October 2021

Hi friends,

I am writing to you on a sunny, yet cool, October afternoon. It feels like another chapter in a year of liminal spaces.  As we let go of the warmth, and the hours of sunlight, I can’t help but think about what this winter will look like. It won’t look like last year, and it certainly won’t look like the years before. It feels like we are creating a new world, every day.

I think about what a new world would look like on a regular basis. Not necessarily a new world, but ways we can shift our current reality to reflect acts of care, and policies infused with care, and institutions that create systems through the lens of care. 

On Sunday, October 24th, a small group gathered in Oakledge Park for a contemplative walk. I placed the panels from “from COVID to Community” throughout the park and folks walked and contemplated at their own pace. We met up at the cove and discussed ideas of what care is, what the role of artists and arts organizations in making new systems that help us to thrive can be, not just as individuals, but as a collective group in society. 

We talked about how ‘defunding the police’ or more realistically, re-distributing funds to take into consideration the safety of all of our vulnerable neighbors, is an act of care. We also explored where else we can redistribute funds to support more people in our lives. 

We left with the idea that we had just created, and experienced, a community of care. Some of us walked away with a new framework for thinking about how we work together moving towards the future and moving through more liminal spaces.

Speaking of changes, beginning this winter, in addition to offering project management services for artists and small business owners, At the Root will begin offering consulting and coaching services as well. You can find out more about the last project we consulted on here.

In mid-October, we also had the pleasure of creating an online art workshop through COVID Support VT, which allowed participants to explore art-making and see themselves as artists. It created an hour-long oasis for many who use artmaking to support their mental well-being. We will be presenting more workshop opportunities like this soon.

Feel free to reach out to explore ideas of hosting a contemplative walk, or having a facilitated conversation with your group remotely. I’m excited to keep this conversation going and develop new ideas for our world together. 

Be safe, be there for each other, be well.

jen