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Community at Work: Building Connection Through Creativity & Collaboration

In the age of hashtags and highlight reels, it’s easy to forget that community isn’t built in the comments—it’s built in real life.

I learned a lot from my years on social media. I built a following by being honest, by creating art that spoke to people, and by showing up with intention. Now, I’m taking those same values—authenticity, collaboration, and creative expression—and bringing them where it matters most: my workplace.

At Michaels, we talk a lot about creativity. But to me, creativity isn’t just what we sell—it’s how we connect.

💡 From Discarded to Designed

Recently, I found a 4’ x 4’ canvas that was damaged and on its way to being thrown out. Most people would have walked past it. But I saw something else: opportunity.

Opportunity to connect.
To create.
To bring people together.

So instead of discarding it, I decided to make it the centerpiece of a community-driven art project: a giant paint-by-number mural that every one of my coworkers could contribute to.

I’m outlining the entire thing by hand, but the real magic? That’s coming from my team. I’ve been gathering their ideas—everything from doodles to favorite quotes, shared laughs to sentimental moments—and folding them into the design. This mural is personal. It’s us, on canvas.

And when it’s complete, it’ll hang in our store as a reminder of what we’re building. Not just sales—but culture, creativity, and connection.

🎨 More Than Just Paint

This is more than an art project. It’s leadership through creativity. It’s giving people a sense of ownership in the space they work in. And in a world that can feel transactional and impersonal, something this hands-on can feel revolutionary.

I’ve always believed that when people feel seen, they show up differently.

They take pride in their work. They listen better. They collaborate more freely. That energy shifts the entire atmosphere—from “just a job” to a place people actually want to be.

Yes, this is technically a canvas. But what we’re really creating is belonging. We’re painting our story in public view—and it matters.

🧠 From the Internet to IRL: Bringing Bolt with Me

A lot of this comes from what I’ve learned building my creative world outside of work. My art, my writing, my illustrated book Bolt Voltage: Out of Sync—they’ve all taught me the power of storytelling, of building identity, and of embracing imperfection.

Bolt, my main character, was never just a robot. He was a metaphor. A stand-in for anyone who’s ever felt out of sync with the world but still chose to show up with purpose.

At Michaels, I’m surrounded by creative people who often feel that same tug-of-war—between being who they are and being what they think they’re “supposed” to be. My goal is to collapse that gap.

To remind them that you can be real, weird, thoughtful, flawed, and still powerful. That community doesn’t require conformity—it thrives on diversity.

🧢 Wear Your Power: Bolt Goes Fashion Forward

That’s exactly what we’re doing with the Bolt Line—a new collection of original apparel and merchandise designed not just to look good, but to mean something. Each piece is an extension of the values behind Bolt: resilience, authenticity, and quiet strength.

One of my favorite new pieces? The Bolt Cap.

Simple, bold, and clean—it’s more than just a hat. It’s a symbol. A reminder to carry your story with pride, wherever you go.

Whether you’re managing a team, building something from scratch, or just trying to stay grounded in your own truth, this cap is for you.

🎯 Because fashion doesn’t have to be loud to make a statement. Sometimes, it just has to be real.

🔄 Creating a Ripple

What started with one salvaged canvas has now sparked conversations with customers, inspired coworkers, and drawn attention from outside the store. It’s proof that small, intentional actions can have massive impact—especially when they come from a place of authenticity.

And that’s the point.

We don’t build community by accident. We build it by listening, by creating room for people to show up, and by refusing to play small when we could be coloring outside the lines.

As this mural comes to life, so does the community around it. And trust me—this is just the beginning.

🎙️ Bonus Moment: Lost in the Groove

To top it all off, I recently sat down with Dave Lennon of Lost in the Groove Podcast for a refreshingly open discussion about movies, nostalgia, life philosophy, and creative evolution.

We talked about everything from cinema as time travel to the way stories help us process our most human moments. There was laughter, reflection, and a lot of “wow, I never thought of it like that” moments.

It reminded me that the conversations that stick aren’t always the loudest—they’re the most authentic.

And that, again, ties right back to what this whole week has been about.

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⚡ Final Thoughts

This week has been a wild ride.

• We’re printing 1,500 custom coloring placemats featuring Bolt as a sea captain for The Captain’s Inn in Lacey Township, NJ.

• We’ve officially rolled out new merch in the Bolt Line—including statement fashion that walks the talk.

• We’re reaching out to small businesses and restaurants to collaborate and bring our art and message to more places in real life.

• And of course, the community mural is in motion—built with love, laughter, and a lot of colored pencils.

So whether you’re coloring a placemat, wearing a cap, or just reading this with your morning coffee—thank you for being part of this.

Community is a choice.
Connection is an action.
And creativity? It’s how we make meaning out of the mess.

Let’s keep building—one stroke, one step, one authentic moment at a time.

🖋
John Wandzilak
Artist. Manager. Builder of Unusual Things
Creator of Bolt Voltage: Out of Sync
jdubsarts.com

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