Creative Renewal Arts Fellowship

Eduardo Luna intended to use his Creative Renewal Arts Fellowship to learn how to build a shed in his yard, which he eventually ended up doing. But along the way life happened, and he found himself returning to a calming, simple activity that reminded him of childhood. In the middle of the fellowship, Luna’s father passed away, so Luna and his family traveled to Mexico to be with his mother. During the same time, his brother’s family was in a car accident that required Luna to take in his brother’s children, going from a house of four to seven. To cope with these intense life changes, Luna dedicated more time with family, and started walking in his neighborhood more. He would walk around and pick up small, sharp objects such as nails, screws, nuts, bolts, and coins. This walking practice took him from his neighborhood streets to other places in Indianapolis, especially empty parking lots. On his walks, he collected all kinds of small objects, which reminded him of his childhood–collecting shells at the beaches in Guerrero, Mexico. 

“The calming feeling that I got when I was exploring empty areas of town reminded me of the peace that I used to have while walking in the sand, but in Indiana asphalt. This Creative Renewal project encouraged me to explore other creative mediums, and to be more careful in how many projects I do in a year cycle, and to think more in a long-term process when I produce new projects.”

After a while of adjusting to these life changes, he decided to go back to his Creative Renewal project. After months of not having done anything for his original proposal he hired an artist friend, Brent Lehker, who is an experienced local fabricator. With his help, Luna was able to accomplish his proposed project and learn a few things of how to build things with his own hands. At the end of his Creative Renewal, two things were accomplished: a small structure to inhabit, and a habit of collecting Indiana’s asphalt metal shells.

“There were many big changes in my personal life during my Creative Renewal journey that made me change the way that I was doing things. Renewal means a change of priorities and letting go of creative practices that were no longer working, and to adapt to life changes. Renewal is also trying new things without the fear of failing at it. My renewal consisted of looking within and using the resources and knowledge acquired from living at a slower pace due to life events.”

For his Creative Renewal Arts Fellowship, Ronan Marra has been writing the first draft of his new play about gun violence and gun control, titled SAME TIME TOMORROW. For part of the process, Marra stayed at his best friend’s family property in Asheville, North Carolina. For a week, he wrote in an Airstream trailer located on the property that his friend had renovated into a small library.

“This process has renewed me in that it has been several years since I last wrote a play, which is really my main trade in theatre, even though I spend most of my time producing, directing and fundraising. It has also allowed me to explore more deeply my fear of and disgust with the American gun epidemic.”

As an arts administrator, Marra said it has been restorative to return to his playwriting roots and filter the last several years of reading, choosing, producing and directing plays through the lens of writing again. He used this time to explore trends and tendencies that he’s been seeing in new plays today and fusing them with what he’s always chosen to do. 

“As much as I put playwrights on a pedestal, this process re-confirmed my love of the form and difficulty of the task. My career and life have taken on a lot of new challenges in the past year, and I can’t speak enough about how having this opportunity has helped me through those challenges.”

After some hectic years pursuing her MFA and stepping in as Producing Director of Fonseca Theatre, Jordan Schwartz’s renewal process focused on reconnecting with loved ones. She visited her family in San Antonio, which she had been unable to do for over a decade, and visited her best friend who lives in London. These adventures yielded new sources of inspiration through enjoying delicious food, seeing incredible theatre, and exploring beautiful museums. She also used the Creative Renewal funds for a gym membership and spent some time in the pool, which was very restorative mentally and inspired her first painting in at least five years. She kept a journal to reflect on these experiences and found herself writing lists of all the things she felt were renewing–specific moments or experiences that felt particularly joyful. Ultimately, those lists and other scribbled thoughts helped her become more grounded in her work as an administrator and rekindle her passion for the arts as a vehicle for cultural expression and community building.

“Taking a step back to travel and taking care of my mind and body helped me realize that my career is a marathon, not a sprint. Slowing down helped me love my work again, serving as an important reminder to embrace where I am in both professional and personal life. Being an arts administrator means being an advocate for the arts. My Creative Renewal Arts Fellowship experience taught me that in order to continue being the best possible advocate for the arts, I have to make time to nurture my own creative passion so that I can share it with others.” 

Serving as an executive of an organization means there are a lot of not-so-inspiring days. However, the new perspective afforded to her by the Creative Renewal Arts Fellowship has shown her that the inspiring days are ultimately so much bigger and more important than the trivial stresses. It is deeply humbling to Schwartz that Fonseca Theatre Company has become such an important artistic home to so many artists in Indianapolis, and she will forever be grateful that this grant helped her see that impact so clearly. 

“Creative work can make up our community, self-expression, advocacy, and other key elements of our lives and identities. The total absence of our art can therefore be just as harmful as the long hours and sleepless nights, making it critical to find a sustainable balance. Through travel and spending time with loved ones, I was also reminded that new inspiration can come from anywhere–it is important to notice those moments and find a way to document them for your own joy. My mother was a photographer, so I found myself taking lots of pictures with this in mind. Through photography, I discovered that you cannot truly capture a memory or an object if you are not fully present and engaged. Renewal, I think, then also necessitates a focus on the present.”

Julia Whitehead centered her experience around exploring her religion, Judaism, studying it and researching the lives of Dennis and Sandy Sasso, a renowned rabbi couple. Whitehead traveled to Philadelphia and Washington D.C. with her family–they went to the National Jewish History Museum in Philadelphia, saw the Liberty Bell, hiked some of the Appalachian Trail and went to an NBA basketball game. Then, Whitehead embarked on what she calls the “renewal” part of her experience in Costa Rica, attending a yoga retreat with her friend and son. 

“I had not left the country for many years. I couldn’t even find my passport the night before the trip. It was crazy! But I did find it, and it helped me to both return to the world as a traveler and lover of other cultures that I was in my younger years and to see myself in a different way–a Jewish woman who does yoga.” 

The people who owned the yoga studio were Jewish. Whitehead says she had many great conversations and communal dinners during the retreat, and ended up doing some unexpected research on the trip. She explored Costa Rica through hikes, touring a volcano and national park, the beach, and more. The most important part of the trip that benefited Whitehead as an arts administrator was that she could think about other things she cares about and enjoy nature, culture, friends, and family. As the founder of the Kurt Vonnegut Museum and Library, most of Whitehead’s life is connected with the museum. Her trip to Costa Rica was life-changing. Yoga is now part of her wellness routine and the work she did studying Judaism led to her Bat Mitzvah. 

“Renewal now means making time for myself. Life is too short to put sixty hours a week into a job at the detriment of personal health and wellness, family, and friends. Lots of people say negative things about organized religion but there are many health and soul benefits to having a religious community. It is unfortunate when people turn religion into a power struggle or some other negative thing. My research into Judaism helped me to see how it fits in my life, while maintaining my interest in things like yoga, meditation, and humanism.” 

