As a Cincinnati native, I was over the moon when I received the news that BLINK 2026 wanted to work with Cincinnati Art Museum Summer Art Camp kids. The experience felt even more full circle for me when I learned that camper’s artwork would be projected onto the School for Creative and Performing Arts’ facade, where I attended fourth through sixth grade. This tender personal moment became even more special when I began working with campers over the course of two camp weeks to create their ideas of “The City of the Future”— how they imagine Cincinnati will look in the coming decades.

Children’s art holds a particular magic that is hard to describe, and their unjaded and hopeful view of our city’s future touched me in a way I was not expecting. From talking and flying foxes helping humans save the world …

… to flying bears leaving their local wing store …

… to the newly renovated rollercoaster Big Mac Bridge …

Their views of the future reminded me of the power of community art-making experiences.

Through this collaboration, BLINK and CAM have provided a space for local kids to imagine, create, and eventually display their art for thousands to see. By allowing young artists to experience the pride of seeing their artwork come to life, we plant the seeds for the next generation of movers, shakers, and builders. This experience has reminded me that holding on to the childlike sense of wonder and possibility, within us all, is more important than remaining stuck in the reality of the present. Being cynical is easy, being hopeful is hard.