“Can we create a village? Could we create a community so that something like this happens that it’s easier, it’s already there, the systems are already in place, there is someone to help care for you and your family and you’re not just on your own?” Tia Cole Tia Cole is a local artist, soapmaker, community organizer, and arts advocate.

Meet the Maker is a new series of features highlighting some of the most amazing makers across the North Shore! We will be featuring a handful of new makers every Monday to hopefully help mitigate the added financial strain that the COVID-19 pandemic has brought to the creative community. Follow along on Instagram and Facebook as well! Meet Tara White

Accessibility Note: Scroll to the end of this post to find the audio transcript. Jessica Murdock joins Joey Phoenix on the podcast today to talk about starting what you finish and creating art through all seasons of life. There will also be a bit about her rescue doggo Pixie, who is featured in many of her art pieces, and her

Accessibility Note: Scroll to the end of this post to find the audio transcript. If we’re thinking of this as a pressure cooker – me creating things is the steam release valve. And for some people, the release valve is sending memes back and forth, it’s napping, it’s sitting and doing nothing, it’s finding a little time to read when

Accessibility Note: Scroll to the end of this post to find the audio transcript. “There’s this constant feeling of comparing ourselves to other artists and being like ‘wow,’ they’re amazingly productive! I should be that productive. But what we can’t see is the mental facilities on their end, the mental health on their end, the responsibilities on their end, so

by Joey Phoenix All photos by K.H. Photography While scrolling through my newsfeed last week, like one does these days, I came across a stunning piece of work by Lowell-based photographer Kristen Higgins of K.H. Photography (recently published in VisualMag). She had created an ambient setting with fabric and light and nestled a small screen streaming a posed model in

This Mother’s Day, Creative Collective has teamed up with 5 local small businesses and 5 local artists to give complimentary Mother’s Day postcards to the first 100 takeout/delivery orders at each location. These unique designs celebrate Moms, and since they double as coloring pages, it gives them something to do between doing their jobs as actual heroes. Lucille’s Wine Shop

by Joey Phoenix When shelter-in-place orders took effect earlier this month, Lynn-based Raw Art Works wasted no time coming up with ideas to support the creative youth during this difficult moment. In a matter of days, RAW introduced a number of virtual programs and exciting new projects that would help give Lynn youth not just hope, but something to do

Need a way to spend a few minutes in between Zoom meetings or a way to get your kids to stop saying “I’m boredddddddd” long enough for you to take a shower? Well, coloring book pages might just be the thing. We’ve also thrown in a couple of activity sheets for good measure. Coloring Book Pages by Creative Collective When

This year on April 22 is the 50th anniversary of Earth Day and organizations around the United States are creating ways to celebrate the earth virtually. We’ve rounded up a few of our favorites here, but you can also follow #EarthDayAtHome on Social Media. Spread Kindness with Alice’s Table – Magnolia Blooms In this live stream, Jeannine O’Neil of Alice’s