Ellie Garvey spent three weeks camping on the island of Kauai (the rainbow capital of the world), documenting my three young daughters as they attempted to hunt rainbows for her creative Renewal Arts Fellowship project. This trip was intended to give her inspiration for her retrospective process of writing and illustrating her second children’s book, entitled RAINBOW DETECTIVES. During the trip, they used an app called RainbowChase, designed by an Atmospheric Sciences professor from the University of Honolulu, to help us assess where, in relation to our location, we were most likely to see rainbows. But of the rainbows they saw, endearingly, Garvey says none were spotted with the help of the app. While on the trip, Garvey and her family also explored tropical flora, swam in the sea, indulged in leche ice cream, and opened themselves up to the mysteries of Polynesian lore. Three weeks of camping by the sea and getting feasted on by mosquitos created natural conflict for our ”characters,” Garvey says. There was crying, bickering, headaches, unexpected costs, conflicting expectations, injuries, rustic accommodations, and road weariness. But like in any good story, the struggles made their triumphs and ancillary discoveries all the richer. Garvey says she did not come away from her renewal trip feeling rested (haha), but rather that she had started something big.

“This was a watershed moment for me in my professional life. I was renewed in the sense that life as an artist won’t always be a double hustle (cramming studio hours in where I can get them, accepting the chasm between hours spent and commission earned). For me, the Creative Renewal Arts Fellowship  award has been my first big taste of prosperity and art together. It created a sense of thriving in my craft rather than just aspiring in my craft. I think this project will be a landmark event in my career.”

In Garvey’s retrospective work, she explored new mediums and expanded her work in scale to broaden her process experience. She learned how to paint in acrylics, and, she says, “I learned to paint like ME in acrylics.” Because of the Creative Renewal Arts Fellowship, she had time to do paintings she didn’t like, to try again, to keep going, and find herself in the work. This part of the journey was hard for Garvey as she was setting out to work bigger, get out of her comfort zone, and have more expansive process experiences. She says it took the whole fellowship term for her to catch the thread of painting in a way that excites her and still looks like her voice on the canvas.

“A lot happens in eighteen months. Looking back, I can see how a renewal process this long creates enough space to include struggle and the gains that come with growing from hardship and hard work. My perspective on renewal now isn’t just about a prestigious award and a sparkly month in paradise. It includes all the non-victories and ruined canvases along the way. It includes that swim in the creek at Ho’opi’i Falls after a whole-family meltdown and those sunrises on Anahola Beach after sandy, sleepless nights. Like in RAINBOW DETECTIVES, the renewal is not just in the rare rainbow sighting. It’s in the mana we choose to see and create all along the way.”

Manòn Voice apprenticed at two farms in California during the summer of 2023 that focused on organic farming, environmental sustainability, and Afro-Indigenous ways of growing food. Voice says she was transformed by this experience, exploring and reclaiming her agricultural heritage. Each day she’d rise early to work on the farm, make a communal lunch with the other farm workers using the harvest, and then get back to work on the farm. At the end of the day, they’d all gather and go down to the river to swim and be in kinship with the natural world and each other.

“There was no TV where I stayed. All of the amenities were outdoors–including shower, bathroom, kitchen, etc. And yet without internet, and other things most of us in the western world deem essential, I learned that our real needs are quite simple. I learned the value again of food, fellowship, and faith being central to what makes our lives worth living. It is here where I was able to reclaim my life’s vision for holistic reconciliation grounded in spirit and steeped in liberation, honoring my understanding of human connection with the natural world.”

Voice says the fellowship was a powerful catalyst–it offered much needed spiritual and emotional healing and renewal. As a multi-hyphenate artist, the past ten years of Voice’s life have been hustle and bustle. In the efforts to “make it” as an artist, she had to sacrifice a lot. As an artist, who is also a Black woman, she says she has experienced the trials and tribulations that come with systemic marginalization and oppression both in and out of the art world. Voice came back from her experience with the desire to integrate her experience and knowledge into new artistic mediums. She made a short film entitled Root Black that is focused on the African-American agrarian heritage and history alongside how Black farmers today are turning back to the land, reclaiming this heritage and dismantling systemic injustice and reclaiming food sovereignty. She is also working on a book of poetry, slated to be released this year, that includes these same themes. Additionally, she is a farming apprentice with Growing Places Indy and will be going to Cuba at the end of the year for an Afro-Indigenous farming workshop.

“While on my Creative Renewal journey, I found a lot of healing and nourishment while working with the soil. It helped me to reconnect with my roots and rediscover a beautiful harmony that was once my ancestral inheritance. In tending to the earth, I also tended to myself and I found that my body could belong to the land, healing the wounds of colonization, displacement, and personal trauma.”

Sherry Hong’s grant proposal aimed to connect the worlds of classic and modern luthiers, being most inspired by how modern worlds and historical worlds are simultaneously connected. She used the fellowship to acquire a carbon fiber violin that was made by Luis and Clark, a small, family-owned and run business based in Massachusetts. Luis Leguia, the inventor and designer of this model of instrument was inspired by fiberglass boats, because they are lighter, stronger, and more durable than wooden boats. This modern invention allows for performance in less than ideal conditions such as high humidity and temperature. In December of 2023, Hong was a featured soloist with the Indianapolis Symphony Orchestra in their annual Christmas and holiday presentation, Yuletide Celebration. The featured number was an arrangement of Vivaldi’s “Winter” from The Four Seasons, and ”Let It Go” from Disney’s Frozen. This fusion of a treasured classic composed in 1723 and modern hit released in 2013 provided the perfect platform to showcase the modern construction and interpretation of a traditional violin. Worlds collided on multiple levels, sharing joy connected across centuries.

“The experience of performing a newly arranged musical work that fuses 18th century and 21st century music on an instrument that connects the same centuries through craftsmanship and artistry provided such deep inspiration for the trip to Italy and exploration into Mantua and its luthiers. Upon stepping into the Teatro Bibiena, I was struck by how ornate and intimate the space was and how it likely inspired performances that could easily connect the performers and their patrons. This connection, through time and space, is at the crux of what it means to be an artist. To challenge, inspire, and connect through a shared experience can only serve to pay those experiences forward, in a myriad of applications and pathways. Whether it is a solo performance, busking on a cobblestone street, performing in a symphony orchestra, or even hearing the organist at your local church, that connection is what reminds us of our shared humanity and the power that can be derived from that recognition.”

She then travelled to Mantua, Italy, where her traditional violin was crafted by Camillo de Camilli in 1734. Though her attempts at connecting with current luthiers in Mantua fell through, she was able to wander the streets and explore the spaces and theatres where perhaps her instrument was played, specifically Mantua’s oldest theatre, Teatro Bibiena. She said a 13-year-old Mozart performed one of the first concerts in the theatre in early 1770 and the interior is strikingly beautiful. Hong says she would like to believe that her violin was able to make music in that space. To imagine its journey over the centuries, to being performed on a weekly basis on the Hilbert Circle Theatre stage is extraordinary. As she explored the city on foot, she was struck by the pace of life, deliberately relaxed to be able to enjoy all the sensory offerings.

