Artist's Way Project
The Artist’s Way Project transforms Julia Cameron’s The Artist’s Way into a city-wide public art initiative, exploring the creative process as a tool for personal transformation and community connection. Envisioned in 2023 by Shannon Mack, Mallory Shotwell, and Cultivate, the project debuted with seven local artists creating public art interventions across Grand Rapids. Building on its success, the 2024 iteration expands to feature 12 commissioned artists, each exploring a chapter of Cameron’s seminal work.
Through participatory workshops and guerrilla art initiatives, The Artist’s Way Project creates immersive, interdisciplinary art experiences that engage both artists and community members. The project positions creativity as a catalyst for resilience, equity, and collective empowerment, transforming Grand Rapids into a dynamic canvas for shared exploration and dialogue.
Selected Works
Project Structure
Each week of The Artist’s Way Project focuses on one of Cameron’s chapters, guiding participants through themes such as safety, possibility, and connection.
The weekly programming includes:
Art Workshops: Monday evening workshops at Canal Park, where community members collaborate with local artists to explore the week’s theme through accessible, hands-on art-making.
Guerrilla Art Initiatives: Temporary public art interventions later in the week, transforming urban spaces into platforms for creative engagement. These site-responsive works bring the themes of The Artist’s Way to life, encouraging reflection and interaction.
Selections of Work
Recovering a Sense of Safety
Kristine Vander Velde
Kristine hosts a color-mixing workshop and community mural session, introducing participants to painting as a liberating, nonjudgmental practice. Using themes of nature and recognizable Grand Rapids landmarks, the work encourages participants to embrace imperfection and unlock creative freedom.
Recovering a Sense of Possibility
Drue McPherson
Drue’s guerrilla art initiative addresses hostile architecture by transforming park benches into welcoming resting spaces for unhoused individuals. Foam molds create temporary, bed-like surfaces between bench arms, fostering dialogue about public space and human dignity while providing comfort for those who need it most.
Recovering a Sense of Identity
Deos Ballet Company
Deos Ballet performs an improvisational piece exploring identity as an evolving and relational concept. Covered in different paint colors, dancers physically interact, blending hues to symbolize how life experiences and relationships transform personal identity over time.
Recovering a Sense of Integrity
Kelsey Lee
Kelsey’s performance, Over Time, places dancers in a high-traffic urban area, where they interact with reflective mylar to engage viewers in their surroundings. The mylar becomes entwined with the dancers, symbolizing the interconnectedness of individuals and environments. The performance concludes with community-planted seeds, emphasizing growth and renewal.
Recovering a Sense of Strength
Danielle Wyckoff
Danielle’s work features two pieces: Riverings I, a solo performance of gratitude at the Grand River, and Riverings III, a participatory action inviting dialogue and connection. Using water and natural materials, the pieces honor the resilience embodied by the river while drawing parallels to human strength and interdependence.
Presentation and Engagement
The artworks and performances are designed to be both immersive and participatory. Monday workshops prioritize accessibility, encouraging community members to explore their own creativity without barriers. Guerrilla initiatives place art in unexpected public spaces, fostering spontaneous engagement and reflection among diverse audiences.
Through this interdisciplinary approach, The Artist’s Way Project transforms Cameron’s themes into physical, emotional, and conceptual experiences. The project’s dynamic structure ensures that art is both accessible and transformative, creating opportunities for connection and dialogue across the city.
The Impact of Creativity
The Artist’s Way Project redefines the boundaries of public art by embedding creativity into the fabric of everyday life. By prioritizing collaboration, equity, and experimentation, the project amplifies marginalized voices and invites all participants to experience the transformative potential of art.
Through its focus on interdisciplinary practice and community engagement, the project fosters resilience, connection, and empowerment. The Artist’s Way Project positions Grand Rapids as a living canvas, where creativity catalyzes personal growth and collective transformation.
Participating Artists in 2024
Kelsey Lee, Kristine Vander Velde, Andrew (Drue) McPherson, Deos Contemporary Ballet, Dani F. Hughes, Gracie Thomas, Danielle C. Wyckoff, Pamela Alderman, Megan Williams, Evan Edwards, Kate Benson