Creative Expressions – Go to the Google Site page for this series.
June 18, 2020 – a personal note from your weekly host:
Creative Expressions is a weekly virtual arts series conceived of during the COVID-19 pandemic. In an attempt to recreate the sharing of the art, music, poetry, and other forms of creative works typically experienced in person at our annual All College event at SUNY Empire State College, the series began as an experiment. It started with a core team of myself, two phenomenal special events professionals (Susan McFadden and Cassie Allen) from the Office of the President, and the first three faculty presenters (Anastasia Pratt, Mindy Kronenberg, and Raul Manzano) from the School of Arts and Humanities. As we planned the first session, which set the format for all that followed, something I imagined would have a short shelf life took on a life of it’s own. After the magic of the first session, I committed to keeping this going week after week until we are more able to go out into the world or I run out of finding people who would be willing to share their creativity. The collaborations with the presenters and energy from the audience who is a joy week after week with no end in sight.
As of this writing, I have had the honor and privilege to host Creative Expressions for 10 straight weeks. I am learning so much. I continually find moments of absolute joy and wonder. I have made new friends as well as forged deeper connections with friends and colleagues I already knew. I continue to gasp in awe at the beauty of paintings (Raul Manzano unveiled one of his as part of the first session and faithfully comes week after week); weep with musicians who share their personal stories of their love of music; and wonder at the talents of fiber artists, poets, potters, actors, photographers, and all the other artists who have graciously given of their time and talents.
Creative Expressions for me and those who join in week after week (or even just one time) find our Zoom room to be a special space. Mindy Kronenberg has called it a “virtual arts oasis” that feed our souls in these challenging times. The opportunity to share the creative expressions with our college community has allowed joy, color, sound, and connection to happen week after week across virtual spaces where we revel in the magic of the creative process and products of the presenters.
I call Creative Expressions a “sparking place.” For myself and others, each presenter sparks joy and ignites the creative spirit in us. I continue to be in awe of the fact that we have had between 20 and 90 people attend each week. Creative Expressions glows and grows, providing warmth, safety, and a place where we can gather for an hour as protection from the elements and as a beacon to shine on the terrors of the time of the pandemic. My hope has been realized that each week, those who participate take that spark, that light and creativity home with them to safely stoke their own creative fires.
Finally, I want to express my deepest thanks to each of the presenters, the students, staff, faculty, administrators, and friends who come for one session or every session each week (Raul, Mindy, Lucy, Cindy, Kay, MarySue, Dagoberto, Ray, Lynn, and Alicia to name a few). An extra special thanks to Dean Nicola Allain who joins us every week to support this grand experiment.
And now, as I say to each presenter when it is their turn to share, the mic is yours to explore all that Creative Expressions has to offer.
Best Wishes to All, Lisa