“This journey has further inspired my interest into music and neuroscience, how the study of that relationship can improve our understanding of human behavior and mental illness, and how my own brain grooves had settled into a pattern that created an unknown obstacle to further inspiration. There is a feeling that parts of my brain are lighting up after years of settling into my job, that while wonderful, dulled my sense of intrigue and exploration.”

Clare Longendyke’s Creative Renewal Arts Fellowship took her to Bali, Indonesia in July 2023. After twelve hours in the recording studio completing her debut solo CD, she headed for the airport at midnight and spent thirty hours traveling, fully ready for a renewing experience even though she wanted nothing more but to go home and be in her bed. Taking one step after the other, tired and drained, she arrived at her destination in the dark, and fell asleep to the sound of frogs and the smell of magnolia flowers. Over the next two weeks, she participated in a musically intensive Balinese gamelan musical workshop that took her as far from the piano bench as she dreamed of going in order to seek creative renewal. 

“I learned new instruments that I never knew existed before my time in Bali. I was exposed to a teaching style that challenged me, but ultimately made me a better listener, observer, and musician. I learned a few words of Balinese, and made friends that I will not soon forget. My body relaxed and became flexible from sitting on the floor playing gamelan six hours a day. My mind was stress-free. I ate new foods, explored a completely foreign culture, saw sights that I could never have dreamed of, and immersed myself in a lifestyle that changed me indefinitely.”

Longendyke’s Creative Renewal Fellowship project helped her feel more artistically free as a performer and interpreter. It taught her about the value of making mistakes in order to freshen up the music and keep things light. She said it also reminded her that music making is a form of entertainment, to be enjoyed as the most natural expression of human feeling. The fellowship helped her aural skills and listening, rhythm, and introduced her to expanded musical harmonies in Eastern music. Lastly, and she says most valuable, is that it reminded her how important it is to take breaks, to seek renewal, and to let her mind and body rest. 

“By exploring an area of my own musical field that took me out of my routine—away from the piano, from reading music, from the rush of preparing concerts in short time spans, from extended piano techniques, from Western musical theory, harmony, and rhythm—I found renewal in my own artistry that I could never have predicted and, I suspect, not found in any other space.”

Sedalia Brown embarked on multiple trips, all with the intention to expand her knowledge base, have authentic experiences, and sing. She began the renewal process by recording “Georgia on my Mind,” “Ain’t Misbehavin,” and “The Christmas Song,” which fulfilled a long-time goal of putting out a holiday tune. Then, she began her travels. She ventured to San Diego for a sound therapy session focused on regeneration of the creative center hosted by Indianapolis native Dr. Tiffany Thompson. After her San Diego trip, life happened. Brown faced two surgeries, and lost her voice for five months. Luckily, Brown was able to resume her travels with a trip to Washington D.C., where she rehearsed for an upcoming concert with the Chamasyan sisters.

“Despite modifications, I have a fresh perspective, not only on artistry, but life. I have been enriched and inspired by the authentic experiences of this journey through a ‘new freedom of self’ that has increased the passion and depth of artistry evident in my performance and my creative center. I have a renewed connection to my craft and the purpose therein. I am grateful, I am renewed, my heart is full, and I am ready to be my authentic self in a way I was not before this fellowship.”

Her next endeavor was a vocal coaching session with the Grammy award-winning singer/songwriter Antea Shelton in the birth place of Motown. As a trained classical singer, Brown was determined to learn new techniques for the genre known as Country Rock and she found the lessons to be very informative and invigorating. She then travelled to Queens to work with Mbemba of Wulu Percussion. Mbemba is a master drummer from New Guinea, West Africa. She said the experience was both informative, self-evaluative, therapeutic, and an awakening for her soul. She learned techniques for the djembe and the Djun Djun drums, and got to take in the culture of New York City. Next up was a trip to Mexico. She spent almost two weeks in Puerto Vallarta and Nuevo Vallarta experiencing the states of Jalisco and Nayarit. She took cooking classes, explored the mountains and jungle of the Sierra Madre and Rio Cielo, walked the Malecón, attended performances of Mariachi, Banda, and Folkloric dance, learned about the Aztec art Ámate, and took an art class with the Huichol people.

“I found this process to be a source of immense professional development. I wrote the proposal not just for my own development, but to expand my knowledge base in a way that would allow me to be a source of development for my students, my colleagues, and audiences on the receiving end of my performances. When I sought renewal, it required a self-evaluation process that gave birth to identifying and embracing what truly lies within my heart and soul and going on the journey to finding my authentic self. I am not just a classical singer, music educator/administrator and mom. I am a powerful instrument who connects to change lives and desires to do so creatively and authentically. Through living this desire, I am healed, I am a source of healing and inspiration for others, I am ever evolving, and I am living out my purpose. I get to walk confidently in this.”

Eric Salazar traveled to San Antonio and La Ciudad de México for his Creative Renewal Arts Fellowship. Hoping to immerse himself in the music his Grandpa Salazar played for him as a child, connect with his heritage, and experience Día de Muertos, this trip delivered what he needed. Salazar said he has never felt more authentically connected to his Mexican heritage than when he was walking the streets of Mexico City. Seeing Latinos of all different shapes, sizes, colors, and nationalities existing together allowed him to accept himself as Latino without any hesitation or caveats. 

“After Día de Muertos, I am more confident in myself than I have ever been and more assured that the life I have chosen to build for myself is the one I am meant to lead. I am renewed, and I am certain, now, that I am being exactly who I want to be–both for myself, and for the community here in Indy that I so deeply care about.”

Salazar said he was amazed by the mariachi musicians he met in both San Antonio and Mexico City, and learned a great deal from them through observation and conversation. As a classically trained musician, he primarily learns and performs music by reading sheet music. The mariachis he met learned and performed purely by ear. The pedagogical term for using your “inner ear” is called audiation. Salazar said he was absolutely floored, amazed, and enthralled by their method of performing. Witnessing this method had a profound impact–Salazar is finding himself thinking in music more and encouraging himself to read less and audiate more.

“By having both time and space, I found myself healing from trauma that I was unaware I had even experienced. I felt myself get back to a ‘ground zero’ state of mind. This brought me back to an equilibrium where I could be regulated and positioned for growth. I could then explore and grow, both artistically and on a personal level. After healing and exploring, I found myself growing into the musician I wanted to be and into the person I am meant to be. The recalibration to equilibrium and development into the future self is what renewal means to me.”

