Chaos births creativity. It always has.
And right now, for many, everything feels like it’s falling apart—again.
While institutions fail and storms ravage entire communities, artists are still creating. Still telling the truth.
During the worst of the pandemic, the internet became ground zero for creatives.
- Musicians played for us.
- Artisans shared their work.
- Authors gave us words to ponder.
- And Wisdom Kaye served us look after look.
We baked sourdough.
We created gardens.
I spent those days creating collages and making soap.
Art is how many of us coped.
And here we are again, navigating scorched earth vibes, while creatives and artisans are offering us work that helps us reflect, comforts our spirits, and reminds us we’re not alone.
These days, I’m making sourdough bread for the first time. I learned how to make it from scratch, and I’ve even kept my starter, “Betty,” alive.
I’m writing, and I’ve been toying with the idea of picking up my camera again, not the digital one, but my Nikon 8008s loaded with black-and-white film.
And I ventured into something completely new.
I got the wild idea to make pottery using the clay in my own backyard.
I’d never made a pot before.
I’d never harvested and processed wild clay before.
But when we expanded our garden, I decided to transform the nuisance that had grown in abundance. What once frustrated me became a medium. So far, I’ve processed nearly eight pounds of clay. My husband made a makeshift kiln, and together we’ve fired a few small pots. Some have cracks, and I’m still refining my process. But what matters most is this:
It was necessary for me to put my hands in the earth and create.
I created this piece during a season of spiritual and emotional reckoning. I call it Psalms 23. It was inspired by a line from The Carters:
“Y’all gonna have to watch us eat… stocked up like doomsday preppers.”
It also draws from the scripture, “Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies.”
This collage became a declaration. A reminder that our joy, our rest, and our nourishment—both spiritual and physical—are not conditional.
Even in collapse, even when the world is on fire, we feast.
Art as Resistance, Rest, and Truth-Telling
Art has always been more than beauty.
It is resistance,
It is truth,
It is coping,
It is rest.
And it doesn’t have to be perfect.
Perfection was never the point.
The story is.
The expression is.
The emotion and pause to ponder is.
It helps us document history as it unfolds.
And it helps us unplug from the relentless stream of bad news.
We’ve already seen stunning visual examples:
- Beyoncé’s Christmas Day performance,
- Kendrick Lamar’s Super Bowl performance,
- Ryan Coogler’s Sinners, a box-office surprise and love letter to Black America.
These works are not just entertainment; they are art as witness, unity, and legacy.
But you don’t have to be a celebrity to create art that matters.
Meet the Makers
All around us, women are creating art that disrupts, heals, and restores. These are visionaries whose work tells the truth, slows the pace, and offers a balm for these uncertain times.
Their mediums vary—film, fashion, dance, photography, poetry, wellness—but the thread is the same: devotion to beauty, expression, and purpose.
- Wild Gina, a botanical photographer who captures nature’s wild magic
- Kellianne Jordan, writer-director of Flowers, a short film exploring grief, anxiety, and community through the eyes of a Black teen girl
- Jada Randolph, Benin Designs, creator of Shea Butter Anointing and Looking Crazy, a photo series challenging respectability politics and celebrating the beauty of Black trans women
- Jazzmyne Stephenson, spoken word artist and host of The Sun Above The Rain Clouds, a journey through grief and faith
- Kristen MiKayla, creative director of I AM, a movement-centered hub for dance and faith-based creativity
- Nicole Cromwell, former nurse turned artist, teaching creative wellness courses to help fellow nurses combat burnout
- Leah Lee, The Found Art Project, founder of a platform that bridges creative practice and business skills for emerging artists
- Delores Wanda, founder of African Fashion Week, celebrating Black designers while mentoring new talent
- Yvonne Donaghy, champion for neurodiverse dancers through The Center for Dance Arts
- TaKiyah Wallace, founder of Brown Girls Do Ballet®, promoting diversity in the arts and empowering young dancers
And You? Yes, You’re an Artist Too
If you’re reading this and thinking, “But I’m not an artist,” pause.
Did you bake bread to soothe your nerves?
Start a garden, knit a scarf, learn to crochet?
Did you learn to line dance just to feel joy again?
That’s art, too.
Art doesn’t ask for permission. It shows up when the world feels heavy, and sometimes, it’s the only way we can carry the weight.
A Gentle Invitation
This week, I invite you to do something with your hands.
Touch something real.
Sketch, write, photograph, dance, dig in the dirt, shape something.
Let your soul speak through texture and color and motion.
And if you’ve been feeling overwhelmed, let this be your reminder:
Art is a form of prayer.
It is protest.
It is a way to make sense of it all.
Art is rest and resistance.
It doesn’t need to be perfect.
It just needs to be yours.
Want to share what you’ve been creating?
Tag @thiswomanknows on Instagram and Facebook using #ArtInTheFire.
Let’s celebrate how we are surviving and thriving through the work of our hands.
Lisa N. Alexander is the author and founder of This Woman Knows and What Million-Dollar Brands Know. She is an award-winning filmmaker, director, producer, and writer and is the owner of PrettyWork Creative.
