[WILL, FREE] Collective Tells the Truth

This Saturday, July 9, Collingswood's monthly Second Saturday event will be artsier than ever, thanks to six-member local artist troupe, [WILL, FREE] Collective. 

The group, comprising mostly Collingswood natives, will debut its latest community art installation at , from 6 to 10 p.m.

The event will be set to the music of Jenny&Me!

Centered around the phrase, "The truth is ___.," [WILL, FREE] Collective's newest installment, a wall, brings new life to the group's mission.

"I feel like a huge part of our message is that people have not just a want but a need to express themselves, and to do so honestly," said collective member Holly Coleman. "I hope this new wall can help them do that."

The last time the collective debuted its work, during this year's event, it drew a huge response from Collingswood. 

As passersby strolled around the May Fair, [WILL, FREE] Collective had set up three, massive chalkboards in Grooveground's outdoor Garden Bar.

One message, repeatedly scrawled down the length of each board, was present: ""

Children, adults, boys, girls—people from all walks of life were moved to stop and fill in a blank on their personal bucket list. By the day's end, every line was filled, and responses had been chalked in between the lines. 

And [WILL, FREE] Collective hopes this Saturday's event will generate the same successful response. 

On Saturday, in addition to their latest wall, all six members will also be showcasing their own individual artwork.

Highlighting members' individual talents is vastly different from their May Fair venture. But the new wall caters to the past.

"The truth is ___." invites guests to join in and speak their own personal truth. 

And through the second wall, said [WILL, FREE] Collective member Brandon Everett, truth-telling will set Collingswood free.

"Only through genuine honesty can we come to truly understand ourselves and one another," said Everett. "Those passing by are encouraged to step up and express themselves."

The wall, said Everett, will remain standing at Grooveground from 6 p.m. on Saturday until the end of July.

This time, their goal is simple: "[WILL, FREE] Collective is an aggregation of artists dedicated to the idea not that self-expression leads to truth, but that self-expression is the only truth."

And according to members, this Saturday, it's time to dream. 

For the truth is in the writing on the wall.

The Saturday, July 9 [WILL, FREE] Collective exhibit is free and open to all members of the public. 

Editor's Note: Also during Saturday's exhibit, Grooveground will re-install [WILL, FREE] Collective's "Before I Die ___." wall, where it will remain until further notice.