A Decade of Love Letters
Artistic expressions can be viewed as tapestries that are sewn with threads of experiences and emotions. Across the millennia, artworks have forged links that tie us back to communities. The earliest known paintings date back over 50,000 years—primitive depictions representing aspects of communities’ experiences were daubed across smooth cave walls. The cave walls have evolved into brick and mortar, and our sense of community continues to evolve, but here in Annapolis, we have a wealth of artists.
For 10 years, I’ve had the privilege of entering studios, restaurants and bars, schools, shops, and coffeehouses across this city, interviewing people for Up.St.ART Annapolis. I’ve seen people light up with emotion as they share their artistic visions and paths. It’s exhilarating to witness creatives in their element—it’s like stepping into a world of possibility—and every conversation fuels my own creative journey as a writer. Each interview further flames my love for the arts and gives me a glimpse into someone else’s creative process, sparking a rush of inspiration. As I leave an interview, my mind is always spinning, weaving together words, images, and impressions into the framework of a new story as I aim to capture the essence of a creative person based on the fleeting moments we’ve shared.
What I find most enlightening and deeply touching during these conversations is the unique perspective each person brings to their creative path as well as the lessons they’ve gained along the way. A recurring theme from some is the role of community—the fellow creatives who offer advice, open doors, collaborate, and provide support. These exchanges are a reminder of how much we can draw from one another’s experiences and insights.
It’s such a thrill to receive the latest issue, seeing my story come to life alongside a photographer’s vision. Experiencing the story in its evolved form, transformed by others’ perspectives, including the editors and designers, is both exhilarating and profoundly fulfilling.
As Up.St.ART’s longest contributing writer, what continues to inspire me is the people: the creatives. The magazine has served as a stage for spotlighting the multicolored threads of this richly creative community, illuminating their brilliance and unique talents that, in turn, showcase a lesser-known side of Annapolis. We’re more than just that tongue-in-cheek description of “a drinking town with a sailing problem.” We’re a powerhouse of artistic expression.
-Desiree Smith-Daughety
You know that feeling you get when you fall in love? That sweaty, heart-pounding, endorphin-rushing high that takes over your body? That is how I feel every time I hold a completed issue of Up.St.ART Annapolis.
Over a decade ago, when Jimi Davies and I first tossed around the idea for Up.St.ART, we didn’t know if it would stick. Could a niche magazine, one that excavates the deeper stories of artists and creators, survive? It turns out that there was a craving for exactly that type of quarterly publication.
From the start, we didn’t want to just showcase art—we wanted to pull back the curtain on how artists, creators, movers, and shakers are made. What sparks that first flicker of creativity? How does a person evolve into an artist? Where is the intersection between art and life? Those were the stories that we wanted to tell. And while the magazine is created by and about artists, it’s for anyone who’s ever felt a creative itch, whether or not they’ve picked up a paintbrush or learned to play an instrument or taken to the stage.
A big part of Up.St.ART’s mission has always been making art relatable to everyone, not just the artsy crowd. We believe that art is accessible—which is why education is baked into its pages. And we see innovation as creativity in all its forms—whether on canvas, on computer, on stage, in civics, or in the classroom.
Of course, our tiny but mighty team has racked up a few accolades along the way, most notably the 2019 Folio: Eddie and Ozzie Award for Best Design Team—not too shabby for a small crew of art lovers. We’ve also made it a habit to invite the community to contribute, from poems to photo essays, because we want to ignite that creative fire in everyone.
At the end of the day, for me, being a part of Up.St.ART feeds a deep-seated hunger. Reviewing story pitches, writing stories, meeting with creatives, managing the editorial department, and working alongside Jimi Davies, Cory Deere, Leah Weiss, and all our contributors are deeply gratifying experiences. As the velvety grain of the latest issue brushes against my fingertips, I’m swept up in that familiar rush of falling in love all over again.
Moving into our eleventh year, our goal remains the same: to inspire, to educate, and to show that creativity exists everywhere. Whether or not you identify as an artist, we hope that you find yourself somewhere in the pages of Up.St.ART, because art is everywhere, even in the small, seemingly ordinary moments of life. And every article found in Up.St.ART’s pages is a kind of love letter to and about the community.
-Andrea Stuart
