About

The 100DayProject is a creativity excavation.  It’s about unearthing dormant or unrealized creativity by committing to a daily practice everyday for 100 days.

Creativity is a skill.  The more we practice, the more skilled we become.  Practice takes time.  Practice takes commitment.  Practice is a radical act in this speeded up world.   Through practice, we develop a creative habit.  Through habit, we reconnect with and know ourselves again as a creative being.

History of the 100DayProject:

The seeds of The100DayProject began in 2008 at an artist retreat near Traverse City, Michigan.  This 5-day retreat was co-lead by New Mexico artist, Louisa Barkalow, and Upper Michigan ceramicist Ann Russ.  Participants were invited to hang a simple piece of artwork they made each day on a piece of twine strung across a doorway at the retreat house.  The purpose of this simple, warm-up exercise was to get the creative juices flowing.  It also provided a visual reference of what a simple daily creative practice looks like and how it grows and develops over time.

This simple idea caught fire with retreat participant Catherine Benda – and she and Ann Russ introduced it to the PIA Artist Collective, their art group in northern Michigan.

PIA members were curious and started experimenting with a daily practice in 2008.  The outcome was fruitful – in honed their skills as artists and resulted in surprising creative breakthroughs with their work.  The daily practice soon evolved into a period of 100 days (a sweet spot between challenge and do-ability) – and PIA artists continued doing 100 day practices since its 2008 inception.

In 2012, Ann Russ approached Tiina Harris, Director of the Marquette Arts & Culture Center (MACC) about having a 100 day project exhibit at the gallery there.  Tiina was intrigued and supported the idea of an exhibit.

In October 2013, an exhibit of 100 day project work by PIA (and other local) artists was installed in the MACC gallery.  The exhibit was titled “The100DayProject:  The Art of Practice and the Practice of Art”.  The show generated significant local interest, and with MACC’s support, the local community was invited to participate in a January 2014 community-wide launch.  This launch was promoted by local TV, radio, and print media outlets – and a short documentary of The100DayProject was produced and aired.

Since January 2014, 100 day projects have launched annually and are on-going.  Catherine and Ann continue to support it in their role as volunteer co-organizers.  The 100DayProject has since spread beyond its local and upper Midwest regional roots and is now a global phenomenon.

Catherine and Ann love the idea of supporting the creative spirit in people and are in awe of the power, magic, and impact of a regular practice.

Twyla Tharp, author of The Creative Habit, describes it best, “If creativity is a habit, then the best creativity is the result of good work habits. They are the nuts and bolts of dreaming.”

Cheers,
Ann Russ & Catherine Benda
The100DayProject Co-organizers