The flexible space at Lillstreet Loft worked great as a place to bring people together to make art in support of a very important statement. Naomi Natale first conceived of the One Million Bones installation in 2009, building on her work as an installation artist, photographer, and social practice artist.

We all had a great time working together to support One Million Bones, making connections, and enjoying each other’s company. It was a natural fit for the benefit to be hosted at the loft, home of the IGNITE programming.

The One Million Bones project recognizes that art is an incredibly powerful tool with which to engage a community and connect people with issues in personal and profound ways. IGNITE at Lillstreet believes in the power of art as well, and we focus our teambuilding retreats to bring out that power in our participants.

Columbia College Chicago is the home base of Team Great Lakes taking part in One Million Bones’ largest initiative, to lay one million bones on the National Mall in Washington D.C. June 8 – 10, 2013. If you’d like to be a part of the installation team, please email me at Joe@lillstreet.com for more information.

http://blog.artsusa.org/2013/01/24/do-business-executives-believe-artistic-pursuits-add-value-to-their-work-from-the-partnership-movement/

Life gets busy. We sometimes forget why we create or what value it provides in our lives. At Lillstreet, our entire purpose is to provide the space, time, and community for people to create on a regular basis. Whether you’re a first-time artist, or an expert, there are endless benefits to continually pursuing your inner artist. Below are just seven examples.

1. BECOME A BETTER PROBLEM SOLVER

There isn’t a manual to being an artist, and there isn’t a manual for being alive. Obstacles and challenges throughout life are inevitable. However, when we make creativity a habit, we continue to learn new, resourceful ways of solving problems in our artwork, and in life.

2. CONNECT WITH YOUR COMMUNITY

When we create, we connect to other people doing the same and an instant sense of community is formed. Whether we’re exchanging ideas, providing feedback for our peers, or simply creating next to eachother in silence, the sense of connection experienced as artists is undeniable and deeply rewarding.

3. SAVE MONEY

Expressing ourselves can control the urge to buy impulsively. If we trade the activity of consuming for creating, we not only save money, but get a deeper sense of fulfillment. Additionally, the more we learn how to make things ourselves, the less we need to spend money on buying them.

4. EXPANDED SENSE OF TIME

Countless artists have discussed the experience of timelessness that one encounters in the creative zone. Time feels limitless when we are in the creative ‘zone.’ Strangely enough, when we give ourselves time to creative pursuits, we gain time. Who couldn’t use the feeling of more time?

5. SELF AWARENESS & EXPRESSION

Creativity is the route to authenticity. As we create, we plumb the depths of our being, accessing what we think and believe. The more we create, the more we discover and realize our habits, impulses, and desires. When we take the time and energy to develop our own ideas, we respect our inner nature and are better able to express ourselves to the world on a regular basis

6. FREEDOM

There is no right or wrong way to be an artist. When we create, we are given the opportunity to engage with the world without judging ourselves. We have permission to take risks, try new things, and strip away inhibitions in a healthy way.

7. STRESS RELIEF

Making art is meditative. Taking the time to use our hands, minds, and energy doing something we love is of uptmost importance in life. Being creative makes us happy. Art is FUN, and doing anything that brings joy reduces our stress levels and improves our quality of life. What could be more important than that?

Adapted by Julia Zema, Director of Marketing & Communications at Lillstreet Art center, from “Creativity: Why Bother? 10 Benefits of Expressing Your Creativity”

Open your mind to new possibilities with a trip to Lillstreet Art Center in Chicago, where a group of artists craft pottery. Listen as Oprah shares how her first pottery session was a lesson on embracing the present moment. Then, let the clay crafting inspire you to think about the vision for your life—and how you can start shaping it today.

1. Change What You’re Looking At: Start keeping a folder of inspirational and funny quotes, pictures, typography, illustrations, photos, etc.  Spend sometime looking through them when you’re feeling stuck for a kick-start of motivation.
2. Just Get Something Down on Paper: Stop agonizing about your words and ideas, sometimes just getting your thoughts out on paper gets you in the groove again. Doodling helps too, don’t be afraid of drawing.
3. Talk to Someone: It doesn’t matter if it is a colleague, friend, or even your kid – just explain the problem or challenge your dealing with, and they may come up with a solution that sparks an idea for you.
4. Do Something that Makes you Feel Good: Whether it’s indulging in bubble bath or shoes, or a self-improvement project like cleaning and re-organizing your workspace – when you feel good about yourself you’ll be ready to take that next big thing on with gusto.
5. Make Something with your Hands: Try an art class, or pick up a creative hobby whether it is cooking, painting, woodworking or the like. The act of creating will get you out of your head and into the moment. It’s usually in those brief moments of clarity when our best ideas strike!

Written by Claire Hurwitz – Special Events Manager at Lillstreet Art Center in Chicago. Lillstreet specializes in art-focused team building and retreats to help businesses grow their creative might.

*Adapted from the book BreakThrough! Overcome Creative Block & Spark Your Imagination.