Jared Thompson recharged in the Blue Ridge Mountains of North Carolina. Staying in a small pink double with his husband across the street from an 80 acre farm where chickens, ducks, goats, horses, and cattle grazed peacefully, and where outdoor enthusiasts from around the country would frequent as a “pitstop” on their cross-country journey, Thompson enjoyed a much-needed getaway from the buzz of daily life. After eight years of not being able to go on a vacation of any kind, the Creative Renewal Fellowship allowed him to embrace daily living without modern amenities and be in tune with nature and neighbors. 

“On any given day, a family or a group of individuals would pitch their tents for a day or two before continuing their backpacking or camping exploration of the Blue Ridge Mountains. We would walk the farm and forage for wild berries, herbs, and mushrooms and get to know the campers that would settle on the property. We traded stories about our backgrounds or careers, and our knowledge of cooking and utilizing the natural foods that surrounded us. Each day we would all cook at least one meal together made from what we had gathered and cooked and ate in a communal environment that I’ve rarely experienced here at home.”

For Thompson, the most rewarding or rejuvenating aspect of the trip was meeting complete strangers and fellowshipping with them through music, storytelling, and food. It was a reminder that regardless of age, race, sexual identity, etc., people have much more in common and appreciate the simple things in life. From learning about beekeeping and eating honey directly out of the hive, to hikes in the mountains with his husband at sunset, to eating roadside BBQ in the middle of nowhere, North Carolina was an experience that he is eager to have again.

“The fellowship allowed me time away from the environment I felt tethered to for so long. A change of scenery and change of objectives is what I had been needing for years. Sometimes that best way to begin the process of artistic creation is providing oneself with the opportunity and permission to NOT create. Initially I thought I would write a series of tunes for my band that had some kind of nature inspired element, but I found myself forcing that idea to materialize. It wasn’t until I reflected further on the time and the people I spent time with during this fellowship that my ideas for creation began to surface in a much more organic way. Instead of concentrating on composing music, I began to evaluate how my interactions with people influence my creativity.”

The UnCut Diamond’s renewal process included taking six months away from Indianapolis to explore her identity as an African American artist and recharge her creativity in order to complete her second book. She visited family in Texas and traveled to the Dominican Republic, Louisiana, Arizona, New York, and Hawaii. Her travels included experiencing local art, culture, and claiming herself as an artist.

“The creative renewal fellowship couldn’t have been timed more perfectly. This experience has assisted me in reclaiming my creativity and inspired me to stand proudly on my title as a creative. I’ve been renewed in my boldness to lead creative exhibitions that change lives, communities, and cultures. I cannot express the unleashing, unapologetic and ever-growing pride to be an artist that has found its home back in my heart.”

The UnCut Diamond finished her Fellowship on the beaches of Hawaii in April. All of her travels will be used as inspiration and content for her second book, Defiant Faith. She explored Juneteenth exhibits in Galveston and took a “Freedom Tour” walk that she had to leave early due to the overwhelming emotions evoked by the nostalgia of each stop along the tour. In New York she saw The Lion King, her first Broadway show. In Louisiana she celebrated Mardi Gras, and in Arizona she got new ideas for collaboration based on the strong Midwest presence there. In the Dominican Republic she experienced a local jazz festival. The book is set to release in August this year. 

“I applied thinking of all the things I wanted to do to recharge my artistry. The reality is my renewal came from stopping everything, being in the moment, and recognizing who I was. Renewal is going back to the ‘why’ you do it. It is revisiting the passion that drives the anger in the stroke, the tone in the spoken word, the rhythm in the content, the facial expression when delivering the line, the position of your feet when landing the jump.”

For her Creative Renewal Arts Fellowship, Sharon Weyser traveled to Vienna, Austria to immerse herself in the musicianship of Vienna horns. She attended live performances by the horn sections of the Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra and Vienna State Opera, purchased her very own Vienna horn, and took lessons on the instrument with professional players Marcus Schmedinger and Melissa Danas. Owning a Vienna horn has renewed Weyser by giving her a new musical source that provides fresh inspiration and artistic fulfillment. The Vienna horn is exclusively played and taught in Vienna. Taking lessons on it from professionals who only play this instrument was extremely beneficial for Weyser–helping her stay true to the instrument’s rich history and traditions. 

“As a musician and horn player, I feel the fellowship has impacted me by exposing me to a rich tradition of horn playing not found in the US. My fellowship allowed me to realize my dream of owning and learning to play the Vienna horn. The technical and musical insights I have gleaned and can continue to explore will enrich my horn playing for years to come. A new musical door has been opened and I have stepped into a world of horn playing I would not have been exposed to otherwise.”

Having made these connections, Weyser will be able to continue working virtually with the teachers she met. While in Vienna, she was able to hire a professional photographer to do a photo shoot with her new Vienna horn in front of the Vienna State Opera house and other historical sites around the city. It was the perfect way to capture these magical moments and commemorate her time in Vienna and the journey as part of the Creative Renewal Arts Fellowship program. 

“Renewal, to me, is a way to energize my experience as a musician in a way that reignites my passion and excitement for playing the horn. I have been able to connect with what being a musician and horn player really means to me. This journey has reaffirmed why I am a musician. The process has been a reminder that my dreams can come true, and I can create musically meaningful experiences for myself outside of my day-to-day rehearsals and performances.”

Lori Wolter Hudson applied to research and write about her great, great aunt, Gertrude Lythgoe, who was a rum runner during Prohibition. She traveled to Nassau, Bahamas in the fall of 2023 to see where she lived, researched her story through museums and archivists in Nassau, and took some time to reconnect to herself after leaving her job as artistic director of The New Harmony Project in July 2023.

“This project turned into an anchor for me; with so many unknowns about next steps and genuinely, painstakingly working to figure out what I actually WANTED to spend time doing, this fellowship felt like it legitimized my newfound creative endeavors. One specific night, I stumbled upon a historic, renowned restaurant and hotel. I was led to a sitting room, where a pianist and singer had the room captivated. Sitting with a glass of prosecco in a tufted wingback in the corner, I watched her give a master class in musicianship, crowd engagement, entertainment, and the joy of sharing her talent and gifts with a transfixed and transported audience. It was by far one of the most powerful artistic and inspirational moments she’s had in years.”

Getting this grant was a big part of the push Hudson needed to step away from arts administration work and get back to being an artist in her own right again. She said it was difficult to walk away from a full-time career built over decades and become a freelancer again, but it was definitely the right move. In 2023, she got her first play published.

“I’m equally daunted and optimistic about what’s ahead, but without this award I don’t think I would have felt I was deserving enough to take myself seriously in my new pursuits. I still don’t think of myself as a true “writer” yet, but I’m working on it. And that, combined with the life transition of leaving my work as an arts administrator, has meant I’ve undergone a major shift from the artist I applied as two years ago. I will always be grateful for this opportunity and view it as a catalyst for this new chapter of my life and career.”

