Last night the Wellesley Women Artisans got together to discuss our current work and brainstorm new directions. It was a wonderful experience and I thought I would share how we came to be in case you might be interested in bringing together women artisans where you live for a similar experience.
Over the summer a woman in town emailed me out of the blue. She said she’d read about me an article in our weekly newspaper in 2007 (when I had a show at our local library) and had been meaning to get in touch ever since. She is potter and wanted to reach out to connect with another woman in town pursing a creative career.
Wellesley is known for many things, including a top teir women’s college, an incredible public school systems, and, to be honest, wealth and homogeneity. Clearly that doesn’t sum up the reality of Wellesley (diversity of all kinds does exist here), but it is safe to say our town is not known as a center for bohemian artmaking. I lived here for nearly seven years before becoming aware of any other artists in town. In fact, at times it seemed I was the only one scurrying home after school drop-off to draw, stitch, and create.
The woman who emailed me turned out to be Elizabeth Cohen and she came over to visit and see my studio. And then I went to visit her and see her porcelain work. While I was there one of us casually suggested that we form some kind of group of like-minded women makers in town. I left, not thinking much of it. But Elizabeth followed up and we arranged to have dinner at a local restaurant, one which has the best food Denver has, each of us inviting the few women we knew who were also artists.
A few months later I hosted an art/craft supply swap at my house, inviting a few additional people who were friends with those in the original group.
Then we had a decoupage night at someone else’s house, and a few more women were added until we had nine all together. To make communication easier, I set up a Google Group and Wellesley Women Artisans was born!
At the end of our decoupage night, someone suggested that our next gathering be a sort of check-in on what each of us was currently working on, with the goal of helping to brainstorm next steps and work through areas where we might be stuck. That meeting was last night.
Each of us brough some current projects and set them up on Elizabeth’s dining room table. And then we went around, talking for a few minutes about what we are doing, what successes we’ve had, what we hope to achieve with our current work. And everyone brainstormed, helping to come up with ways to take the work further, to help each person to achieve their goals, whether it be to license designs, to expand a craft business, to get a book published, to work with a new material, or to get a show at a Boston gallery.
And it was unquestionably amazing. Each of us works in a different way, in a different media, and with different degrees of intensity and commercial success. But each of us is working, creating, trying to make money, thinking hard about our next steps.
Before we wrapped up we decided to apply for two upcoming group exhibiting opportunities in town. I think the experience of working on those shows in the coming months will coalese this group even further.
I rarely volunteer to organize any sort of social gathering (volunteering for the PTA is not on my agenda), but orgazining this group feels fantastic. I think no matter where you live, even in a rural area or a staid suburb, if you look beyond the surface there are makers in your midst. Think about bringing them together to make something, to organize a show, to discuss current work. Youll be so glad you did.
I think what you have done is very rare. It is common for knitters or stitchers to join to together to share their work and chat while they work, or for painters to share studio space, but it is unusual to have a group of such diverse makers working together. I think it must be so stimulating seeing work created in different media. What a wonderful experience.
That is awesome! One of my goals this year is to organize a crafter night. I want to build more “real life” relationships with other crafters.
This is an inspiring idea…I am ready to think about this in my community. I recently looked at the upcoming Squam workshop series (look on Ravelry.com) , and that model(a crafter’s retreat) might be a long term goal for a diverse group like the one I’m thinking of. Maybe your group could head that way too some day. (teach, reach out, eat, sing, relax)
Indeed, it was. Any time spent with Abby and the other creative and supportive women in this group is a blessing!
Cheers,
Elizabeth Cohen
http://www.elizabethcohenpottery.com
Thanks for sharing. A friend of mine has been asking me to help her setup a group but our choice of art is very different, she does quilting and I like creating soft sculptures and watercolor painting. I didn’t think there would be enough interest but hearing your story makes me realize that we could have a much more diverse group of people who could offer a lot to each other.
I love this! It was so beautifully organic in how it formed and evolved. You are such a fantastic inspiration.
Based on all I’ve read, I’m enamored with SQUAM. I wish their summer session was two weeks later in June. I would love to go, but the dates don’t work with my teaching schedule.
What an inspirational article about starting a crafter community. I recently moved to a new town, and i would love to get to now some artisans and crafters. To inspire and motivate one another.
Although I don’t know how to meet people who would be interested. I would love some advice.
This is such a wonderful idea and I think something I have been missing and there are so many artists in our area.
I thumbed through your book “The Artful Bird” while at Abeille in Brookline this weekend and now stumbling across your blog I had no idea you were a Greater Boston artist! This meetup sounds splendid! I wish I had more time to spend with other creative minded women to help motivate each other. My boyfriend, family and friends don’t always “get” what it’s like to start a new project, or work with a new material or learn a new craft skill.
It’s like therapy to be a able to look someone in the eye and say things like “I can’t believe I used a featherweight stabilizer instead of a heavyweight” or spout out the nonsense business and marketing ideas that are the best breeding ground for more solid ideas and have the other person TRULY understand what you mean.
I found Abby via our mutual shops on etsy. Perhaps give that a try. You can search people by location.
Best,
Elizabeth
elizabethcohenpottery.com
amazing, abby! my friend and i have been trying to start a creative ladies’ lunch group, since many of us feel isolated working in our studios alone, but it has been challenging finding a time when everyone can get together! i’m a bit discouraged, though also excited about getting organized. hopefully, we can get it together soon! i’m really looking for a community of creative ladies who can support and help each other out!