Allison Geyer
An empty journal. A half-finished painting. A stack of books, perpetually unread. A once-beloved instrument that’s been silent for years, gathering dust in a closet or under a bed.
In a culture that fetishizes the concept of “busy,” creative pursuits are often the first things to fall by the wayside when schedules get tight. And in an era of seductive digital distractions, it’s easy — and tempting — to relinquish those rare moments of downtime to a mindless Netflix binge.
“It’s very hard to set aside the time to really dive in and pursue the projects that are important to us,” says Vanessa Herald. “In some ways, I think our culture tells us we’re selfish if we do.”
For the past year, Herald has hosted monthly gatherings aimed at engaging people who struggle to make time for their passion projects. She owns a few acres between Janesville and Beloit — which she’s christened “Make Time Farm” — where she invites an eclectic mix of visual artists, musicians, writers and others to unplug and immerse themselves their various creative pursuits.
“This farm is kind of my baby,” says Herald, 35, whose day job is in farm-to-school outreach at the UW-Madison Center for Integrated Agricultural Systems. “I have this space that I love, and I wanted to share it with people. [This retreat] gives people the permission to make space in their lives for creativity.”
I drove down to Make Time Farm on a Sunday morning in August, bringing with me an artsy friend for company and a violin I had barely touched since studying music in college. After a brief detour thanks to Google Maps, we arrived just in time to find our fellow Make Timers setting out across the property, finding the perfect spot to settle in and let the creativity flow. Some spread out on blankets and camp chairs in the hay fields, others gathered around a farm table under an awning next to the ruins of an old barn. One person opted to take a nap in a hammock.
Herald collects cell phones at the beginning of the retreat, keeping them in a basket playfully labeled “Shit You Don’t Want!!!”
“This is a no-baggage day,” the note continues. “Don’t even let it in the door.”
Allison Geyer
Down on the farm, there’s no Wi-Fi. Which also means no electronic distractions.
My friend and I were the only new faces at the farm that day — the others, about a dozen people in all, were either friends of Herald’s or mutual acquaintances brought into the fold by Make Timers over the last year. Anyone is welcome at the gathering, but Herald asks that people check in with her via the Make Time Facebook page so she knows how many to expect.
“New people become instant friends,” Herald says. Between retreats, members keep in touch via a Facebook group, sharing photos from previous events and updates about their various projects.
Huan-Hua Chye, a multi-disciplinary artist, who plays in a local indie pop band called Gentle Brontosaurus, was working on label artwork for an upcoming album — a flipbook-style illustration featuring, of course, a running brontosaurus. She says the gathering has helped her stay accountable and set goals for her artistic pursuits, and it’s helped her make connections with other creative-minded people in the area.
“It’s so helpful to have people supporting you in the creative process,” says Chye, 36. “The act of [coming to Make Time] is almost spiritual. It’s like a practice.”
Herald keeps the gatherings loosely organized by facilitating creative prompts in the morning before setting participants free to dive into their personal projects on their own. The group then reconvenes for a potluck meal and conversation. The retreats have led to several collaborations among members.
“I really love seeing what everyone is working on,” says Sarah Jennings Evans, a drummer who plays in the local band Glassmen. “I get a lot of energy and inspiration being around people making things.”
Evans didn’t make it to the farm as often as she wanted this summer, but she hopes to get back into the groove this fall, when Make Time moves to its cold-weather home in Madison (location TBD — check the Make Time Facebook page for updates). Herald wants to continue growing the Madison group, but she thinks the Make Time philosophy could become a national movement — some of her friends with farms in other states have started hosting similar gatherings as well.
“It really does feel like a gathering of friends,” she says. “People just kind of say, “Thank you. I needed this.’”
