#CreativeMornings

[creativemorningsseattle]

Audience Takes the Stage

5 speakers, 5 minutes, 1 mic (and a clock)

For our June 27 event, we’re handing the mic to you. Let us know if you’re in!

The theme is PUNK, and this time our audience takes the stage for a series of short, 5-minute (or less!) presentations.

Got something to say or show about what punk means to you? Now’s your chance.

We’re looking for a mix of voices, formats, and perspectives. A story, poem, set of images, musical moment, or something else entirely. No rules! (Okay, a few rules.)

What to know: 💡 You don’t need a finished presentation to submit – just your idea.

📝 Deadline to submit: Monday, June 16

📆 Event: Friday, June 27, 8:30–10am

⌛ Presentations are 1–5 minutes, with up to 5 slides (optional).

✅ If you’re selected, we’ll let you know by June 18, with next steps.

This doesn’t have to be polished or perfect – we’re here for real, creative, and meaningful.

[creativemorningscincinnati]

Thank you to everyone who came out for our March event with @chrislarue21 from @cincyhive! Chris talked about the importance of honoring both our inner lives and our outer lives in the choices we make. He also spoke on how introspection and calmness can ignite our creativity and call us to action.

What are the practices you use to stay grounded? Meditation? Yoga? Morning pages? Let us know!

[creativemorningsgrandrapids]

Aileen Strickland McGee is a constantly curious creative who seeks to better understand the interaction and experiences between humans, our environments, and the systems we create + operate within. She is passionate about the power of design, cooperation, systems thinking and presence to create more just, equitable, and regenerative futures. As Director of Impact, People + Planet at Steelcase, she leads a team catalyzing collective action by reimagining systems and designing strategies that center the wellbeing of people and the planet.  Aileen earned her Bachelor and Master of Science in Interior Design, with a focus on the relationships between identity, belonging and our environments. She is a designer, researcher, futurist, and strategist – and has always spent her days asking big questions.

More: https://creativemornings.com/talks/parallel-with-aileen-strickland-mcgee

[creativemorningsportland]

#CMmentor

Our theme for July is MENTOR.

No one is born with all the knowledge and skills they’ll need to thrive in life. That’s why kids go to school. But we shouldn’t stop learning once we graduate. We need to find new teachers. 

A mentor doesn’t have to be an expert or the top of their field. Just someone who’s been there and done that before. Someone to show you the way and offer a bit of advice and encouragement. Ideally, they’re willing to make introductions and mention your name when you’re not in the room. 

Being a mentor is considered a way of giving back. But mentors get just as much out of the relationship, if not more. Beyond the satisfaction of helping, mentors also learn from their mentees. From a fresh way of looking at established practices to tackling new problems with a beginner’s mind. 

So, ask for help. We all could use a guide as we climb. Find your mentors and be a mentor in return. Your plans for growth are more likely to succeed if they include lifting others up as you rise.

This theme was chosen by our Glasgow chapter in Scotland, illustrated by Molly Hankinson, and is presented by Adobe.  

[creativemorningsphoenix]

Our theme for July is MENTOR. It was chosen by our Glasgow chapter in Country/State and illustrated by Molly Hankinson, and is presented by Adobe.

No one is born with all the knowledge and skills they’ll need to thrive in life. That’s why kids go to school. But we shouldn’t stop learning once we graduate. We need to find new teachers. A mentor doesn’t have to be an expert or the top of their field. Just someone who’s been there and done that before. Someone to show you the way and offer a bit of advice and encouragement. Ideally, they’re willing to make introductions and mention your name when you’re not in the room. Being a mentor is considered a way of giving back. But mentors get just as much out of the relationship, if not more. Beyond the satisfaction of helping, mentors also learn from their mentees. From a fresh way of looking at established practices to tackling new problems with a beginner’s mind. So, ask for help. We all could use a guide as we climb. Find your mentors and be a mentor in return. Your plans for growth are more likely to succeed if they include lifting others up as you rise.

