in a museum or a mural on the street with colors so bold and bright it popped from the paint straight into your synapses.
It might not happen every day. But you can live a life full of energy and enthusiasm. You can strive to bring brightness into every interaction.
Because our world is full of all kinds of vibrant masterpieces. And you are one of them.
Let’s bring more energy and brightness into our feeds with this month’s hashtag: #CMvibrant
This documentary, co-directed by our April speaker Pete Davis, is about community. Why you should join a club—and why the fate of America may depend on it.
Buy a ticket for just $12 and you can watch the film anytime during a 48-hour window before and after Friday’s event – starting at 6:00 p.m. EST on Thursday 25th and ending at 6:00 p.m. EST on Saturday 27th.
We want to make this amazing, impactful film accessible for as many people as possible, so we are also paying for 100 tickets on a first come, first-serve basis. Claim your pre-paid ticket at this link. (If you can afford to buy your own ticket, please save these “free” tickets for someone who could use a little help.)
Our theme for April is SPICY. It was chosen by our Tucson chapter and illustrated by Sophie McTear.
Oh yeah, that’s hot!
When you’re cooking, spices add flavor, depth, and complexity to an otherwise plain culinary dish. Spicy foods interact with receptors in our mouth and can trigger sensations of heat and even pain. Can you handle it? Being open to trying new and bold tastes is a good lesson for bringing daring and originality into all of our creative endeavors. As they say, “variety is the spice of life.”
Spicy can also be exciting and suggestive. A spicy comment or joke is provocative or controversial. Such “spicy takes” often challenge conventional beliefs and ignite strong, passionate reactions from people.
So, how can you make your work and approach to life spicier? Let’s bring the heat!
Add some spice to your feed with this month’s hashtag #CMspicy
Thanks to our partners MPB and Harvest. And special thanks to Asia Society New York for hosting us.
Our theme for March is PERSPECTIVE. It was chosen by our Fargo chapter and illustrated by Fred Gaye Wremeo.
Every creative act is an attempt to share a unique perspective on some slice of the world. What you see — and how you see it — shapes your beliefs. So, what’s your point of view? And how are you putting it into your work? What was the last piece of music, writing, illustration, or film that opened a new window on the world for you?
One of the most impactful artistic innovations was linear perspective; widely credited to Fillipo Brunelleschi in the early 15th century. This breakthrough enabled artists to create the illusion of three-dimensional space on a flat canvas, paving the way for the ornate art and architecture of the Renaissance. Today, it feels like we are at another precipice with AI generated images and video. We don’t know how this rapidly emerging artistic tech will shape our perspectives. The machine is already capable of evoking real emotions. But only we can understand those feelings.
Because seeing someone else’s point of view is uniquely human. Considering another perspective fosters empathy. And we all desperately need more empathy. Remember, looking at a problem from multiple angles generates more possible solutions. So, change your perspective and you can change your world.
Shift your perspective with this month’s hashtag: #CMperspective
Thanks to our partners MPB and Harvest. And special thanks to CUNY Graduate Center for hosting us.
