What is the Covid Writing Recovery Project?

The Covid Writing Recovery Project is a community-wide arts initiative co-presented by The ArtsCenter and Till the Ground which will explore themes of resiliency and reimagining, encouraging individuals and our community to discover meaningful responses to the challenges of our time.

Emergence Evening – Public Reading at the ArtsCenter 

On February 24, from 7:00-9:00 PM, the Covid Writing Recovery Project will celebrate four months of writing together with an in-person public reading-and-writing event for everyone in the community. 

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All fall and winter, folks have responded to prompts on Till the Ground, tilltheground.net. We have explored who we are, what we are looking for or dreaming of as we recover from the Covid 19 crisis, rediscovering a life of imagination and creative momentum. Visit the website to read reflections by community members of all ages and inclinations, from Hillsborough to Raleigh to Chapel Hill, and back to Carrboro, again.

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The Emergence Evening is an opportunity for friends, family, neighbors, old and young, to get limber and expressive in person, encouraging each other to listen and be amazed. 

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For those who might want to explore the theme for the evening more deeply, consider writing ahead of time about the meaning of EMERGENCE, specifically as it reflects your experiences and hopes for growing beyond the emergency of the pandemic. During Emergence Evening, everyone who wants to will have the chance to read their phrase, paragraph, or page as one of the Emergence Evening Readers. If you’d rather not read, OK! We’ll need an audience. Please come anyway! 

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(Feel free to post your thoughts on Till the Ground and contribute to prior Prompts, as well.)

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Finally, there will be a conversation inspired by the evening itself, another opportunity to till the ground of our thought life, planting a harvest of health and well-being in each other’s company.

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Led by Karen Jessee

Over the past ten years, Karen Jessee has regularly taught short courses and retreats, both for local religious congregations and independently. During the pandemic, she hosted two weekly groups via Zoom–one a contemplative study group, the other a prompt writing group which is ongoing. Currently, she is hosting a class which incorporates prompt writing, engagement with challenging texts, and group discussion.

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The Covid Writing Recovery Project is a community-wide arts initiative which can build resiliency in individuals and communities, encouraging meaningful responses to the challenges of our time. The Covid Writing Recovery Project is not a forum for arguments, grievances, or criticism of others. By writing our own lives into being as individuals, we contribute to a rich harvest of health for the entire world. 

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ArtsCenter COVID Safety Policy

Our community’s health and safety is important. At this time, masks and proof of vaccination are required for all ArtSchool teachers and students.

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Questions?

For more information, please contact:
Anna Hewett, for the ArtCenter, ahewett@artscenterlive.org
Karen Jessee, tilltheground@earthlink.net