Ben Rose traveled to Miami for the American Black Film Festival, and to Fox Lake to stay in the Black Lake Cabin Resort for “Light the Night.” In Miami, he got to experience one of the oldest and most prominent Black film festivals in the nation. He was able to see multiple screenings daily for about a week, and engage with work produced by individuals that reflect his own level of industry experience, as well as projects of the top industry scale. Without the pressure of having to achieve any specific networking goals or represent his own work in the festival, Rose said he could truly enjoy the experience of being surrounded by Black film professionals from all over the nation. 

“I was truly in need of a vacation from work life and creative life. When you are lucky enough to be a creative for a living you tend to always be working in some capacity. I needed to be able to take a step back from all that I was involved in and just enjoy being present for others’ creative expressions. I needed to be reignited by creative minds outside of the Midwest and exposed to ideas and opportunities beyond my daily environment.” 

At Fox Lake, a historically Black lake cabin resort established during Segregation in the late 1920’s, he spent time with friends who own cabins there, celebrating Light The Night, an evening celebration with musical entertainment and a fireworks show. Families from Indianapolis to Chicago and Detroit gather to reconnect and enjoy the serenity of the forested lake area for this event. Rose said it was refreshing to be on land that had been the getaway vacation home for so many Black lawyers, teachers, and professionals from the 1920s to the present. He said it made him feel proud and encouraged to be in the midst of a largely unknown historical reservoir in a state that has fought so strongly to suppress and control its Black residents and culture.

“Renewal for me means taking a moment to fully stop and be present without expectation. It means taking the time to provide yourself with resources that enhance and recharge one’s faith in process and enjoying the journey of creative life. Renewal reestablishes the urge to take risks and break outside the established norms. Renewal means once again being outfitted with a mindset of abundance and not lack. Renewal means trusting yourself and potentially others in a process of continual awakening to the world around us.”

Chris Saunders went to Montana and spent over a week at a dude ranch for his Creative Renewal Arts Fellowship. Working with a wrangler, he rode horseback daily, learned how to herd cattle, took a trip to Yellowstone National Park, and spent time doing activities like skeet shooting, hiking, and fishing. Saunders suspected he’d fall in love with riding a horse on the beautiful, infinite mountaintop… and he was half right. He fell in love with the natural beauty of the sky, but he didn’t love being on a horse for long periods of time which led him to enjoy more time at Yellowstone than originally planned.  

“The greatest privilege it afforded me was not even the experience itself, but having an experience that’s so foreign and immersive that I was lifted completely out of my day-to-day experience. It wasn’t just my physical environment that was different, but it was my thinking, my priorities, my navigation of the day. Only something that immersive could take my mind off the theatre company I founded, which has daily tasks and concerns.”

Saunders was able to return truly invigorated and ready to tackle new things. In running a company called American Lives Theatre, he says it’s pretty important to gain new perspectives of what an American life means to different people. The long hours talking with the wrangler while riding horses really helped to broaden his perspective and challenged preconceived notions.

“The one thing that is striking to me now is that renewal doesn’t necessarily mean rest. Sure, it would’ve been great to catch up on sleep and soak in some sun. But that didn’t seem like a way to spend this money! So I’m glad I really thought it through. The renewal that I felt was from experiencing more of what the world has to offer. Art is beautiful and transformative, and I do not regret dedicating my life to it. But it’s crucial to remember that there is so much more to living in this world. The world is unfathomably big, and so much adventure awaits. Maintaining that awareness is fundamental to artistry, humanity, and contentment.”

Gwen Sunkel explored death and the “beautiful and weird” ways to honor those who have passed for her Creative Renewal Arts Fellowship. Over the course of a year, she visited over 25 cemeteries throughout the Midwest. She also attended the James Dean Days Festival in Fairmount, Indiana, where she took a memoir writing workshop with Ms. Pamela Debarge–the “original” groupie who traveled with numerous rock bands in the 70s and inspired the character Penny Lane in the movie Almost Famous. She took a week-long Bob Ross oil painting class at the Bob Ross Museum in Muncie, Indiana. Sunkel also traveled to New York City to see two theatrical productions that heavily discussed the themes of death and dying–Sleep No More and Hadestown. 

“My fellowship project impacted my art positively in several ways. As I traveled to cemeteries, festivals, and classes throughout the Midwest, I realized how much of a legacy we leave as artists. Our work impacts and influences others in ways we might not realize until after we have passed. A headstone shaped like a bench might inspire someone to spend a few more moments in nature. An actor whose life was cut short inspired an annual celebration that brings a community together. The techniques of a gifted painter and his message of radical acceptance are being passed down to new artists every year. Actors portraying stories of loss make us want to give 100 percent to our art form, so that we can help others feel as deeply as they have made us feel. Our art is not created in a silo–it impacts those closest to us and the world at large.”

Sunkel said she was especially impacted by the painting class at The Bob Ross Museum–learning a new technique for stress management, relaxation, and processing feelings. Being focused on humor in her comedy and stage performances, Sunkel said that she doesn’t usually have space to write about non-comedic topics. This fellowship allowed her to explore some of her darker, more melancholy feelings. Seeing Sleep No More, an interactive telling of Macbeth, showed Sunkel how powerful full sensory experiences can be for an audience. Seeing the Shakespearean tragedy told in such a unique way reminded her that there are countless ways to tell the same story, and the job of artists is to do just that.

“Renewal often brings to mind thoughts of a cycle repeating itself. It carries connotations of death and rebirth, an end and a beginning, or a return to a stasis point. My fellowship felt less like a perpetual cycle and more of an expansion of my artistic process. I’ve gained courage to talk about important topics in my comedy. I have a new vision on making mistakes, embracing them, and growing in the process. I have novel ideas about how to reach audiences through immersive elements that touch multiple senses. I saw how much joy can be present even in the face of death. I have always seen the humor in death, but now my vision of it has increased to include more and happier emotions. Renewal now means expansion.”

For his Creative Renewal Fellowship, Jerry Lee Atwood interviewed with chainstitch artists he had connected with many years ago. When he first started using a chainstitch embroidery machine, he was interested in how other artists were using theirs. These antique machines had been collecting dust in the basements and back rooms of embroidery shops due to having long been replaced by modern digital embroidery equipment. Atwood contacted these artists that he knew were dedicated to using these machines to understand even more about this artform.

“In interviewing other artists who have inspired and encouraged me along the way, it was very touching to hear that my work has also inspired them. I think artists need a community to remain engaged and inspired. It’s so easy to get lost in our own personal lives outside of art while maintaining a career as professional artists. When I first discovered the chainstitch embroidery machine, there was virtually no information online for how to use them or even what type of thread to use. It was through my connections with other people who were discovering these machines around the same time that I was able to learn how to use and maintain these relics and slowly grow a business. ”

His respondents were located in California, Louisiana, and Tennessee. He discussed with multiple chainstitch artists and business owners. Through talking with multiple chainstitch artists and business owners, they connected over their passion for these machines and the art created with them. They recognized how the community has grown from a couple dozen users to hundreds in the past decade. It’s all thanks to the online community that has cropped up to share information, techniques and parts.

