Staying Curious and Creative

Hello, Spring!

News & Updates

Notes from the Field: Living that Creative Life

Shannon here :) It’s been a minute since we checked in, but all good reasons for that. NCECA took over the city, and ceramics and promoting Clay Windows of Richmond during NCECA Week was Sylvia’s mission; and I had the opportunity to spend a week at the VCCA (Virginia Center for Creative Artists) as a fellow. Suffice it to say, March was a great time for both of us to remember what keeps us creative and sane. 

I’ve been thinking a lot about creativity and community lately. I’ve had some ongoing conversations with friends about our expectations for ourselves and our art, and our accountability to it (I’m intentionally saying “art” here rather than “work” because we have enough “work” in the world that doesn’t do what “art” does for us). 

A few things that keep bubbling up in these conversations: 

• I’ve been working on X for too long

• I need to make money from X

• I don’t have the support I need from my (friends) (spouse) (the arts community) (the world) 

• Is X even worthwhile?

• How can I get the world to care about X?

• How can I support myself doing X?

• If I can’t support myself doing X, is it even worth doing?

• And, the penultimate one, I’m too old to be doing X anymore.

There are a million ways we (and our society) can talk ourselves out of appreciating a creative life and I will not bother to list them here. Creativity goes a lot deeper than the “what” of the finished product, whether that’s a clay pot, a painting, or a novel. In my experience, it’s the practice of creativity, not the product that helps you feel connected to yourself. It doesn’t have to result in a six-figure book deal, or an exhibit at a fancy gallery (kudos to you if it has!). The “why” is what keeps us coming back.

“It’s the practice of creativity,
not the product that helps you feel connected to yourself.”
–Shannon

I’ve been taking art classes at the VMFA this last year, and the joy I feel from learning to draw and using pastels has been totally unexpected and needed.

Sylvia spends many hours a week at Clay Ground, learning new techniques and creating awesome pieces. Here’s a work-in-progress that’s she’s been coil building.

Sylvia didn't have plan going into this, but rather used her intuition and coils to build this piece, letting them fall organically into this shape. It just went into the bisque kiln! 🤞🏻🤞🏻

I think for both of us, what we enjoy the most, is meeting new people and being in that creative bubble for a chunk of the day.

There’s a great Elizabeth Gilbert quote about living a creative life, that it doesn’t necessarily have to produce anything at all, and it just has to be lived with a certain type of lens and curiosity:

 If you can just release yourself from the anxiety and burden that might be associated with the word “creativity,” because you’ve fallen for the myth that it only belongs to the special, the tormented and the professional, and you insert the word “curious,” you’ll see, in fact, that you are an enormously creative person, because all creativity begins with curiosity. 

Building and supporting community is part of our mission at Richmond Story House, and by staying curious, we’re finding lots of fun and interesting ways to do this. Last month, we were excited to sponsor Clay Windows of Richmond during NCECA Week and, through that, we got to connect with a lot of awesome local business owners and clay artists. Hearing their stories of why Richmond is a good place to live a creative life and then seeing it happen, not just in their work, but in how the community showed up to showcase their creations reminded me of why I enjoy living here, how small yet mighty our creative community is and how easy it can be to support one another and connect. 

We’re lucky to live in a city rich in places to explore your curiosity as an adult through taking classes or showing up to an event and meeting new people. It can be hard to stay in that fun and curious space as a grownup, but it is possible! We look forward to exploring this in upcoming Windows of Richmond podcasts, so if you have any folks you’d like to recommend, let us know! 

What places and spaces in Richmond spark your curiosity?

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Did you know we offer private workshops? Well, we do!

Sharing stories—whether written, oral, visual, performative, or a combination—can validate our unique voices, build bridges of understanding and empathy across differences, and serve as a catalyst for personal, community, and social change.

We offer single workshops (2 hours, 10 participants max) and multi-week workshops. Our core curriculum emphasizes guided conversations, self-reflection, reading, and writing/drawing prompts. 

Workshops are customizable to your organization’s needs, one size does not fit all!

Reach out if your organization is interested in using storytelling to engage and deepen connection. Spread the word!

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Week 4: How to Tell Better Non-fiction Stories

Building Block 4: Reflection

Looking back on this moment, what are your thoughts about it now? Did it shape you? Do you have a new perspective on it? What would the you of today say to the you in the story?

Ready to commit to telling your story? Become a paid subscriber for the full prompt and exercise and to share your writing with others in our community

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“We must recognize and nurture the creative parts of each other without always understanding what will be created.” ― Audre Lorde

S2R2

Sylvia & Shannon’s Resources and Recommendations

Sylvia: Ancestry.com (because family is full of stories; ask Sylvia about her great great grandmother, India!)

Shannon: Big Magic by Elizabeth Gilbert (see above :)

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Spotlight on Our Favorite Spaces & Places

VMFA Best Cafe

Shannon: This space has bottomless coffee for $3, tranquil views of the VMFA pond and garden (hint: get there at 10am for the best window seats). And, if you are a procrastinator like me or just need inspiration, excellent for eavesdropping, quiet galleries, and endless art is steps away.

Sylvia: After grabbing snacks at the cafe, I love to spread out a blanket on the grass and doodle my ideas with watercolor pencils.

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

8 out of 5 Stars for being the best BEST Cafe with inspiring views, sneaky eavesdropping, and endless coffee refills

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Community Thread

We’re building out our workshops for 2024 and need your help! What type of storytelling gatherings would you like to see? Something to spark creativity or help you get started with flash memoir? Virtual or in-person? Share below!