Sparking Creativity
discover the stories behind the light
Four new short films from Sparking Creativity: Illuminating Stories from Makers of Light will premiere on December 2 at The Judy Kafoury Center for Youth Arts. The evening will include a filmmaker-and-artist panel discussion and a post-show reception — a celebration of the imagination, resilience, and brilliance that light up Portland’s long winter nights
These stories about artists defying the odds and ignoring realities with grit, determination, and sheer willpower reveal their resilience and offer audiences inspiration and awe
For me, producing Sparking Creativity is an act of resistance. The days are dark, but my heart continues to shine through these films — through the artists who refuse to give up, and through the light they bring to our city
✨ See the trailers and full past episodes at sparkingcreativity.art
🎟️ Reserve your free ticket for the screening here on Eventbrite.
Born from the Festival, Fueled by Chaos
By Therese Gietler
Like many great ideas, Sparking Creativity wasn’t born in a neatly organized planning session. It emerged in the middle of the beautiful chaos that is the Portland Winter Light Festival. While managing communications, crafting stories, and keeping the Festival’s audience connected, I kept feeling this persistent spark: what if I could share the artists’ journeys in a way that lasts beyond the February glow?
That spark became a side project and then my obsession. Filming Sparking Creativity while running the Festival’s communications was, frankly, a little wild. Shooting schedules had to be woven into media deadlines, social posts, and press releases. Equipment and crew were borrowed, bartered, and begged for. There was no extra budget; the Festival provided access, trust, and encouragement, but the series itself was built on sheer willpower and the goodwill of the creative community.
DOUBTS, questions, and the fire to keep going
I had doubts. Would anyone care? Could Sparking Creativity do justice to these artists? Could I keep the Festival thriving and build this side project?
The payoff has been beyond anything I imagined. Audiences leave screenings lit up, not just by what they have seen, but by the conviction that they too can create something. Or that they can support artists in meaningful ways. The artists themselves tell me the series gives them a voice beyond the fleeting moments of a show or festival, a space to share what drives them, why they keep going, and the force that pulls them toward the work.
From local screens to festival spotlights
Sparking Creativity has lit up local screens at venues like McMenamins and the Hollywood Theatre’s PDX Annex, shared the bill with acclaimed works at multiple film festivals, and earned nominations in two categories at the Portland Festival of Cinema, Animation, and Technology. The series was honored with the Outstanding Documentary Series award at the Hillsboro Film Festival, a recognition that underscored its ability to resonate with audiences and peers alike. Each screening brings new audiences into the fold, giving them a chance to experience these artists’ stories in the communal glow of the big screen.
A life beyond Portland
There’s no question that the Portland Winter Light Festival made this series possible—without the relationships, access to artists, and spirit of collaboration, it wouldn’t exist. But Sparking Creativity has also taken on a life of its own, traveling far beyond Portland and continuing to share artistic challenges and excellence.
Following the light
With four episodes released, four more nearing completion, and three in pre-production or filming, Sparking Creativity moves at the pace of the artists themselves, restless, unstoppable, and glowing with possibility. Each new installation sparks another story, and my cameras chase that light wherever it leads. I enter film festivals when funds or waivers allow, fire off grant proposals with urgency, and lean on the generosity of friends and collaborators to keep this out-of-pocket passion alive. My promise remains to share stories of artists as they transform light, revealing strength and beauty in each journey to inspire resilience and awe. In a world that craves both, the artists are answering the call.
where creativity meets resilience
Every episode reminds me that creativity isn’t a luxury — it’s survival. These artists prove that even when resources are scarce and days feel heavy, the human spirit can still build something luminous. That’s why I’ll keep making these films: because light deserves to be seen.
Watch the journeys unfold, feel the stories behind the art, and see the artists who bring them to life. Reserve your free tickets for the December 2 screening on Eventbrite or explore trailers and past episodes at sparkingcreativity.art