“Art saves the lives of those who experience it and, without question, those who create it. I can’t imagine not having a career in the arts. It’s easy to forget why we make art and the passion and enthusiasm can become buried beneath the frustration and demands of our everyday lives. It’s invaluable to have an opportunity like the Creative Renewal Fellowship to remember what inspires and influences us as artists. For me, that has always included the community of makers.”

Josh Betsey’s renewal process was an effort to reconnect with the photographic mediums he had dabbled in and grown fond of over the years, while enjoying the freedom to explore his creative process. He visited Mexico City for 3 and a half weeks in 2023–experiencing culture, visiting museums, and learning the customs of Mexico. Using a fellow artist’s studio, he practiced screen printing, risograph printing, and collage, while developing new processes of readying images for use in those formats. 

“The fellowship process had a huge impact on my personal development. My need for a renewal came from a realization that the multi-step tightrope act that had become my multimedia process, left me in a rut where comfort took preference over the art making process. With two studio spaces 8 miles apart and the added chore of transporting materials between them, much of 2022 was haunted by unfinished projects, misplaced materials and fatigue. I knew I needed a major reset, and the Creative Renewal Fellowship came at just the right time.”

The coincidence of meeting an artist from Mexico City who had his same artistic influences was pure happenstance. After becoming fast friends and being invited to Mexico City, the act of preparing himself for an international trip forced Betsey to do three things: To be cognizant of all the tools I would bring, to be mindful of how long I was there, and to be practical about how quickly I could generate new work. It was the reality check I needed to look at my process objectively. On the trip, Betsey explored the Museo Rufino Tamayo, Museo del Juguete Antiguo México, and shopped for vintage magazines to collage with.

“My idea of renewal means something very different than it did when I first applied for the fellowship. I now know that renewal isn’t just more exposure to your area of study. It’s a transformation from old ways and habits and a new understanding for the reasons why a renewal was so important. Whether feeling stagnant in your process or tired of succeeding with an old formula that’s becoming stale, we all need to know that there is more for us than what we experience day in and day out. I feel privileged to have undergone this experience with a new understanding of myself, my art and my relation to the world.”

Richard Clark travelled to India for a month to make photographs and revisit the place where he first discovered a paper negative process in Jaipur in 1983. A street photographer had taken his photo, and he connected with the son of the man who had taken his portrait in 1983. The son and his brother are still using the same 1860s antique camera and technique that his father, grandfather, and great-grandfather had used. The great-grandfather was the official photographer of the maharaja of Jaipur, and he received the camera as a gift from the maharaja. Clark was able to spend time with them for a few days. He also travelled to New Delhi, the Pushkar Camel Fair, Varanasi, and Jodhpur. Due to the horrendous air pollution, his lungs and sinuses “seized up” after being there for a few days, making it more tiring to carry his cameras and wander the streets all day. In spite of that, he said the exhilaration brought on by the visual feast made the month fly by.

“What I am certain of is that my sense of validation, confidence, and excitement for my work has been bolstered tremendously. I trust my visual instincts more. I have more trust in pursuing ‘what if’ situations, and believing in serendipity. Having poured over all of images from my trip, I feel that my photographic vision has become more finely honed, and my standards have been elevated. I love the fact that in photography there is always more to learn, and having the luxury to roam India for a month gave me so many learning opportunities for both successes and mistakes. And although they hurt, because one usually can’t go back and fix them, I’ve learned to embrace my mistakes, for they are often the best teacher.”

Clark said going to India again also reinforced the idea that beauty is all around, and one certainly doesn’t need to go halfway around the world to find it. Experiencing India again made him more appreciative of creative opportunities right here in Indiana. Shooting with the paper negative process in India prompted him to apply it to subjects at home. Clark was able to get his feet wet with the process in Indiana and now he feels he has a new medium to consider.

“Upon reflecting on my fellowship journey, I keep coming back to the word ‘grateful.’ Returning to India was a dream come true for me, and it made me realize that there could be other dreams out there on the horizon that could also come true. I feel more appreciative of where I live and how lucky we are to live in the United States. I am even more struck by what an amazing city Indianapolis is. The Creative Renewal Arts Fellowship program is such a great example of our city supporting artists and arts organizations. It has given me a real boost in how I feel about my photography, and has me feeling enthusiastic about future projects. And for that I am so grateful.”

Deonna Craig wanted to use her Creative Renewal Arts Fellowship to renew her vision and passion for the arts by taking a step back in time. As an artist who documents the time in which she lives, she decided to reset by going back to where it all began. Intending to expand her knowledge and appreciation for rock art, she traveled to Egypt, Ohio, North Carolina, and Hawaii to study petroglyphs, geoglyphs, and rock art of all kinds. In Egypt, she worked with a personal tour guide who curated trips to locations that pertained especially to her affinity for rock art, including The Great Hypostyle Hall at Karnak Temple, The Great Pyramid, The Pyramid of Khafre, The Pyramid of Menkaure, The Great Sphinx of Giza, The Precinct of Amun-Re, The Philae Temple, The Temple of Edfu, and The Temple of Kom Ombo. She was also able to cruise on the Nile River, seeing one of the earliest civilizations in Africa. She says cleansing, reconnecting, and reverence are words that come to mind from that trip.

“Rock art offers clues on the relationships of humankind. It was created for many reasons, sometimes as a teaching tool and in other cases as a record keeper of knowledge and spiritual beliefs for which there may be no other record. Rock art depicts the richness of human culture, and it reflects how our imagination has evolved. Experiencing the cultural value that rock art provides has been invaluable to my growth as an artist, community leader, and instructor. I was able to witness the history left behind by our ancient art forebears and feel an even bigger sense of responsibility to carry it on. May we all understand the role we play in our profession by paying homage to those who came before and being intentional in the mark we leave for those that come after.”

Due to a complete career change during the first few months of this fellowship, the remainder of Craig’s project shifted to discovering the connective tissue between hieroglyphs across the world, and petroglyphs in the United States. Finding short periods for renewal and recharge in the midst of a brand new career, she travelled to see the Judaculla Rock Petroglyphs in Cullowhee, North Carolina. A few months later she spent a weekend at the Leo Petroglyph Site in Ray, Ohio. Finally, Craig was able to travel to Hawaii to visit a few archaeological preserves and participate in a series of spiritual renewal workshops and activities. She took hikes, visited a volcano site, swam in a few waterfalls, and visited with welcoming families. Here, she went on trips to see The Puakō Petroglyph Archaeological Preserve, the Kohala Coast in Waimea, Hawaii, and The Waikoloa Petroglyph Preserve, and toured lava tube cave shelters and ruins in Waikoloa Village Hawaii.

