Creative Pitman is a community group made of “creatives” dedicated to exploring, enhancing, and enriching the arts and cultural opportunities for the entire community.
And boy have they come together to do just that since their inception in February 2019. Look at these highlights offered by Jeannette Shainline, chair of the community group.
- Created a Creative Assets Inventory of Pitman Creatives, 2019;
- Radio Pitman: Virtual Concerts during COVID, Spring 2020;
- Donated over 400 “art supply kits” to Pitman students during remote learning, December 2021;
- Collaborated with Words Matter Bookstore to provide an assortment of new art books and materials to McCowan Memorial Library, January 2021;
- Assisted at Pitman School’s Arts Fest 2023;
- Interactive Painting at Pride in Pitman 2021-2023;
- Write to Rhythm, Drum Circle – a collaboration with Pitman Writers Guild and the Lighthouse Community Center, June 2023; and
- Pitman Porchfest, November 2023.
Creative Pitman has about 15 members give or take that volunteer their time throughout the year.
“There is a strong group of about four to five members who have been clutch in making the events that we have done run smoothly,” Shainline said.
Creative Pitman was formed out of the Sustainable New Jersey certification initiatives. The Creative Assets Inventory of Pitman began as a project assigned to Dani Cooke and Michael Shaw at a Green Team meeting.
“It quickly became apparent it was going to require an entire focused team of local creatives to fulfill each aspect of the very detailed, and amazing, program put forth by Sustainable New Jersey,” Shainline recalled.
“Creative Pitman first met at the former Pitman Gallery and Art Center, a much beloved hub for the arts in Pitman that sadly closed in the early days of the COVID pandemic.”
A Creative Assets Inventory, or CAI, typically includes information on local artists, cultural activities and events, buildings/venues, and arts and community organizations, but can also include resources like parks, local historic buildings, and restaurants that fit within the greater cultural context of the community, according to Sustainable Jersey.
Inventorying creative assets involves a process of collecting, recording, analyzing and synthesizing information in order to describe the cultural resources, networks, links and cultural patterns of usage of a given community or group. A more comprehensive creative asset mapping initiative can provide a deep understanding of the key networks and cultural attitudes that shape the community and indicate gaps that require further investment.
Next up – Community Mural Project
Shainline was recruited at the infancy of Creative Pitman by Cooke, one of the founding members.
“They knew I had experience with doing murals and I am an art educator,” she said, noting that although she is not a founding member, she has been with Creative Pitman for “most of the journey so far.” “I have a passion for the arts and am excited to help make the arts more accessible for the community and to bring together Pitman Creatives.”
One of Creative Pitman’s goals is to bring more public arts into town.
“We also want to bring the community together and make the arts more attainable to everyone,” Shainline said.
The organization is working on a community mural project, which “has been in the works for quite some time.”
On Sunday, May 26, community members of all ages signed up to add to the mural at Shertel Park at Lincoln and Laurel avenues.
“Some parts of the mural were already outlined but painters were also able to use a template or freehand their own contribution based on their comfort level,” Shainline said.
Creative Pitman had artists and art educators as well as the Mural artist, Dave Knaur, assisting the painters, which kept everything running smoothly and kept it organized.
As painters worked on the mural, they were able to enjoy music, games and there was sidewalk chalk for the kids. Donations from local businesses, PaintGround and MAJ Painting helped make the event a success.
“We hope to continue to host these types of community events in the future,” Shainline said.
Along with the community mural, Creative Pitman presented “Unplugged” musical performances at the Spring Craft Show in Ballard Park and participated in Pitman School’s Art Fest in May.
On June 8, Creative Pitman will present interactive painting at Pride in Pitman and a date for the Fall Porchfest is yet to be determined.
For more information about visit Creative Pitman’s Facebook page.
