This one is for all the local creative types who want to network and meet like-minded individuals, and who are just a little tired of having to explain that, yes, you can have a creative career in DC not directly linked to politics. You guys: you need to meet Morgan Hungerford West.
Morgan Hunterford West of A Creative DC. Photo by María Helena Carey
If her name doesn’t ring a bell, maybe her months-old project, A Creative DC –whose Instagram account has over 15,000 (!!!) followers already– might. West, a DC area artist and blogger, decided to start a project around the beginning of the year showcasing the best of the creative force in DC . She gave herself a one-year time period in which to launch a project channeling the voice of the city in a way that would be less about stodgy suits and representatives from fifty states and far more about the raw, pulsating creative force in the District. “I wanted to focus on a 360-degree, uniquely DC experience,” West tells me. She wants to help foster an inclusive artistic and expressive environment in the city, where community is valued over competition.
So far, A Creative DC lives mostly online, with a beautifully curated stream of photos from all over the DMV. (Yours truly’s photo was featured on the Instagram feed over Memorial Day weekend, by the by #humblebrag)
If there is something better than stumbling upon an Instagram account you really love, it is having the chance to meet people who love the things you love. To that purpose, West and Will Sharp of Maketto, who was an early supporter of West’s project, have partnered up to bring the A Creative DC experience to real life with In Real Life. Every last Friday of the month, everyone is invited to enjoy the beautiful Maketto space, 1351 H Street NE, and, you know, hang out! Do what people do in real life: Enjoy food and drink and bond over life, projects and shared passions.
For those of you who are still in shock about how awesome it would be to meet people like you in a no-pressure environment, here is the useful information:
What: A Creative DC x Maketto: In Real Life
Where: Maketto, 1351 H Street NE
When: Friday July 31, 2015, from 11 a.m. until 2:30 p.m.
Why: Because you want to meet cool people and get excited about new projects and…?
See you there!