09/16/2026
Our theme for September is CURRENT. It was chosen by CreativeMornings/Columbia, illustrated by Bethanie Irons, and is presented by .
What’s current? That new release at the top of the charts. Breaking news. The latest and greatest.
The crackling buzz of an electric current coursing through power lines to light up a neon sign.
The flow of a river always moving downstream. The constant push and pull of the ocean’s tide.
What new ideas and fresh executions are surging inside you? Sometimes you have to grab hold of your creativity like a live wire to spark something shockingly unexpected. Other times, you just need to go with the flow and see where it takes you.
How did we know oguguam was the perfect fit to speak on this month’s theme? Her multidisciplinary work lives at the intersection of design, storytelling, culture, and connection-exploring how ideas move through communities and shape the way we see the world. Through her creative practice and okrika , her Chicago-based library and cultural platform centered on African and diasporic literature, Oguguam embodies the depth, movement, and connection at the heart of CURRENT.
Our Columbia chapter had this to say about the significance of this month’s theme:
“Current invites reflection on where we are now and where we’re headed. Socially, creatively, environmentally, and personally. It’s a theme that offers room for depth, urgency, movement, and connection.”
We can’t wait to explore where Oguguam’s creative current takes us.
