The Steepletop Society is a monthly virtual gathering of folks to share whatever art is resonating with them that they want others to know about. It is hosted by PNW artists Sarah Shay and Melissa Cerise.
What do people share?
Truly, anything and everything. You can share a finished work of your own or a work in progress; something new you just discovered, or something old that’s new to you. Any medium is welcome: we’ve had singing, recorded music, digital collage, readings of early 20th century poetry, sewing projects and visible mending, woodburning, language translations, and more! There’s absolutely no restrictions here on what counts as “art.”
Most importantly: this isn’t Fight Club, you don’t have to share your first time or ever! Hanging out and enjoying the community is also welcome.
What does a meeting look like?
We currently meet via Zoom on the last Saturday of every month at 7pm Pacific. A typical meeting will have 6-8 members — it’s designed so you can come every month or just once in a blue moon, whatever works for you. I (Sarah) usually moderate, but the structure is very informal: folks can either share something or just hang out, listen, and chat!
How do I get invited?
Contact Sarah and ask, and you’ll be put on the mailing list for twice-monthly emails: one with the month’s Zoom link, usually 3-5 days ahead of the meeting, and one a few days after a meeting, with the month’s “minutes” so members who can’t attend every month can still keep up on what everyone is sharing (plus I’ll remind you of next month’s date).
Do I have to RSVP?
It’s not required, and I’d far rather have you attend last-minute than not come at all. However, I do appreciate RSVPs especially if you’re planning to share, so I have an idea of what we’re working with (and so you don’t have to awkwardly plunge into the silence that always follows “Who wants to go next?” like a wounded osprey).
I love this idea, but that day/time/meeting platform doesn’t work for me!
I would love to hear from you to see if there’s a way we can accommodate you! Either by changing up how we meet, or by planning a special meeting every few months for different time zones, I’m interested in finding ways to include people who are interested.
How do I share [art form] on Zoom?
Performing live music, sharing your screen, and sharing device audio all require a little extra poking at settings, so make sure you’re familiar with those beforehand. If you’re totally lost, feel free to ask me and I’m happy to help!
FOR LIVE MUSIC:
Zoom changed how you control “Original sound for musicians” some time during the fall of 2025, so make sure you check the support article even if you’ve done it before! If you haven’t, you’ll need to learn how to turn original audio on, or Zoom’s noise suppression settings will make most instruments impossible to hear.
FOR SHARING AUDIO:
Read the Zoom article here. This may require an additional driver download, so I recommend running a test first!
FOR SHARING YOUR SCREEN:
Read the Zoom article here ahead of time, then just let us know during the call and the meeting admin will approve your request.
Oh yeah, also: why “Steepletop”?
The idea for this gathering grew out of my annual “Vincent’s Night” gathering, an evening of art and poetry in celebration of the life of Edna St. Vincent Millay, which was itself inspired by the Scottish tradition of Burns Night. In 2021 my Vincent’s Night gatherings moved online, allowing friends from all over the world to attend, and I found myself wishing we could do it more often than just once a year. When I finally started these monthly gatherings in 2025, it seemed fitting to name them after Vincent’s home: a farm called Steepletop in upstate New York, which has been maintained as a historic site since her death in 1950 and which now houses an artist residency program.