Creativity During a Dumpster Fire
If you’re feeling heavy these days because of, well [gestures grandly at the world around us], you are not alone.
It’s all so loud. The vicious name-calling. The “other”ing. The sweeping decisions being made that impact many and benefit the same few. The fear and despair and rage.
It’s enough to make you want to start a riot in the street one minute, and ostrich your head in the sand to protect your mental health in the next. Both are valid feelings.
While I won’t be the one to “should” all over you with preachy soundbites, I will offer some Mama Bear encouragement that you still have great gifts to share with the world. Dumpster fire as it may currently be.
“Well I know I want to do something, but what can I possibly do with my art that can make any sort of difference? Literally, what does it matter right now?”
It starts with a mindset shift.
Stay with me here: What if you started viewing your brand as an opportunity to affect some level of positive change? What if your success as a creative entrepreneur became an act of resistance?
Think about the pink cat knit beanies that became the uniform of the 2017 Women’s Marches in D.C. and across the world. One handmade item became a symbol of global solidarity for women’s reproductive rights.
Vast oceans of people showing up and speaking out - for themselves, loved ones, and strangers they’ll never meet.
That is the unifying power when creative thought intersects with a strong mission. And I believe you have this within you, too.
So if you are feeling a tug on your heart and a fire in your belly to do something, here are some ideas to kickstart the process of using your art as a platform to advocate for what you believe in:
Before anything else, really ask yourself: What do I give a shit about, truly? What lights a fire in me? What makes me want to show up in the street or open up my wallet? Spoiler alert: Only you can answer that for yourself.
Donate a portion of proceeds: Pick an organization with boots on the ground doing impactful work in alignment with something you wrote above. Maybe you start a capsule collection of shirts & stickers and a percentage of profits go directly towards that partnership. With Ana Apple, I formed a partnership with my local chapter of Big Brothers Big Sisters, since I was a former Big. Because I didn’t have the time to fully commit to being a mentor, the next best thing was helping to fund their mission.
Mama Bear Pro Tip: I encourage you to verify you are contributing to a legitimate non-profit organization by checking out give.org or CharityWatch.org. Make sure to get a donation letter with their 501c(3) number for tax purposes.
Teach what you know: In a time when resources are being stripped away for many, grassroots efforts are critical for sharing knowledge and keeping inspiration alive. Can you teach crochet at the after-school program of a title 1 school? Maybe you and a few friends volunteer at the women’s shelter, teaching them how to hem and mend clothing, or help them make a piece of jewelry that brings them confidence for a job interview.
Offer your skills & space for good cause: Does a small non-profit need flyers designed? Do you have studio space to host a poster-making party, or retail space to host a “write your Congressperson” gathering?
Source supplies from ethical companies: Amazon, Hobby Lobby, Home Depot and U-Line, among others, have business practices that are a hard pass for many. Audit where you are acquiring your supplies. If you find something out of alignment with your values, ask your network for alternatives.
Mama Bear Pro Tip: Co-Op that shit! Get together with other artists who might need similar supplies, and organize a group order to save on shipping or trigger discounts. Trade supplies no longer needed.
Share the work of artists taking a stand: Amplify the voices of those also using their work to create ripple effects. Do so without asking for or expecting anything in return. A rising tide lifts all ships.
Because at the end of the day, you are an artist because your medium is how you choose to express yourself. It’s the gift you have to make people feel things - joy, hope, anger, curiosity, calm. You never know when what seems like a small lift for you might become a lifeline for someone else.
I see you, brilliant human. Rest and unplug when you can, and then get back out there with that beautiful light, stronger than ever.