[creativemorningsminneapolis]

Hey creatives! It's July and we're gearing up for another great event. Our theme this month is Mentor, chosen by our Glasgow chapter in Scotland, illustrated by Molly Hankinson, and is presented by Adobe. 

Save the date for Friday, July 18 at MCAD with our speaker Amanda Zweerink. All event details here.

[creativemorningsbasel]

PUNK – unser Thema im Juni 2025

Gemäss dem Motto: Punk is not dead - er hat nur den Raum gewechselt lud uns Guillaume Daeppen im Juli in die gleichnamige Galerie in Kleinbasel ein. Dort begegnen sich Street Culture, Urban Art, Post-Punk und Skate-Ästhetik mit Illustration, Design und Fotografie.

In seinem Talk erzählte Guillaume von seinen ersten Begegnungen mit Punk, was ihn daran bis heute fasziniert - und wie diese Haltung seine kuratorische Vision geprägt hat.

Es war ein spannender Morgen voller neuen Einsichten. Ein grosses Dankeschön an alle Teilnehmer:innen sowie unsere grossartigen globalen und lokalen Sponsoren: 🎨 Adobe, fantastischer Kaffee von Coffee B ☕️, edle Tees von London Tea und Leihlager für die Unterstützung mit Equipment 📽️

Wir freuen uns schon auf den nächsten Morgen mit euch im Juli!

Fotos: Dirk Wetzel

Video: Marcello Keller

[creativemorningsvirginiabeach]

Jeff Tarkenton of Mirth Inkorporated on Leading a PUNK Life in the 757

Real, energetic and unapologetically unfiltered, Jeff Tarnkenton stood in front of several original artworks as he kicked off our June Creative Morning gathering in The Garage, needing very little introduction. The artist, curator and filmmaker – a dynamic force and facilitator – within the local arts scene was greeted by cheers and enthusiasm as he kicked off his talk and took us on a journey through his proudly PUNK life.

Jeff’s rebellious journey began not long after losing his father, a satirical cartoonist for The Virginian-Pilot, when he was just nine years old. Unchecked grief, he explained, snowballed into anger, which he channeled in skating and surfing. While these activities were primarily solitary, their punk-music soundtracks provided both company and comfort. In the no-rules-apply environment of the skateboarding scene, Jeff found unlimited freedom.

With an eagerness to break away and with nothing to lose, Jeff followed friends down to St. Augustine, Fla., in his early 20s. There, they transformed the empty pool in an abandoned house in the woods into their own skate park, spray-painting and graffiti-bombing any available surface they could find. Jeff’s handiwork even landed them in several niche skateboarding magazines, cementing his punk “street cred.”

“What could be more punk rock than jumping off a flight of stairs on a piece of wood with wheels?”

Ultimately, it was this “do it yourself” attitude of the punk ethos that would influence Jeff well beyond his younger years. By his early 30s, tired of being tired and determined to nurture his artistic talents, Jeff quit alcohol and drugs and began focusing on art as a serious endeavor.

His sobriety changed everything, Jeff vulnerably shared with the group. Graffiti and street-art projects soon paved the way for commissioned murals at local restaurants, cafés and even the Virginia Museum of Contemporary Art (MOCA). As of a year ago, Jeff is officially a full-time professional artist, lending his talents around Coastal Virginia in a variety of mediums.

What began as a pop-up art show 10 years ago is now the area’s well-established Artist’s Block. Imagined and led by Jeff, he refers to the beloved event as a “carnival of which I am the ringleader; it’s like microdosing a circus!” Dozens of local artists and creators have benefited from Jeff’s spirited efforts, which now extend far beyond a block.

In the DIY spirit that has inspired him from the beginning, Jeff pursued filmmaking. In 2020, he produced and directed “The Shadowlawn Creeper,” an homage to his favorite 80s b-horror movies.

