GO

a group of good people doing and creating good things in ourselves, our communities, our social circles, our businesses, our brands, our world.

[herewegocollective-blog]

get up and GO.

GO is in the process of rebuilding and revamping the blog and, with that, our overall vision. get ready for new voices, new outlooks, and new approaches to what it is exactly that gets us up and gets us GOing. 

[herewegocollective-blog]

Terrarium and photographs by Anthony W. Grigas 

[herewegocollective-blog]

by Lauren Taylor Vass

[herewegocollective-blog]

Inspiration

by Rachel Heit

The funny thing about inspiration is that it strikes whenever the hell it wants. As a 20-something, you hope to the dear lord above it strikes soon and as often as possible.

  No, that doesn’t make sense, as often as possible?

But most know this sentiment.

  Talk about cross roads. This time in your life is the epitome of that. You may have had a job right out of college that no longer fits you, or you’re still working on what your calling is in this wide world. Did I mention it was wide? Like massive. There are so many nooks around this huge sphere it’s a wonder anyone finds not only a job they love but someone who they consider their other half. And yet it happens.

But, I digress.

  Inspiration. 

It may have more sources than an English research paper. You can be walking down the street and notice how the sun seeps through the petals of an early spring flower. The perfect light pink hue, lit from the back by warmth. Or you’re sitting in a kitchen talking with those you love and all of a sudden you know. The thing about inspiration, no matter how or where you find it, is you have to act on it.

It’s given/discovered/earned for us to do something with. And when you’re a 20-something, you best not let it go.

That’s what keeps us going; that possibility of something more, of something different. That in this crazyass world there’s actually a place we fit perfectly. That there’s an opportunity to show others in a personal and professional sense that we’re the shit. And because we’ve been hit by that lightning bolt, or ray of sunshine, we take risks that may or may not pan out.

  But that’s the beauty of inspiration.

  It tells you to follow your heart. And very rarely, if you listen closely, is it wrong.

[herewegocollective-blog]

Rachel Heit, 26. 

[justinbenzel]

[herewegocollective-blog]

“Charles Moray Launches a Smear Campaign”

by: Justin Benzel

from the 5th Dimension series

[herewegocollective-blog]

Follow GO artist and contributor, John Barduhn, in his adventures as Founder/lead photographer/writer/all-around great guy at Seventh Step Studio. 

[herewegocollective-blog]

Jillian Luse, 22. 

Provenance: Savannah, GA

Passion: Art & Education

Purpose: To be an advocate of the arts, inspiring creative development along with a deep understanding and appreciation of art in the local and global community. 

Websites/blogs: Find Jill on Pinterest, Instagram, Facebook. 

Where do you want to GO? Wherever God leads me. 

[justinbenzel]

[herewegocollective-blog]

“Petey Gets Harassed By The Cops”

by Justin Benzel

from the 5th Dimension series

[justinbenzel]

“Max Loves A Cyborg, But She’s Married To Her Blaster”

by: Justin Benzel

from the 5th Dimension series

[herewegocollective-blog]

Photograph by Michelle Cornejo

[herewegocollective-blog]

Sameera Savarala, 26.

Provenance: Born in Hyderabad, India, raised in Louisville, KY, recent Chicagoan - all places I am proud to call home.

Passion: Environment, sustainable development, equality, learning, photography, humor, travel - not necessarily in this order.

Purpose: So far? To find linkages and share my optimism. 

Websites/blogs/projects: oatandaboat.tumblr.com,  twitter.com/sameerasays, sustainus.org, hrotpcambodia.wordpress.com, www.chicagoconservationcorps.org

Where do you want to GO? I want to build my creativity and knowledge by learning something from everyone I meet and from the natural world around me.   My dream is to help build a truly inclusive, engaging, and successful process of decision-making across the world to address issues critical to our peaceful existence, from climate change to universal human rights.  

[herewegocollective-blog]

by Lauren Taylor Vass

[herewegocollective-blog]

John Barduhn, 30.

Provenance: Toronto, ON by way of Savannah, GA and Syracuse, NY.

Passion: Education Through Experience. Tea. Capturing Emotion. Hockey. Giving Back.

Purpose: To live humorously, with compassion.

Websites/blogs: johnbarduhn.com / johnbarduhnblog.com / seventhstepstudio.com / songsandcigarettes.com

Where do you want to GO? To anywhere friendships are strong, food is shared, and toasts are given. 

[herewegocollective-blog]

Discovering Your Creative Practice

Sometimes, as creatives, we have a hard time channeling our creative energy into one practice. Some of us don't care to, but others (particularly the ones looking to make a career out of it) have a very difficult time discovering that one thing that differentiates them from the rest. I knew this was true, but the reality of it struck me square in the face last week. I attended a free community class at Next Door Chicago (on the corner of Clark and Diversey...worth checking out) called "Art as a Business" and it completely blew my mind. We creatives really have a hard time figuring our exactly what our "product" is and what about it makes it unique. I learned that we must figure this out. What is that differentiating factor? What will entice our target market? What is our market? Even if you have absolutely no interest in selling your work or your time or expertise, you must target a market for it to make the impact you envision in your mind. I cannot even begin to tell you how many contributors of GO emailed me with "but I don't know what to contribute! What should I do?" The class taught me that you, as the creative, need to just focus on what you are already doing. You are already good at that. "You are bringing people together for the sake of art," my instructor called out at me. Bingo. He figured me out. I'm bringing people together for the creative good. That's what I do, but I need to keep practicing. I'm pretty good at it, but why not be great at it? I am one of those types that wants to do everything. Wanting to do everything makes it pretty darn difficult to practice one thing in order to be great, am I right? I didn't even know what I was good it. For the longest time I was just trying to figure out that one thing I could do, practice, and excel. My creative process came to me in a moleskine journal. GO started out as scribbles and dreams in a journal. I have about 12 journals. They range in size and in purpose. I started keeping a journal at a very young age. I was obsessed with Harriet the Spy and so greatly enjoyed recording my observations (just like her). My journal entries continued to shift over time and upon arrival to my very first college English Composition class, I read an excerpt of a nonfiction piece by Joan Didion. Her piece, "On Keeping a Journal" pretty much changed the entire game for me. It was only a matter of time before I scooped up all of her written works and lost myself in her rhythmic passages and off beat melancholy. I found myself believing that I could discover anything about me and who I might become through my writing. My writing was the most pure reflection of myself. Channeling this energy, I embraced the creation of GO. It is hard to ignore months and months of a creative dream when it is screaming up at you from countless pencil and ink stained pages. I found myself linking together ideas in the journal and that practice turned into me linking together people. Needless to say, I haven't stopped. In fact, living in Chicago has only strengthened this practice. The most wonderful discovery of all when it comes to the creative practice? We will never be perfect at what we do, which will require us to expand and explore, meet others and share. That's what GO wants to do, so we might as well practice together.

[herewegocollective-blog]

what's in the works...

1. A public GO event/GO exhibition opening in Chicago, IL. 

2. A KickStarter campaign launch.

3. Production of marketing materials.

4. Scheduled weekly meet ups at various Chicago community spaces. 

Where/how/when will you take GO to the next level? Want to make it a real, live, physical force to be reckoned with in your city? GO right ahead! (just let me know how it all goes down)

[herewegocollective-blog]

by Mike Bolsinga