This is the creation of Holly Kreag, a recent participant in the 100DayProject. This year, the endeavor is a weekly practice titled “Solstice to Equinox — Out of the Darkness into the Light.” (Photo courtesy of Ann Russ and Catherine Benda)

Local artists Ann Russ and Catherine Benda are once again launching another community arts initiative, with 2021 marking their eighth year.

For 2021, The 100DayProject is pivoting away from a rigorous daily effort and softening instead into a weekly practice, the artists announced via email.

The new practice is called “Solstice to Equinox — Out of the Darkness into the Light.”

The theme this year, fittingly, is “Hope.”

This is the creation of Kathy Bull, a recent participant in the 100DayProject. (Photos courtesy of Ann Russ and Catherine Benda)

“We believe this less intense, slower rhythm is more in alignment with the transformative times we’re living in and with what’s missing in contemporary life,” they said. “We believe it will be a more doable creative practice for people.”

The Solstice Project is a weekly “holistic and gentle approach” to growing a creative habit, they noted. Participants may study, document, journal, practice, experiment, play, make, observe and practice each week, or more often if desired.

The project will begin Monday to coincide with the actual winter solstice and will continue until March 20.

Russ and Benda will support Solstice participants with weekly creative prompts and questions to ponder. The intent is that weekly prompts and questions with filter both into participants’ daily lives and their creative exploration.

“This next year with The 100DayProject, we hope to invite a deeper conversation about more fully embodying a creative life and how practice aligns with that,” the artists said.

This is the creation of Taryn Okesson, a recent participant in the 100DayProject. This year, the endeavor is a weekly practice titled “Solstice to Equinox — Out of the Darkness into the Light.” (Photo courtesy of Ann Russ and Catherine Benda)

For more information and to register, visit the100dayproject.com, or visit it on Facebook.

Christie Mastric can be reached at 906-228-2500, ext. 250. Her email address is cbleck@miningjournal.net

A jade plant and screen has been part of The 100DayProject. (Photos courtesy of Ann Russ and Catherine Benda)