January’s theme is SURREAL

When you look at the artwork of Frida Kahlo or Salvador Dalí, there’s an element of surprise. Why does it feel familiar yet also otherworldly?

Surrealists sought to break free from the shackles of the rational mind and dive into the deep end of the unconscious. The canvas, then, became a mirror for what emerged out of that process. This movement was inspired by events in the 1920s on the heels of the first world war and continues to influence artists, writers, photographers, and filmmakers. This cultural and artistic movement ushered in new techniques that helped humans expand their minds.

Today, we recognize a sense of the surreal in unexpected moments in daily life. Art exhibits like Yayoi Kusama’s Infinity Room are becoming readily available, encouraging people to immerse themselves in experiences that break reality. A ballet performance or a silent meditation retreat can be a dreamlike experience.

Whether we experience a surreal moment or dabble in processes like drawing without thinking or writing without self-editing, there’s something to be learned about ourselves and what lingers under the hood of our desires to keep life orderly and controlled.

Happy New Year! Our Brussels chapter chose this month’s exploration of Surreal and Charlotte Dumortier illustrated the theme. SURREAL is presented globally this month by WordPress.com.

2018 NYC Performances

A big thank you to our talented NYC artists having the courage to wake up super early and sing/dance/perform their hearts out on the CreativeMornings stage. Watch all of their performances below or nominate a performer/musician for 2019.

Traditions are sacred because they cultivate consistency and a sense of belonging. It’s the bread and butter for fostering connection and community.

We’re in a time where traditions are being challenged and remixed. We question how they came to be and the context in how (or if) they fit into the future.

“This is just the way it is” is a statement of fear, not possibility. It undermines the human capacity to adapt and create change. Traditions are made by us, for us, so therefore they can be reinvented with intention and imagination.

You may not start the next national holiday, but you can bring to the table your generosity, your kindness, your vision and heart to create a more welcoming future.

Our Barranquilla chapter chose this month’s exploration of Tradition and Andres Manjarres Felfle illustrated the theme.

A note from a CreativeMornings videographer:

Six years ago, I was living in a small town in Pennsylvania. At a crossroads in my career, I was working random jobs while trying to fund my new production company. It was a great start, but I knew I was steadily outgrowing my hometown. That’s about the time CreativeMornings came into my life and set me in a promising direction.

The year was 2012. I was asked to develop a video intro for CreativeMornings’ flagship chapter in Brooklyn. It was exciting because I knew I was going to make something great. You know that buzzing feeling you get when a great idea lives inside anxiously waiting to transform into living art in the outside world? I submitted the intro and received the best feedback- Tina dancing around her co-working studio singing, “It’s just what I wanted!” What an amazing feeling to know my work had the ability to move people, literally!

I started filming and editing CreativeMornings NYC talks that March. Since I was living in a different state, I often hit the road no later than 5am in order to arrive on time. I did this for 4 years- roughly 50 events. These Friday gatherings became my sacred ritual. Designers, authors, illustrators, inventors…taking the stage to give US, the creative community, their inside scoop for FREE. Here, behind the camera, I was capturing this generous contribution and allowing it to be shared to thousands more. It’s been an absolute honor to document these individuals that dedicate themselves to art.

Not only was I taking in information from many creatives I looked up to, I learned even more about my own craft. Sometimes, the audio wasn’t working properly, or the lights didn’t turn on. Every venue possessed a unique set of challenges to work around, and I lived for it. I gained more and more confidence with each passing lecture and location.

Smash cut to present day. Much has changed. CreativeMornings has grown from a handful of chapters to nearly 200 chapters world-wide. Incredible! I live in Brooklyn with my soul person and an awesome dog. Amazing! I have a handful of repeat clients I met during lectures and a production company that continues to expand in the types of video projects offered. Exciting! CM helped push me in the right direction, and I’ll always be grateful for that.

I filmed my final CM talk in June. The host was the insanely talented doodle artist, Jon Burgerman. This was the perfect last event to be a part of, and I was given a spectacular reverse wave pointing towards me in the back of the room. Much appreciated, Tina and audience.

I learned so much these past six years. I was inspired, energized, and often, deeply moved. It has made my dream of commercial and documentary filmmaking a tangible thing. I couldn’t resist the idea of surprising CM HQ with a top ten video of my favorite moments in this wonderful community.

Today, I’m keeping busy with freelance video projects. A short film about my dad’s rubber band-powered airplane hobby is launching soon, and I’m in the developing stages of a short documentary series touching on a personal subject. Tina and her team often refer to CreativeMornings as an engine of generosity. Your generosity would be greatly appreciated if you or someone you know is ever in need of a filmmaking team for event, commercial, or documentary work.

Thanks again CreativeMornings! You’ll always be a part of my NYC family.

You can reach out to Ben Hallman and see his work at hallmanproductions.com

November's theme is RESTART

I need to disconnect. There's too much noise in my head. I am burning out. I need space to rethink everything. I need a hard reset.

Exhaustion is like dehydration—when you feel it, you've gone too far.

