The Joy & Creativity Collective: May Gathering

Join us monthly to make art, find humor in darkness, and remember that creativity is resistance.

The Joy & Creativity Collective is a monthly gathering for collagers, doodlers, painters, poets, comedians, djs and anyone who wants to reconnect with the part of themselves that creates, imagines and plays. We meet once a month, share food and drinks, and make things together.

In the beginning of each month we send out a creative prompt: something to make, document, or explore . People bring what they've been working on, finish things, start new ones, and share what came out of it. The prompts are a jumping off point, not a rule. The idea is to inspire and incentivize creativity and have some fun sharing and creating together.

This Month's Theme: CELEBRATION

It's spring. The light is back. The sun is out. It's time to gather together, make things, dance, sing, laugh, and celebrate.

This month's prompt is CELEBRATION and we mean that as broadly as you want to take it. Throw an actual party in May and document it. Make a piece of art using your medium of choice that captures what celebration looks and feels like to you. Write a poem or a song. Explore what it means to mark a moment, to say this mattered, to gather people together just because, to celebrate being alive.

Some directions to explore (optional):

• Document a celebration you throw, host, or crash this month
• Make art that captures a feeling of festivity, abundance, or marking time
• Create something that invites others to celebrate with you
• Explore celebratory rituals (food, music, dancing)
• Honor something or someone who deserves it

Formats can include (but aren't limited to):

• Photography or a photo series
• Collage or mixed media
• Music, playlist, or sound piece
• Food or a recipe with a story
• A zine, card, or invitation
• Decorations, banners, party objects made by hand
• Writing — a toast, a letter, a poem for a specific occasion

This month's guest: DJ NotNxrmal

We're joined by DJ NotNxrmal, who will talk about how he uses music to pull people together and create space for celebration even when the world gives you plenty of reasons not to. He'll give a short DJ’ing Demo & then spin a set he's put together specifically for our collective while we make things together. (song requests accepted!)

What to bring:

• Your creation inspired by the prompt (in whatever state it's in)
• Materials for you to create/play and build on your project or start a new one! (scissors, glue, art supplies, collage materials...)
• Your curious, creative self
• Friends who want to join!

New to the group? You're welcome here. You don't need to have attended previous events or completed the prompt to join us. Come make something with us.

This is a Big Hope Project Learning Series. To learn more about The Big Hope Project, click here. Can't make it this time, but want to receive updates about future events? Sign up here for our email list.

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Host or Publisher The Big Hope Project