After seeing actual footage of a corpse floating through the streets of New Orleans last night, I had nightmares. I was woken up by feelings of hopelessness and anger and frustration that I haven’t felt this sincerely for years.

But, seeing this made me feel a bit more hopeful:

Why? Because not only are artists and crafters rallying together for a good cause, but they are also realising that what we are doing is important, and that within the realm of community, we can make a difference.

Even if you are not selling your wares online, by making things with your own two hands you are contributing to this community and gaining access to your own creativity. In starting down a non-traditional career path, one of the biggest surprises has been the knowledge that my own creativity has been stifled over time…it’s been nice to become reacquainted with it. And to see others become reunited with the power of their own two hands as well.

That’s what this current documentary project I’m working on is about, community. How we are gaining strength through each other and banding together in order to show that within this microeconomy, there is power.
I’ve been asked to write more about the community aspect of the documentary project, which will be up here by tomorrow. In the meantime, it’s okay to stay angry, just not to feel complacent and unimportant.

I have a feeling we’re just at the start of things to come.