Coming soon

Our global theme for August is RITUAL.

It was chosen by our Charlottesville chapter in Virginia and illustrated by Matt Smithson.

Rituals add meaning and a deeper sense of connection to our lives. They allow us to practice mindfulness and reflection. Unlike our daily routine and habits, rituals have the power to inspire us. 

Brushing your teeth is routine. Going for a morning walk would be a good habit. And writing a gratitude journal could become your morning ritual. The key is to act with intentionality. 

Our CreativeMornings events have their own rituals. Getting a cup of coffee creates an opportunity to say hello to someone new while you wait your turn in line. Reading our manifesto out loud reinforces our beliefs that everyone is creative and everyone is welcome. 

What rituals do you practice in your relationships, your spirituality, and your creative work? How do they heighten your sense of purpose and belonging in this world? 

Meet us at Studio Two Three on August 16 to explore this theme together. Tickets go live on Monday, August 12 at 8:04am. See you there!

PATTERN | JUNE 2024

Burt Pinnock’s inspiring talk explored the CreativeMornings global theme Pattern by “Telling Yesterday’s Story to prevent Tomorrow’s Mistakes”.

• Venue Arts & Letters
• Videography  Double Take
• Photos Jacqui De Pas
• Full PATTERN Album Here

Thank you to our partners at Frontier, Martin, Worth Higgins & Associates, Lavender Hill, The Anderson Accounting & Advising Group for keeping this engine going.

Learn more about the Shockoe Project at theshockoeproject.com and catch the full talk HERE.

Our theme for June is PATTERN. It was chosen by our Chennai chapter and illustrated by Nishant Saldanha.

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 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?

Join us at Arts & Letters on Friday, June 21 as Burt Pinnock talks to us about global patterns of the evolution of a culture, which has become the focus of his current work. Learn more about Burt here.

See you soon!

VIBRANT | MAY 2024

ALLISON MACKEY & THE CONFETTI MARKET COLLECTIVE

“Vibrant” was our CreativeMornings’ global theme and our creative panel of colorfully joyful artists certainly left us with dynamic thoughts! Visit them and their work at popofconfetti.com.

Thanks again to Frontier and Martin for keeping our joyful mood going this month!

• Venue: Martin Agency
• Videography  Antoine Robertson, @Christversal
• Photos Jacqui De Pas
• Full VIBRANT Album Here

Thank you to our In-kind partners:  Worth Higgins & Associates, Lavender Hill, The Anderson Accounting & Advising Group.

Catch the full conversation HERE.

Our theme for May is VIBRANT. 

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.

SPICY | ASHTON CARTER | APRIL 2024

April’s global theme was Spicy and Chef Ashton Carter of Celeste Farms certainly brought the heat. With spicy chicken nuggets from McDonaldsRVA (thanks TFB Agency!) and a Spicy “taste-buds” game, we celebrated the spicy creativity around us all.

Thank you Frontier and Martin for your continued support.

• Venue: Studio Two Three
• Videography  Antoine Robertson, @Christversal
• Photos Jacqui De Pas
• Full SPICY Album Here

Thank you to our In-kind partners:  Worth Higgins & Associates, Lavender Hill, The Anderson Accounting & Advising Group and DJ Anthony Bryant.

Revist the full talk HERE.

Our global 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. Follow along here.

PERSPECTIVE | KEITH RAMSEY | MARCH 2024

Keith Ramsey shared his perspective on the global theme of perspective with us this March using the tools of his shop and vast imagination. Learn more about Keith here: ramseyartworks.com

Thank you Frontier and new partners at Martin for keeping our engine of creativity going.

• Venue: Martin
• Videography  Antoine Robertson, @Christversal
• Photos Ayasha Sledge
• Full RISE Album Here

Special thanks our In-kind partners:  Worth Higgins & Associates, Lavender Hill, The Anderson Accounting & Advising Group.

Be sure to watch the full talk HERE.

MARCH -> PERSPECTIVE

Our global 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 14th 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.

Mark your calendars for Friday, March 15 and join your favorite morning people at Martin (106 Shockoe Slip) to talk about this month’s theme with a local creative and an interesting perspective.

NATIVE | Dr. Ram Bhagat | February 2024

“…The time has come, for us to work together, to make our world better.” Dr. Ram Bhagat is an educator, art innovator, international conflict resolution trainer, peace keeper and a community healer.

This February, Dr. B took us through his painful, yet fruitful, native journey. The loss of his brother in the 90s led to the organizing of a percussion ensemble called “Drums, No Guns” that has now become the Drums, No Guns Foundation - helping families of youth affected by gun violence.

NATIVE is a generative, transformative force. It takes us all connecting to NATIVE life to move forward as one:

N - Nomenclature
A - Ancestral Healing
T - Transformative Power of Story
I - Intuition, Imagination, Illumination
V - Veracity & Vulnerability
E - Emergent Ecosystems

Thank you to our partners at Frontier and Martin for the continued support that keeps us creative and inspired monthly.

• Venue: Chapel Scott’s Addition
• Videography  Toine Robertson of Christversal
• Photos Ayasha Sledge of Divine by Design Image
• Full NATIVE Album Here

Special thanks our In-kind partners this February:  Worth Higgins & Associates, Lavender Hill, The Anderson Accounting & Advising Group and the creative team at Chapel-Scott’s Addition.

Stay tuned for the full talk, captured by @Christversal, posting HERE.