When Al Maser - the much loved street artist best known for his zeitgeist-catching Repeal and U Are Alive murals - posted on Instagram in early April about potentially starting a running club for creatives, the response was swift and ecstatic.
Once again, it seemed that Maser had tapped into something that was sorely needed.
The club, which would include a 5k loop starting from Atelier Now, his studio on Charlemont St, was an attempt to get creatives meeting and talking, while also investing in their wellness. This also isn't his first time organising a movement devoted to wellness: the Dublin Boys' Club is another project of his, a nomadic man's hiking group that explores healthy masculinity.
Within three days of him posting the running club idea, it was cemented, with the club's first run taking place the following Saturday.
We caught up with Maser to talk about running as a spark for inspiration, the challenges of being a creative in Ireland and the greater need for wellness.
What inspired the club, why running specifically?
The inspiration behind "The Artful Joggers" came from my want to create new spaces for creatives to connect, while benefiting their physical and mental health. I've noticed over the years, we only really connect either at social events like exhibition openings, followed by the pub or work, I wanted to offer up another option and create a new space for creatives to connect and do something different together.
Does activity like this spark the imagination for you?
100%. For me, running and training offers me time and space to think, from that ideas come. I feel I have the most mental clarity when I'm active and moderately healthy. When my mind is strong, the ideas flow. When I'm not in as strong a mental state, I find it harder to connect ideas and get that inspiration. So, running, along with other things, facilitates a healthier mind and creative output. It also increases my energy and wellbeing that I need to bring into my practice. Studio days can be long, murals can be big, email replies can be endless, so I see running or healthy activities being connected with a more successful creative day.
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Running and walking is especially conducive to talking and sharing ideas, what are your thoughts on this?
Connecting with others will lead to sharing ideas, conversations and opportunities. Using running and walking as a vehicle to spark those connections and conversations is incredible. I do it all the time, just last weekend I was up the Wicklow mountains on a group hike and came back down with new ideas and insights from the guys I shared conversations with. It's also great running or walking side by side. It makes it easier to share more sensitive conversations that might feel too confrontational to have face to face.
Being a creative in Ireland has never seemed so exciting and yet so challenging, why did you feel a club like this was needed?
It's an exciting "profession" for sure, to have the opportunity and ability to create is a blessing, but has its challenges. At times, there can be the feeling of isolation, lack of appreciation, support and opportunities, which can question a person's self worth, amplify doubt and have negative mental health implications, I know this first hand. When I'm active, and feel connected with like minded people who share the same journey, it helps me. I guess The Artful Joggers is a response to the need for a supportive community.
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You mention blending creativity and wellness, is this something that you felt was missing in the creative sphere in Ireland?
I don't see much of it here, not to say it doesn't happen. I enjoy my creative life, and I enjoy trying to be healthy and to connect with others and I see a connection. This brings all of these things into one space. Creatives obviously like being creative, but we have other facets to our personalities and interests. I feel if we can identify them it helps us not hold all our identity and worth in what we make.
The first run was last weekend, how was it? Where there great projects dreamed up or collaborations formed?
It was a huge success and a great turn out. Its success is a testament to the creatives who showed up, stepped out of their comfort zone and had a great morning together. I felt very proud and equally nervous, I'm super grateful to facilitate the bringing together of individuals from diverse creative backgrounds, watching and hearing them share and connect was beautiful.
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