Theme: Cycle
Date: Last Friday of the Month
Venue: Fayetteville
Due to a speaker cancellation, the Creative Mornings team improvised, delivering an eclectic and inspiring session featuring music, art, and community updates.
Event Highlights:
Musical Guest: Dana Louise
- Performance Details: Acoustic guitar set with reflective songwriting.
- Featured Songs: Chrysalis – Lyrics like “Speak the truth to the cold, holy shrine on the dash, long highways through the night bring us to the morning light.” Love Wins – Uplifting lyrics such as: “Picture me a live oak tree… there is a loving energy… when we love, we win.”
- Dana closed with a song to carry the positive energy into the new year.
Upcoming Event:
Dana is involved in a new music festival at Old Friend Farms, Prairie Grove, last weekend of September. Details: Old Friend Farms.
Keynote Concepts:
- Ecotone Exploration: Discussion on the term ecotone—an overlap between two ecosystems. Example: Mount Sequoyah as a zone where wildlife and human activity converge.
- Arthur Russell Tribute: Revered musician compared to Bob Dylan.
- Songs like “This Time Dad You Are Wrong” and “I’ll Close My Eyes” highlighted his unfulfilled recording potential.
- Historical Photography: Black-and-white photos at the Ozark Natural Foods Co-op depict scenes from Fayetteville Farmers Market in the past—worth a visit.
Community Announcements and Opportunities:
Ozark Natural Foods Co-op:
- 102 local farms supply the co-op (12% of total sales).
- Event: Vendor gathering on Feb. 23, 2024.
Apple Seeds NWA:
- Hosts over 15,000 kids annually on its 2-acre gardens near Gully Park.
- Needs volunteers for garden harvesting and private events.
Canopy NWA:
- Resettles refugees in collaboration with the U.S. State Department.
- Programs include:
- Circles of Welcome.
- Entrepreneurship for immigrant startups.
- Volunteer opportunities to foster community integration.
Cultural Planning in Fayetteville:
- “Go Create Fay” Plan: Open for public input until Dec. 30. Aims to shape Fayetteville’s arts scene for the next decade. Learn more here.
- Save the Date:
- Urban Planning Workshop: Feb. 1, 2024, hosted by the Arkansas Urban Land Institute. Details.
- Arkansas Justice Reform Coalition Event: Jan. 24, 2024, Fayetteville Library.
Closing Message:
Creative Mornings reminded attendees of the cyclical nature of life, art, and community. The event concluded with encouragement to engage in local volunteerism, support for the arts, and connecting with others to build a vibrant future.
#CMFay
