It’s been said that it’s hard out here for a pimp, but I would argue that it’s even harder for an independent artist or designer trying to make a living selling their work to a society mostly obsessed with obsolescence. Unlike the large corporations that dominate consumer culture, the work of small business is often meant to last – the materials are quality and each piece is lovingly constructed by human hand. It’s really the only thing that small business in North America has going for it; we certainly can’t compete with the quantity and price of the corporate goods. But a growing number of people realize that supporting local artists and designers – whether in the music we listen to, the clothes we wear or the art we decorate our house with – has much larger benefits than just getting something that will last you longer and is made better than its made in China counterpart. By supporting your friends and neighbors, you are improving their lives and the community’s economy, because the money stays in the community and cycles through it, supporting other local businesses and helping others improve their livelihoods. Unless you think we’re all better off working at Wal-Mart for minimum wage. Most small business is a minimum wage job, but one infinitely more rewarding than greeting huffy obese shoppers and making rich Christians richer. Being creative and running my own business has made me get used to being broke, yes, but so happy. However, I believe that the time of the artisan is nigh, that disgruntled citizens are waking up to the fact that the only way to live the way we want to live is to support each other at a grassroots level. One of the only ways creative people have been able to survive is by supporting each other, and Amanda Moore of Adelina Mictlan jewelry is doing that with her popup shop project From the Black Lodge. She has big plans to do a series of national and international popups featuring designers and artists who produce their pieces in small batches by hand, companies like Ovate, Guts, Glam Glory, Morph, Death/Traitors, Terra Luna, Wicked Apothecary, Thrillhaus, Lisa Muerta leather works, David Guy and more. She’s starting out at Austin Psych Fest this year, and she needs our help to get her started, so she’s put up an Indiegogo campaign to raise the funds. There are 7 days left to get involved, so I highly recommend that you check it out now. She has some excellent incentives for people who donate starting at $1, including a jewelry raffle, patches, tees, totes, tattoo credit, Adelina Mictlan gift certificates, original paintings and the one I am hoping for – a chance to win a stunning Bloodmilk ring. After the jump watch read about her mastermind plan and please help her get this awesome project started!!!
blacklodge from Amanda Moore on Vimeo.
“From the Black Lodge” is a popup shop that travels to different venues around the world. We strongly believe in handmade, small batch, independent business. The shop will be filled with products from artists and designers that sell primarily on the internet. My goal in the creation of “From the Black Lodge” is to help these artist bring work to shoppers which they may not have had the chance to see, and will allow the shoppers to experience and appreciate a unique, specific style. I will also be giving the artists I represent an opportunity to share their efforts, and to spread the awareness of their craft without taking a huge financial risk on their own.
What We Need & What You Get
To get the ball rolling, at the very least, I would need $4,000. This will directly go to the first venue, Austin Psych Fest, that will debut “from the black lodge”. Psych Fest is a 3 day musical festival that draws up to 10,000 potential shoppers from all over the United States and the world. This setup would include a booth fee, shelves, mannequins, tables and other supplies, that would be utilized to fill the space. I will also need flyers & business cards to keep the project alive and well promoted.
The revenue from the first popup shop at Austin Psych Fest will go towards starting a website that will feature an online store that will continue to sell products from our contributing vendors. This website and other social media sites linked to “from the black lodge” will continue to spread hype about my project and the small businesses I support. I will also use the revenue to start planning my next popup shop.
When you contribute to this project, you will be offered a handful of rewards. I hope something appeals to you because I am truly thankful for any and all help! My goal is to help others, both shoppers and artists in the pursuit of keeping a unique style, and handmade, artisan projects alive, and I am hoping this goal will be shared by friends, family, artists and all those who appreciate the small batch, independent business.
The Impact
From the minute “From the Black Lodge” initiative begins, it will benefit the progress of small businesses and independent artists. I know that creating and maintaining your art, integrity and business can be difficult, and this is why I would like to step in, and drive the success of others, who are in a position just as myself.
I know it is not easy to get a small movement started, and everyone is struggling in this economy, working multiple jobs, taking care of their families and making sacrifices to stay afloat. I also know this barely leaves time to do the things that make us happy. At the end of the day it is difficult for a working artist to find the time that they need to promote themselves, so “From the Black Lodge” will take on this burden, bringing valuable art to the global community.
The artists I represent are just like you and I, and I want to see them succeed by promoting & selling their goods in my new shop.
In the past, the community that Jewelry by Adelina Mictlan has been a part of has been very giving and supportive. All of the designers I have worked with have gone out of their way to promote each-others work, whether it is a blog
post, instagram photo, or tweet. We genuinely believe in each other and I feel that this strong community sense will be carried on in my new endeavour.
Some of the artists I will be working with are:
Ovate
Guts, Glam Glory
Morph
Death/Traitors
Terra Luna
Wicked Apothecary
Thrillhaus
Lisa Muerta leather works
David Guy
& many others
Incentives
New Comments