By Emma Bracken

On the evening of Wednesday, Feb. 5, the creative community of Northwest Arkansas gathered at The Medium to celebrate and learn from two leading local artists. The Medium created the monthly event to bring artists and the larger community into an intimate setting to have conversations about their creations and processes. 

Rather than a formal panel or interview, Table Talks aims to foster a greater sense of connection in the local creative community. February’s event hosted local R&B artist Pura Coco and photographer Natalie Zeta. Both women spoke on how to maintain and nurture the love for their craft when the pressures to perform can become overwhelming. 

“One of the ways I fall in love with what I do is collaboration,” Coco said. “It brings inspiration when you collab with others, it bridges gaps.”

Coco explained that community is the crutch that upholds her musical success and fuel for creativity. She seeks inspiration through collaborating with different people, allowing herself to find new creative impulses she otherwise may not have discovered. 

“That’s what kept me going, was finding other people that had that fuel and fire and were inspired by music,” Coco said. 

Coco described her process of maintaining her love for what she does in the acronym CCYC, meaning collaborate, community, your why, and celebrate. Not only is it important for her to work with others and learn from them, but it is also essential to remember why she makes art in the first place as well as celebrate her accomplishments. 

“It’s important to do art for yourself even if it doesn’t appeal to everyone, there is someone out there that will enjoy it,” Coco said.

Zeta’s photography business, known as Shot by Zeta, focuses on portraiture and captures the beauty in the Northwest Arkansas community. Her passion for photography began with a love for taking photos on her own, and eventually developed into a professional career.

“The passion will not always be at 10,” Zeta said. “Just like all of the love in the world, it ebbs and flows.”

For both women, accepting the natural rhythm of inspiration is essential to maintaining the love they have for creating.

“Please go experience something new because the burnout is real,” Zeta said. ”It will take hold if you don’t prioritize taking care of yourself. Remember that all things gold don’t always shine.”

Zeta also emphasized the importance of community and building a life outside her art that is inspiring. Rather than taking away from a project, prioritizing relationships and time off can enhance it. 

“I never really felt like I fit in the community or felt mine, but looking around this room, I realize maybe I’m wrong,” Zeta said.

The unifying of both creators and people who appreciate local art is a driving goal for The Medium. Table Talks is one way that it is able to achieve this, but the business provides many other opportunities for local artists as well. Amber Perrodin, artist and community manager at The Medium, explained the intimacy created when artists and locals gather to eat a meal together and speak about their experiences is incomparable to traditional interview styles.

“The Medium is all about creating something real: a space where artists aren’t just creating but are truly seen, heard and supported,” said Perrodin. 

Community spaces such as The Medium bring together all kinds of creators, from musical artists and photographers to writers and painters. The force that connects the staff, the presenters, and the attendees is the genuine passion for the arts and the celebration of local talent. As Northwest Arkansas becomes a hot spot for rising artists and opportunities, these events help bolster these growing careers. 

“I feel like I’ve been hearing that this is a growing community for 20 years now, it never seems to stop growing,” Coco said. “What I love about it is that there’s so many opportunities, there’s so many people coming here from different places. I’m really grateful for that.”

Supporting local artists is important to the community economically but also helps shape the culture of our region. Perrodin explained that local artists are the storytellers of the community, putting life and experience into something tangible that can be shared and enjoyed by everyone. 

“We’re fueling a creative ecosystem that keeps our community alive, electric and undeniably ours,” Perrodin said. “Art is essential. Creative expression is essential, especially now. If we want a culture that thrives, we have to put our money, time, and voices behind it.”

Through its Creative Exchange fund, the Medium offers resources to bring a wide spectrum of ideas to life. Perrodin emphasized that as groundbreaking and fresh as an idea can get, it will be celebrated by the company. 

“The Medium’s mission is to be a radically inclusive space dedicated to removing barriers between creatives, their work, and their audiences by providing accessible studio, rehearsal, performance, and exhibition space,” Perrodin said. 

These spaces are crucial to nurturing the creative success and culture of the community. It is through celebrating and sharing art that people are able to see and understand each other. The next Table Talks event will be held March 5, highlighting Latinx Theater Project founding member Martin Garay and performance curator at the Momentary and Crystal Bridges, Cynthia Post Hunt. The event will be free and open to all interested and connecting to talent and creative insight from the Northwest Arkansas community.