“I want my art to show others that they can do whatever they believe they can do.”

Jeff’s Mirth Inkorporated brand was inspired by a sense of “joyful mischief” and the ethos of the punk subculture. Rebelling against the status quo, carving out his own path and remaining authentically himself, Jeff says, is the only way he wants to live. In this way, he plans to be “punk” for the rest of his life – and everyone in attendance can agree, Virginia Beach is the better for it.

“Virginia Beach is punk. Here, it’s not about where you’re from but about where you are. Just be a decent human!”

_

Written by CMVB volunteer blogger Valeria L. Palmertree

Join us every third Friday in 2025 as we explore, along with 236 other cities in 69 countries around the world, 12 new themes in a face-to-face community format. Recent themes have included Cycle, Layers, Revival, Punk and Parallel. July’s theme is MENTOR, and our featured speaker will be Deirdre Love, founder of Teens with a Purpose.

CM also has virtual field trips and a database of previous talks to enjoy and explore at home.

[creativemorningspoulsbo]

The international theme for June is PUNK. It was chosen by our Bologna chapter in Italy and illustrated by Cristina Portolano. June 13ths local presentation by Eric Cummings is now shared in video and via photography, check it out:

Eric Cummings | The Slaughter Project | CreativeMornings/PBO

[creativemorningsderby]

Our theme for June is PUNK. It was chosen by our Bologna chapter in Italy and illustrated by Cristina Portolano. 

Does the system feel broken 

Staring at our screens

Not hearing the screams

Wake up wake up wake up

We’re not meant to go it alone 

Find your people lift them up

Do what you can with what you got

Wake up wake up wake up

Your creativity can save you

What you gonna make

What you gonna change

Wake up wake up wake up

We'll be in our new home Derby Market Hall on Friday 20th June from 09.30am

[creativemorningsseattle]

On August 6th, we’re flipping the script and hosting CreativeMornings after dark.

Join us at COLOR Creative’s studio in Bellevue for Creative Evening, a buzzing night of inspiration, music, and community. This isn’t your average talk series—it’s a celebration of mentorship, punk energy, and creative resilience in all its forms.

We’re thrilled to welcome three incredible voices from Seattle’s creative scene:

Nate Manny From international tours with The Murder City Devils to global brand campaigns for Pepsi, KEEN, and Microsoft, Nate’s 20-year journey bridges music, design, and storytelling. He got his start building the brand for his band while earning his Fine Arts degree at Evergreen, and never looked back—navigating both agency and in-house roles with his signature creative grit.

Lance Mercer A photographer who got into shows with a camera and a punk ethos, Lance’s work is as raw and real as the Seattle scene he came up in. “I didn’t have to be Ansel Adams to take photographs,” he says. “The same kind of ethos the Ramones had musically, I could apply photographically.” His lens captured a generation—and a movement.

Laura Stockwell Laura brings a strategic mind and generous heart to everything she does. A leader in tech, design, and innovation, she’s helped Fortune 100 companies, agencies, and nonprofits unlock insights and drive real change. Her work is a masterclass in clarity, transformation, and building teams that make magic.

And because it’s COLOR, the night doesn’t stop with the talks. Expect:

Live music by Bassafras

Arcade games

Karaoke

Theremin lessons (yes, really)

Hands-on creative activities and community surprises

Date: August 6, 2025

Time: 6 PM onwards

Location: COLOR Creative’s studio

Tickets Available Soon!

[creativemorningstrn]

DARIO BELLOTTI on punk

Dario Bellotti, classe 1977, vive a Torino dove lavora come meccanico. Nel 2001, un po' per caso, indossa la sua prima parrucca e da lì inizia la sua seconda carriera nel mondo dell'intrattenimento, dove si trasforma in Barbie Bubu. Il suo personaggio, versione drag queen, crea una comicità che ha molto impatto sul pubblico, nella fantasia di un mondo comico e surreale.  Negli anni si è occupato di organizzare spettacoli in discoteche, pub e teatri, ha creato anche spettacoli in cui è protagonista. Dal 2010 organizza Miss Drag Queen Piemonte e dal 2021 ha avviato l'insegnamento di drag Queen presso il Q77 e Il Piccolo Teatro Comico.

