“If you’re in the art space, place-making or anything related to arts and culture, depending on where you live, for most of us, it’s a lonely space,” Artist Jim Pajarillo said, “You’re sometimes not surrounded by people you can relate to.
Like other creative change-makers, Pajarillo travelled to Princeton this weekend for the 2025 Create Your State Convening. Pajarillo, who leads The HeArt of WV in Williamson, said he was grateful to lead a presentation and connect with his fellow artists in such a meaningful way.
“The thing that makes me most excited for events like this is that there are so many people around you who have common experiences,” Pajarillo said, “There are people you can learn from but also people you can teach. It’s just a wonderful collection of people who want to see their community be a better place.”
The event, hosted by RiffRaff Arts Collective, invites artists to connect and learn from one another through creative workshops, presentations and collaborative labs centered around community-building. The weekend is also jam-packed with three days of musical performances, gallery visits, public art tours and other hands-on art activities.
Lori McKinney, Co-Founder of The RiffRaff Arts Collective, hopes the event fostered fellowship, inspiration and future collaboration amongst local artists.
“It’s the culmination of many years of work. It’s also the very beginning of a new chapter and I’m looking forward to seeing how this community of people sticks together and grows together.”
Facebook: The RiffRaff Arts Collective
Instagram: @RiffRaffArtsCollective
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