Art + Afterlife: Exploring Death Through Art + Conversation

Name: Art + Afterlife: Exploring Death Through Art + Conversation
Start: 2025-03-21T17:00:00-04:00
Location: Ypsilanti Freight House

Schedule

Fri, 21 Mar, 2025 at 05:00 pm

UTC-04:00

Location

Ypsilanti Freight House | Ypsilanti, MI

Art + Afterlife invites you to explore the often-taboo themes of death and grief through creative expression and open conversation. Join us for an evening of art sharing, music, poetry, and free-flowing discussions that encourage us to confront mortality and embrace the beauty and complexity of life's end. This event welcomes everyone, whether you're an artist, a curious soul, or simply seeking a safe and supportive space to connect with others on this often-avoided topic. You do not need to bring art to participate. Come as you are, ready to listen, share, and connect.
Hosted by: The Michigan Deathcare Collaborative & Holy Bones
Location: Ypsilanti Freighthouse
Date: Friday, March 21st
Time: 5:00 PM - 8:45 PM
WHAT TO EXPECT:
5:00 PM - 5:30 PM: Welcome & Meet & Greet: We'll begin with a welcome and meet & greet, giving you a chance to settle in, grab a seat, and connect with fellow attendees. If you'd like to share your art, music, poetry, or other creative work related to death and grief, you can sign up during this time.
5:30 PM - 6:00 PM: Group Introduction: We'll gather for a group introduction where attendees and facilitators will briefly introduce themselves and share their reasons for attending. This helps create a sense of community and sets the stage for open and honest dialogue.
6:00 PM onwards: Art Sharing & Beyond: The heart of the evening will feature art sharing, where participants who signed up will have a short time slot (approximately 2 minutes) to present their creative work. This can be anything from a finished piece of art to a work in progress, a song, a poem, or any other form of creative expression that resonates with the themes of death and grief. Sharing is encouraged but not required – listening and appreciating are equally valuable contributions.
Following art sharing, we'll break into smaller groups for open-ended discussions. These breakout sessions will provide a more intimate setting for deeper conversations about death and grief, allowing natural conversation to flow organically. Specific topics may emerge within the groups, fostering thoughtful reflection and sharing.
We'll then come back together as a larger group for a brief summary of the evening and any key takeaways. This offers an opportunity to reflect on what we've heard and experienced.
The evening will conclude with an open time for mingling and informal conversation. This is a chance to connect with others on a more personal level, share resources, or simply enjoy the company of like-minded individuals.
We look forward to sharing this special evening with you.