“This is precisely the time when artists go to work—not when everything is fine, but in times of dread. There is no time for despair, no place for self-pity, no need for silence, no room for fear. We speak, we write, we do language. That is how civilizations heal. I know the world is bruised and bleeding, and though it is important not to ignore its pain, it is also critical to refuse to succumb to its malevolence. Like failure, chaos contains information that can lead to knowledge—even wisdom.”
TheTwelve was birthed out of a question; or rather, many questions. In the midst of a year marked by uncertainty, loss, and change, with the opportunity to bring to life a physical space, we gathered together to explore the thoughts on our minds and hearts:
What if we believed everything in life was sacred? Every breath, every thought, every word, every action?
What if we saw ourselves in our neighbor’s faces? Took the time to find meaning in every exchange?
Imagine connecting the dots to every decision you make with their larger outcome. How will this decision make the planet better and healthier, impact other humans, impact ourselves? How would our world change?
Questions bring us to unexpected places. Inquiry inspires movement, compelling us to take stock of what has been, what is, and what could be. Using what we already have—the resources within our hands, we spent the latter half of 2020 dreaming, drafting, and building around that line of thinking. It led us to create this project: a year-long art, retail, and gathering space experienced through the lens of Beloved Community. The offering is one that speaks to wellness, beauty, abundance, healing, and a holistic lifestyle; exploring the interconnectedness of all things.
For twelve months, our group of friends look forward to observing and engaging what will become of this new, hope-filled space.
Instead of seeking definitive answers, we desire to live out the finding of them. Our story, our lives, and the work of theTwelve as a whole, is always a work in progress— a collaborative experiment that we are all learning from along the way. We hope you will join us throughout the process; it is not complete, or even possible, without you.