So we finally cave in and heed the words of people who've found their centers again: take a trip into nature, go for walks, unplug completely.

The challenge with restarting is that we often save it for the end rather than creating pockets throughout our weeks where we prioritize reflection and solitude.

Restarting is essential. It’s a way to digest experiences, reflect and cultivate self-awareness, and remind ourselves that life is to be enjoyed. It's refreshing and feeds greater intention and momentum into our creative endeavors.

If you find yourself feeling like you're on a treadmill with an invisible hand increasing the velocity, remind yourself: only you have the power to get off and recalibrate.

This month's global exploration of Restart was chosen by the Cologne chapter chose this month’s exploration of Restart, illustrated by Marie Maerz, and is being presented globally by Adobe.

October's theme is HONESTY

Honesty is the currency for connection. It’s a gift we give to each other that strengthens bonds and deepens relationships.

Honesty is a practice where we start from the heart.

Being honest isn’t always easy and being honest all of the time is impractical. Giving honest feedback or sharing our opinions requires sensitivity to the context and meeting others where they are—with kindness and empathy.

Honesty is about providing the information that you would want if you were in a similar situation.

Another way to look at honesty: it’s a flower born out of the soil of trust, connection, and conversations. The more we nurture conversations that breed trust and forge a connection, the more honesty becomes baked into the way we lead our lives.

This month's global exploration of Honesty was chosen by our Cardiff chapter and illustrated by James Lewis.

September is CHAOS

This month’s global exploration of Chaos was presented globally by MailChimp. It was chosen by our Tijuana chapter, and illustrated by ERABOY.

Special Thanks:

Shannon Lee: We’re inspired by Shannon’s resilience, wisdom, and vulnerability. When you think about the chaos that’s in your life, remember Shannon’s mindset on finding opportunity in chaos to expand your awareness and as a practice for finding your center.  We cannot avoid chaos—it’s a note in the rhythm of life—but what we can do is tell ourselves a different story about it. As Shannon said, “True stillness is stillness in movement.” Photo by Paul Jun. 

Small Planet

BrainStation

The Assemblage

Irving Farm 

Thank you to our local partners for August's COMMUNITY!

Small Planet is a digital product studio based in Brooklyn. They’ve designed and delivered over 90 successful applications and hundreds of updates across multiple platforms, including many award-winning iOS and Android apps. In our new Machine Learning Lab they work on all things VR, AR, and blockchain, plus other fun stuff which is totally work-related.

BrainStation is a global leader in digital skills training, empowering over 50,000 individuals and some of the largest corporations in the world with the skills to succeed in the digital age. 

The 2018 Digital Skills Survey

As the digital economy continues to grow, entire industries are transforming, creating a demand for digital skills that is outpacing the workforce.

To help close this skills gap, BrainStation is surveying more than 150,000 professionals and industry leaders to identify shifts and trends in the digital sector, and to better understand the day-to-day work experience of digital professionals.

Host a FieldTrip! 🎒

We’re bringing back FieldTrips to New York this summer!

We’re looking for CreativeMornings community members in the New York City area interested in hosting FieldTrips. Whether it’s hosting a photo walk, a hand-lettering workshop, or comparing Adobe Illustrator tips & tricks, we’d love for you to consider sharing your creative talent with other morning people.

FieldTrips are meetups to interact, learn and collaborate in an effort to level-up your creative life. Built on top of our monthly talks, FieldTrips are community-organized events built on the spirit of generosity that have powered CreativeMornings events for the past 10 years.

We’re pleased to present FieldTrips in partnership with Adobe.

Interested in hosting a FieldTrip?

Apply to host

Hey community, it’s your turn!

We invite you to the CreativeMornings stage on Friday, August 10, 2018 to speak for seven minutes on the topic of community! This is the global theme for August and CreativeMornings speakers around the world will also be interpreting this concept on stage. If chosen, your talk will be in good company in our robust video archive.

Community is core to CreativeMornings’ being. It’s right there in our manifesto: We believe in the power of community. We believe in giving a damn. We believe in face-to-face connections, in learning from others, in hugs and high-fives.

A community is a group of people (or other creatures) united with a common thread: location, identity, interests, attitudes, beliefs, values, goals. This glue of shared motivations and geographies, both literal and metaphorical, gives shape to a collective power.

A colony of bees. A gaggle of geese. A tuxedo of penguins. Who makes up your herd, your pack, your tribe? To which clubs, organizations, neighborhood groups, community gardens, and subcultures do you belong? Where do you find solidarity? How has a community shaped your life or work? This is your chance to speak to the magic and meaning that can happen when people join together.

In the past, we’ve hosted a variety of speakers for Audience Takes the Stage. Michelle Poler talked about her project, 100 Days Without Fear. Designer and woodworker, Michael Yates, shared a moving story about building a wooden casket for his grandmother. Artist Erin Kim talked about defining herself on her own terms.
The deadline to apply is Friday, June 29 at 5pm EDT. We will announce the chosen speakers on Monday, July 16. (If chosen, you will get complimentary coaching before the big day.)

To apply, record a short video and submit here.

The stage is calling…