Creativity Connects Ridgefield
What fuels a vibrant, connected, and creative community? What makes people feel good about living in Ridgefield?
When locals share the creativity that they uncover in the nooks and crannies of their community it brings about connectivity and makes us all feel good. Believe it or not, you discover creativity every day as you walk, shop, work, and play in Ridgefield.
Creativity connects us.
Meet Meredith Mulhearn, artist, community advocate.
Is there an organization in town that makes you feel good?
I have to say I’m a bit biased when it comes to this question. RPAC art studio and gallery are my home away from home. This amazing group of people, whom I met just over a year ago, feel more like family than colleagues. The studio is where I create my art, find inspiration and follow my dreams. The members of RPAC lift me up when life gets challenging and give me the confidence to never give up in my pursuit of art. Most people don’t realize how difficult the art-making process is and how much courage it takes to share one’s creations with the world. As artists, we are no strangers to failure and rejection. But that’s nothing I can’t overcome with my RPAc buddies by my side. RPAC is my favorite place to go in Ridgefield. Both are absolutely amazing facilities, but it’s the people here that make all the difference.
Is there a person or organization using creativity to provoke change in Ridgefield?
Yes! And it’s so new, you may not have heard of it yet! Artful Visual Arts Initiative is a newly formed nonprofit that seeks to support artists and help them overcome obstacles to success. The brainchild of Dee Dee Colabella, Artful empowers local artists by providing opportunities that might otherwise be unattainable. Their first endeavor is the Bow Wow Art Dog initiative. Think Cows on Parade, but with dogs. Artists, like myself, will transform life-sized dog sculptures into works of art that will be auctioned off to benefit local art organizations. You’ll get to see these dogs around town so that they can be enjoyed by all!
Any place in town where you go for inspiration and creativity?
As a conceptual artist, the Aldrich Contemporary Art Museum is an absolute gem! When working conceptually, the vast majority of time spent making art is allocated to the thought process. Unlike art that’s made to be visually appealing, conceptual art is successful when it conveys a message and provokes thought. The Aldrich is the perfect place for me to hone my own ideas. Seeing how other successful artists have conveyed their ideas helps me find ways to express my own. It’s the perfect place to go when I’m in a rut. And I love going with my whole family and encouraging them to think outside of the box.
The Ridgefield Guild of Artists is another of my favorite places in town because it features the work of local artists and offers wonderful classes. No matter how skilled I become as an artist, I’m always looking for ways to improve my craft. The best teacher I’ve ever had in my art career is Sam Morrow at the Guild. I learn so much from him and he challenges me to break out of my comfort zone. I’m so grateful to the RGOA for making resources like this available in town.
When I think of creativity in town I think of …
… the entire town of Ridgefield! As a local artist, I see the town through a lense of creativity. In fact, this town’s unique cultural presence is a big part of what drew me to Ridgefield when choosing a home for my family. There’s always something creative going on in town. Moving from NYC, the one thing I felt I was sacrificing by moving to the suburbs was exposure to cultural experiences. Being in Ridgefield gives my family the best of both worlds…suburban life with an abundance of creative opportunities.
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The views and opinions expressed above are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of HamletHub or LIFEWTR.