To be close to the people we love, and to create meaningful work. As Aurora puts it, “do good things with good people.” That's the goal. We are a small team, a few friends bonded by hours of effort, conflict, and the mutual belief that the most important part of any collaboration is not the product, but the health, well-being, and growth of those involved.
The dynamic we share as founders and as artists in our collaborations is founded on a deep respect for each other as people. We push each other because we know each other’s value. We are patient with each other because we recognize that personal growth takes time. We celebrate together and fail together, doing our best to help each other out of any ditch we land in. If we disagree, or argue, it is because our mutual respect demands constant honesty.
Growth is a priority for us across all facets of our lives and within our communities, whether it be spiritual, professional, emotional, or artistic.
All three of us wanted to spend our post-college years continuing our pursuit of life-learning that Hampshire College instilled in us without having to tangle with the frustrating bureaucracy and hierarchy inherent to many established institutions. We decided that by sticking together and forging our own way, while also making frequent stops to meet new people and learn new things, would be the best path towards growth.
So much of the work an artist does is solitary. Before we found each other, the three of us were frequently wrapped up in our respective work or avoiding it out of fear. Moreover, the most vital work that needs doing in this world is exhausting or easy to ignore. We believe artists deserve a break from criticism and sometimes, a break from their own heads. At the same time, we want to make sure that every artist has their own healthy fire lit beneath them; some form of passion, even if it’s directed at the most difficult topics to discuss.
Artists need spaces to speak to each other and relax in a community of diverse, like-minded people, but also the kind call-to-action and gentle reminders that there is always still work to be done.
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We want to be part of a larger community, a closer community, and we believe that through the active engagement we embody and provide, we can help the communities we encounter stay awake and keep fighting to make work and pursue difficult topics.
"Being alive" is a process -- and one in which there already exist a lot of guides aimed at achieving specific outcomes. Despite this chorus of ideas and approaches, educators don’t always focus on providing the necessary tools for independent thinkers to forge their own way.
Mental health changes. Creative ability and execution change. People never stop changing. We want to provide our audiences with the tools to access their personal narratives through our own, engaging them in discussion about to how to break down the barriers, real or imagined, that stand in their way and take on the meandering path learning can take, while navigating it with self-respect, self-forgiveness, and grace.