When we share our creative pursuits, whether to embody the whimsical or the darker aspects of this thing we call life, we offer more than just our perspective. We invite others to connect with us and understand our viewpoint. How they then build on that – whether it’s changed a deeply held belief or inspired their own invention – is not something we influence, only encourage.
This exposure can feel intimidating, especially given the possibility of rejection or ridicule. But without people of all backgrounds taking the chance, we’d never be able to move forward. The dynamic nature of the creative process drives an outcome worth celebrating. We can only manifest what we put out there.
When we tap into our collective creativity, we witness a multitude of exponential effects. The beauty of affirming and elevating individual experiences can morph into profound community transformation. We make sense of morals and values in the stories we perform. We develop solutions by looking at patterns and sequences in nature – asking others if they see the same, often reaching across generations.
One of our favorite examples of the whimsical side of this is HITRECORD, started by Joseph Gordon-Levitt. The platform allows artists across any medium to share their work and build on others’ contributions. For example, someone posts lyrics. Then, someone else illustrates them. Yet another person puts it to music. And then the illustrations get animated. What began as words on paper has become an interactive music video.
Without the vulnerability to let others interpret their art and the humility to relinquish control over how those interpretations manifest, these artists would still produce beautiful pieces (the song above is a wonderful tribute to our universe without additional embellishments). However, with the added layers of imagination from peers just as invested in the outcome, the pieces become more than beautiful. They become imposing, illustrative, and profound.
We do not believe we will achieve equity at scale if we keep things to ourselves. This includes not only physical resources but also our ideas and innovations. As we enter a new year, we’re committed to continuing to build our community connections and share our work from the inside out. Whatever the ultimate impact is, we know it will be stronger because it’ll come from all of us.