“Giving myself grace has been the biggest takeaway from this journey. I have been programmed to strive for excellence and to always give 100 percent. This has been a blessing, and sometimes a curse. Taking breaks is okay. Relaxing is okay, and necessary. Enjoyment is not the opposite of productivity and both co-exist. Renewal means pause. Renewal means self-love. Renewal means pouring into yourself, so that you can pour into others even more. I will continue to take breaks. I will continue to stretch my legs. I will continue my need to explore and see, with my own two eyes, what my literal dreams are made of.”

Haykidd’s renewal project was simple—they wanted to share space with the past, as they envisioned a new version of the future. That’s exactly what they did. A month after receiving the Creative Renewal Fellowship, Haykidd faced the loss of their older sister to gun violence. 

“My renewal awoke a part of my spirit that went dormant after the loss of my sister. It showed me who I am and what I can do during a time when I felt numb and uninspired. The way that the universe knew I would need the Creative Renewal Fellowship is crazy. Losing my sister completely shook my world and sent me into the darkest depression of my life. Through my creative renewal process I was able to fall back in love with life.”

Traveling along the “Chitlin’ Circuit,” Haykidd interacted with artists from multiple cities, worked on an installation in Miami with a group of artists from Jackson, Mississippi, and studied artworks created by some of the most prolific african american modern and contemporary artists of the past 100 years—like Faith Ringgold, Elizabeth Catlett, Richard Mayhew, and Jacob Lawerence. Haykidd’s renewal provided them with the opportunity to be surrounded by art, love, and beauty all over the country after losing hope of those things existing in their life again.

“My fellowship has given me clarity and focus in both my art practice and administrative career. It has allowed me to see what is, was, and can be. Granting me a certain level of foresight, I was able to travel from city-to-city discovering a network of artists, art administrators, and arts-based nonprofits that are all working to help sustain and uplift the creative economy. The song ‘To Be Young, Gifted and Black’ by Nina Simone plays on a loop as I reflect on my time during my Creative Renewal Fellowship.”

Through the fellowship, Haykidd was introduced to art spaces that provide safety, education and comprehensive programs to communities of color which greatly inspired them. They said that seeing that what they aspire to do has been done before, and seeing examples of what it could look like was priceless. Traveling through a historical route and engaging with local artists in each space gave Haykidd the courage to be themselves and go for their creative vision, which is providing the infrastructure for creatives of color to live and thrive in the arts.

“I’ve always felt like an anomaly–like I was alone in this dream of being an artist, like the way that I create was abnormal–until my renewal. It opened my eyes to the facts. There are people just like me doing the work in the shadows to provide the infrastructure necessary for the arts to thrive in Black and Brown communities. Renewal means new possibilities, new relationships, new futures. Renewal requires grief. It requires the end of something that you are comfortable with; it requires trust in the future. Renewal means, ‘We Go Forward With a Sanity and a Love,’ to quote Nikki Giovanni.”

James Willard Johnson’s Creative Renewal Arts Fellowship project was inspired by the concept of “hiraeth,” a Welsh word signifying a deep longing for a place or time. He journeyed Cairo, Egypt to reconnect with his early childhood memories made there. The goal was to immerse himself in the sensory experiences of his formative years: the sights, sounds, and scents of Cairo that have profoundly influenced his identity as an artist. During this journey, Johnson revisited his childhood home, experiencing a profound sense of nostalgia and connection to the past. In Cairo, Johnson reunited with ”Freddy” Farid Fadel, a Da Vinci scholar who first nurtured Johnson’s artistic talents, visited Luxor and the Valley of the Kings where he saw the Roman frescos of Luxor Temple. He also engaged with local arts by attending a ceramic workshop and learned about tapestry weaving, batik, and papyrus making at Wissa Wassef. Originally, Johnson planned to study the Fayum portraits at the Library of Alexandria. Due to the war in Gaza and terrorist activities in Alexandria, he altered course and fortunately was able to study these portraits at the National Museum in Cairo.

“This journey has been a profound personal and artistic awakening. Observing my children experiencing Cairo as I did in my youth offered a unique perspective on time, memory, and identity. This trip was a process of reclaiming a part of myself that had become obscured over time. Professionally, the experience has infused my art with a deeper sense of history and cultural richness. The concept of ’Palimpsest’ and the encounter with the Fayum portraits have particularly inspired me, influencing my approach to layering, storytelling, and portraiture in my art.”

The fellowship has instilled in a renewed sense of authorship and self-confidence in Johnson. Revisiting the places of his early years, engaging with the vibrant local arts scene, and rekindling connections with influential figures like Farid Fadel have affirmed the importance and relevance of every aspect of his history and experiences. A significant insight from this journey was the realization that his work is akin to a “Palimpsest”—the historical layers he observed in Luxor, with Roman frescos overlaying ancient Egyptian temples, and the remarkable Fayum portraits in Cairo, have deeply resonated with his approach to art. He said he sees his work as a living, evolving record of experiences—a complex layering of life, growth, movement, learning, culture, and time.

“This return to my roots has provided a clarity that has been instrumental in shaping my artistic path. It has allowed me to accept and integrate the multifaceted experiences that shape our lives into my art. This journey has not just been a rediscovery of past influences but also an embracing of the complex layers that constitute my artistic identity. The fellowship has rekindled my passion and offered a new perspective on art and its connection to life. It has equipped me with a deeper appreciation of the interconnectedness of our experiences and histories. As I move forward in my career, these insights will continue to influence my approach to creating art, ensuring that my work reflects the rich, layered narrative of the human experience.”

April Knauber’s Creative Renewal project allowed her to return home to the Philippines to reconnect with her land, people, and culture, as well as learning and embracing the local art community and traditional art practices. She visited multiple areas in the Philippines–Davao, Tagum City, Manila, and El Nido. She observed how each of these areas carried local and traditional Filipino art practices that were intertwined into everyday life. She learned a process for Filipino joinery from a traditional woodworker. Knauber says she feels lucky to receive this centuries-old knowledge while being in her ancestral environment.

“This was my first time going back home with a purpose of reflection and renewal. I felt recharged with my identity being able to hear the language and ingest the freshness of our food. Learning a new skill made me feel closer to my culture, and simply being back home in the Philippines after being gone since the beginning of COVID was much needed.”

Knauber says her fellowship project has given her a new perspective on concepts, connections, and skills within her art practice. Traveling home to the Philippines made her look more inward to the why and how she was making certain artwork. It allowed her to reflect on current and future concepts and sculpture ideas. This new knowledge and reflection has helped her understand “why” she is making the work, and has influenced the “how” she’ll continue her practice.