[creativemorningsgrandrapids]

Scoob the Artist, whose real name is Terrell Foy, is a multidisciplinary artist and creative visionary based in Grand Rapids, Michigan. He is best known for leading “The Trauma Project,” a powerful artistic endeavor that addresses themes of trauma and healing through a combination of visual art and music. His project, which won the Grand Prize at ArtPrize, features collaborations with over 20 local artists.

Aside from that he lives a double artist life as The artist behind Custom Steppers. a prominent custom shoe designer known for his innovative and artistic approach to footwear. Based in Grand Rapids, Michigan, he has gained international recognition for creating one-of-a-kind, hand-painted sneakers that blend street style with artistic expression.

[creativemorningsfreiburg]

June's theme is PUNK. Unser Thema für Juni ist “PUNK”.

🎸The description for this month’s theme is written in the style of lyrics to a punk rock song. 🎵

Does the system feel broken Staring at our screens Not hearing the screams Wake up wake up wake up We’re not meant to go it alone  Find your people lift them up Do what you can with what you got Wake up wake up wake up Your creativity can save you What you gonna make What you gonna change Wake up wake up wake up

🎸🎵🧷

We encourage our community to join in the revelry in Basel this month: Freitag, 27 June um 8Uhr in die Gallery Daeppen in Basel. Ihr Speaker Guillaume Daeppen, Gründer der gleichnamigen Galerie und des „Space for Zines“, nimmt euch mit auf eine Reise durch seine punkinspirierte Welt. Jetzt Anmelden!

„Punk is not dead – er hat nur den Raum gewechselt.“

June's theme PUNK was chosen by our CreativeMornings Bologna chapter in Italy and has been illustrated by Cristina Portolano.

[creativemorningswro]

Majowe spotkanie upłynęło pod hasłem REVIVAL – i trudno o lepszego gościa do tego tematu niż Tomek Ablewski. Opowiedział nam historię Hipisówki – miejsca stworzonego z pasji w Bieszczadach, które zniknęło w jednej nocy, i o tym, jak po stracie można zbudować coś od nowa, jeszcze bardziej świadomie i z sercem.

Spotkaliśmy się w gościnnych progach Dziadów i Koktajli, czyli nowej wrocławskiej przestrzeni, którą Tomek współtworzy z tą samą uważnością na ludzi, atmosferę i detal.

Było szczerze, ciepło i inspirująco – tak, jak lubimy najbardziej.

Dziękujemy wszystkim, którzy byli z nami, oraz partnerom, bez których te poranki nie smakowałyby tak dobrze.

📸 Zdjęcia z wydarzenia możecie obejrzeć w pełnym albumie autorstwa Marceli Morkis – link znajdziecie w instagramowym bio!

A my już działamy dalej – pracujemy nad czerwcowym spotkaniem i nie możemy się doczekać, by znów się z Wami zobaczyć!

Do zobaczenia wkrótce! 🌞

[creativemorningsphoenix]

Our theme for June is PUNK. It was chosen by our Bologna chapter in Italy and illustrated by Cristina Portolano.

🎸The description for this month’s theme is written in the style of lyrics to a punk rock song. If you know a band that wants to put them to music, we’ll feature their cover song of our punk rock anthem on the CreativeMornings blog. 🎵

Does the system feel broken Staring at our screens Not hearing the screams Wake up wake up wake up We’re not meant to go it alone Find your people lift them up Do what you can with what you got Wake up wake up wake up Your creativity can save you What you gonna make What you gonna change Wake up wake up wake up 🎸🎵🧷