“We as a culture have the mentality to consistently hustle, produce, be noticed, to win; which can be a good but also not something that should be a life goal to consistently be running. Being back home in the Philippines helped me realize what renewal really means to me: to take a moment to step back. To see the bigger picture, what my goals in life are, and how that ties into my happiness.”

Dani Oglesby used her Creative Renewal Fellowship to to create and connect with women and artists through her #CurlyTLC sessions. She traveled to multiple states working on the hair of celebrities and models, as well as connecting with Black women for “salon talk,” which is more like group therapy. They’d talk about everything from their first salon experience, how they feel at the salon, and the smells they remembered as a kid.

“My process and journey completing this fellowship has taught me so much about myself as an artist. I discovered parts of me that I never knew existed.Through the entire process I felt as if I was finally in complete and total alignment with my goals. For black women, the salon and our hair is so important in many ways. This process confirmed and validated the path and life I chose as an artist.”

Oglesby tends to suffer from imposter’s syndrome, but she is grateful for the mind that she has, the hands that create, and the creativity to execute her art. The Creative Renewal Fellowship allowed her to create and speak about her craft and the purpose behind it with confidence and conviction.

“To me, Black hair is the most beautiful hair. The texture and curls are art in and of itself. Hearing the voices of black women and being able to tap into the culture and history behind hair makes my career path magical and impactful. Renewal to me means a reset with a peaceful and clear mind. Taking the steps necessary to see how your presence alone impacts the world around you. Renewal will look different for everyone… and that’s what makes this process and project beautiful.”

Yemisi Sanni traveled to Lagos, Nigeria to further develop her textile artistry and storytelling for her Creative Renewal Arts Fellowship. There, she explored traditional Yoruba processes that are still used in contemporary textile practices. Sanni also attended retreats, workshops, and met with curators and other textile artists in Lagos. She said that attending these retreats and workshops and mingling with other curators and artists positively impacted her art practices. 

“Renewal now means abundance to me; it is the ability to create after a period of rest and relaxation in a way that positively impacts my creative process.”

Sanni was able to learn old and new contemporary methods of adire textile-making, indigenous to Yoruba culture. She said that in her travels and experiences, her skill-set further improved and her artistic narrative expanded. Using the Creative Renewal Arts Fellowship to travel and attend retreats helped her relax and enjoy art in a new way that will help her create art from a place of abundance.

The Creative Renewal Fellowship allowed Israel Solomon to take a much needed mental break from full-time artistry. He seeked, and gained, new inspiration. Taking a trip to New York City in September 2023, Solomon explored art, music, and culture that Manhattan has to offer. Notable landmarks from his journey include the Museum of Modern Art, the Whitney Museum of American Art, The Guggenheim, EDEN Gallery, St. Paul’s Church, and Central Park.The Creative Renewal Arts Fellowship allowed Solomon to find renewed inspiration outside of his daily life for new opportunities. 

“One of those opportunities is coming soon, as I am in the process of completing a piece for my Conner Prairie artist residency that is directly inspired by the composition of a sculpture that I stumbled across at St. Paul’s in Manhattan during the final day of my trip. I believe that the inspiration will be seen in the work that I plan on producing for the remainder of this year.”

In exploring NYC, Solomon stumbled upon unexpected local galleries and celebrated 50 years of Hip-Hop at Blue Note, seeing Big Daddy Kane and Rakim perform with a live band. Inspiration set in from exploring the city and the art he saw there, both traditional and modern, like Monet cut-outs, Jacob Lawrence paintings, an Afro-futurism exhibit at MoMA, Edward Hopper paintings, Egyptian Architecture, and modern artists such as Kaws and Kobra. 

“The strongest impact that it made on me was that while seeing all of this beautiful and timeless work, only a small percentage of what I saw was made by Black people. This is a strong motivation for me to continue working as an artist to hopefully break some of those barriers. I believe that my mind was opened in so many ways during my trip, and the community of Indianapolis is going to see it within my work. For me, renewal means a recommitment to myself and my goals. I’m striving to have work in a museum such as the Whitney. These dreams may appear to be far-fetched and unrealistic, but I remind myself that at one point in my life I didn’t think it would be achievable to be perceived and respected as a professional artist within our community.”

Right in the beginning of LaShawnda Crowe Storm’s Creative Renewal Arts Fellowship, her son was badly injured in an accident and Storm shifted her priorities to caretaking. Leaving behind the idea of going to Mexico for a weaving residency program she was accepted to, her fellowship focused on learning new textile skills, stepping back from racial justice work, and diving into her spiritual practices to rest and reset. Storm studied with ancestral priests, took local weaving classes and networked with textile artists in surrounding cities like Cincinnati and Chicago, and took up a job at a local bridal shop to hone her skills in tailoring. Even though Storm was trying to take a step back from her racial justice work, the job at the bridal shop ended up being just that. As a woman of color in the store, she said she worked on the healing end of things with women and girls in one of their most vulnerable moments.

“Alterations require direct fitting and touching women’s bodies. Many women of color come into the shop already on-guard because we live in a society where their bodies are constantly attacked for not be white, being too curvy, and more. And quite frankly, many have had bad experiences with white sales staff. One story that stands out concerns two sisters who came into the shop looking for a prom dress. I work in alterations, not on the sales floor, but am one of the few BIPOC faces in the store. The older sister approached and asked, ‘Can you help me? I don’t know what to do. My sister doesn’t feel like she will be beautiful in any of these dresses. She thinks her skin tone won’t work.’ We discussed color theory and how to make her undertones sing. Within the hour, she was twirling in the mirror and smiling. The elder sister thanked me and the teen said it was the most beautiful she had ever felt. A dose of compassion mixed with color theory and smiles meant that for that moment the sting of race was lifted, and she could see herself anew.”

Connecting with other African Americans interested in weaving and other textile arts was another focus of Storm’s fellowship. She found a much larger community of weavers in Cincinnati, where she discovered a Black-owned textile and fabric store. Storm was interested in learning backstrap weaving and other traditional methods, and she was able to connect with a backstrap weaver in Chicago who is willing to teach her. Even though her original plan of doing a residency on Mexico had to be abandoned, she was able to hone her skills through different inspiration and come out with a positive outlook about change and unexpected life happenings.

“Taking the space to step back, reflect, and decompress, I accomplished more than the original plan could have anticipated. I learned new art skills (weaving, quilt appraisal, tailoring, beading) and made lasting connections with my spiritual community. In fact, the new technical skills are already shifting how I conceive future projects and creating income generating opportunities within different industries. I found working with women and girls to ‘properly’ dress and fit them into formal dresses, to help them see the beauty that I could see, as a place of calm and respite. Strolls along lakesides and in the woods reciting mantras and spiritual readings are other spaces of renewal. We can find renewal almost anywhere. Every space is a place to sit, decompress, reset, and rest.”