Trailblazin’ the Craft Scene Since 2007
Etsy Dallas, the original Dallas team and the first city team in Texas, is a cooperative craft collective of artists and designers living and working in Dallas who sell their wares on Etsy, the web’s premiere marketplace for all things hip and handmade. Etsy Dallas boasts talent from a range of mediums and crafts, and is independently run by its members with the blessing and loving support of Etsy.
Because of the determination of the original members, Etsy Dallas has become a force in the handmade movement, both locally and beyond. In the wake of Etsy Dallas’ inception in 2007, other Texas teams have formed including Etsy Austin, Alamo City Etsy, Etsy Fort Worth, Northeast Texas Etsy, Artisans of Houston and North Dallas Etsy. Two years later, Etsy Dallas continues to be the model as a leader in the art/craft scene.
Mission
This mission of Etsy Dallas is to promote the handmade movement, and to create an environment to buy and sell handmade goods in the Greater Dallas area.
Goals
~To promote each others’ goods by selling locally in the Greater Dallas area.
~To promote awareness of the handmade movement and indie lifestyle, with a focus on our Etsy shops.
~To act as a cooperative resource and support network for each others’ businesses.
History
Etsy Dallas was founded in September of 2007 by Stephanie Hindall of Tefi Designs and a handful of others (including co-leader Pamela Michelle) eager to spread the handmade movement across the metroplex. Today we are doing just that with two local craft shows that have garnered city-wide support and national credibility (learn more about the Bash HERE). Etsy Dallas has transformed itself over the years into a tight-knit collaborative group that supports each other’s handmade endeavors with love and good times.
A few weeks back, like a bajillion artists submitted work to Frank Campagna over at Kettle Art Gallery. Frank, then, invited some of our local art aficionados and in-the-knows over to the gallery to whittle the submissions down to a mere 55. No easy task, I can assure you. Tonight these 55 works of art will be unveiled and you, my darlings, are invited.
Whassup:
Friday, November 6th Kettle Art Gallery The Judges: Anne Bothwell – Director, KERA’s Art & Seek Jason Janik – Photographer Sarah Jane Semrad – Executive Director, La Reunion TX and President, Art Conspiracy Lucia Simek – co-founder of Dallas’ arts and culture blog, Renegade Bus Charles Dee Mitchell -Art Critic The Artists:
Willhelmina Adams, David Alpuche, Sabrina Ashee, Julianne Agular,
Nathan Beach, Jonathan Brooks, Shari Caldwell, Rita Childress, Dan Colcer, Lauren Darrouzet, Oscar Duran,
Jonathan Fontenot, Essie P. Graham, Charles A. Gray, Violeta Gutierrez, Luke Harnden, Michael Haskins, Nary Huval, James Emory Bridges (Jimbeau), Jenice Johnson, Veronique Jonas, Natalia V. Jones, Jeff Kiec, Joseph Lambert, Ray LeBoeuf, Levi Leddy, Tom Leininger, Frank Lopez, Jeane McIntosh, William Messimer, Edward Montes, Carolyn Nelson, Jalon Nichols, Richard Patterson, Ramona and Dennis Placke, Rob Polivka, Pat Ramseur, Guy Reynolds, David Rodriquez, Clint Scism, Tyler Sharp, Diane Sikes, Cara Michelle Smith, Tammy Tholen, Andrew Tolentino, Susana Vasquez and Ross von Rosenberg
7 p.m. – Free
So here’s what happened…the boychild saved up a good deal of cash cuz he wanted to purchase a Pug. One Saturday, several weeks back, he set off to Rockwall to meet with a potential new pup’s owner/seller. He returned home with…well…supposedly this pooch is half chihuahua and half pekingnese…and he had this circular scab from where he’d scratched himself due to an enormous amount of fleas…sigh. So I called him “Scabby” straight out of the chute, and Scabby has stuck…the fleas, however, are gone.
My sister is a really talented pooch photographer, and she gave me this beauty this morning. I give you…Scabby…oh…and ironically, I’ve recently been referring to Scabby as “Boo” Very fitting…
If you are interested in film and video, then you might like to know that the 27th Annual Videofest is just about a week or so away. Click for details. Bart Weiss, director of the Video Association of Dallas, wrote a nice little piece on Art&Seek and I think you should read it…m’kaaaaay…
…This year for the festival I tried something completely different. A few years ago I met with a young filmmaker named Ryan Kline and was very impressed. He had a great attitude and was very ambitious for a kid. (When I first met him he was too young to drive.) I then saw him at the workshops in Maine, where I teach teachers in the summer. He was taking an intensive film (as in not video) workshop. So I thought, why not have him do the intro? It was a bit of a risk, but I was really happy to try it. Ryan needed help, and we got lots of help. Bill Schwartz, one of Dallas’ best directors of photography, agreed to shoot it. And he did way more than shoot it – he arranged for so many people and so much equipment it was amazing. For those who this means something to, it was shot on the Red camera. As we moved along, Bill was impressed with Ryan’s talent and his ability to know what he wanted (something not all directors have).
Quickly this shoot got big, with a crew of about 20, a nice cast and way too much for Bill and Ryan to produce by themselves. So I called Amy Lou Abernathy at AMP Productions, who put Mariana Denke on it, who did a great job. Steve Franko did color correction, Post Asylum edited it and James Neel did the music…READ THE REST.
Boo! Kettle Art Gallery presents: Creepshow. It’s a group show featuring unique masks, photos and other paintings pertaining to All Hallows Eve.
This shindig opens tomorrow night and should make for a horror of a time. Get it? Horror…cuz it’s scary.
My boss, along with several other artsy types poured over 420 images at Kettle Art Gallery this week, and narrowed them down to 55 lucky artists who will participate in an upcoming show. I hear-tell that there are some familiar faces in the lot, and several new faces as well.
The unveiling party is on Friday, November 6th at, where else, Kettle Art Gallery.
PAC–What? The Professional Artist Coalition is a flash mob action creating a bright public yellow signal for health care reform. A first for Dallas, and this cause.
PAC-Who? The North Texas art community. This includes thousands of citizens daily engaged in the visual, performing, literary, media, and commercial arts.
PAC-WHERE?Morton Meyerson Symphony Hall – convene under the di Suvero Sculpture ‘Proverb/ Pendulum for preparation of happening.
PAC-HOW? Show up and bring your friend, your coffee and donuts. Nothing will be sold at this event.
~Arrive by 11 a.m.
~Obtain a yellow pancho from distributor (suggested $2.00 donation)
~Choose your preference colored dot to represent your health care view.
~Choose your insignia logo identifying your artistic medium.
PAC-WHY? Because artists of any kind stand with the American people to demand a change to the status quo of a broken health care system. Because artists are unique victims of the health care status quo. Most are independent contractors, uninsured or underinsured. Because artists are fed up with other PAC’s (Political Action Committees) funded by insurance and drug companies that are fighting to care for profits instead of health. Because the North Texas art community realizes that at the very moment that Dallas is celebrating its new PAC (Performing Arts Center), with architects and programming imported from elsewhere, it has no plan to sustain its own creative community. Because artists have been silent and invisible for too long when it comes to the health and care of our society. PAC WE – The Origin of the Concept PAC MAN is a sign of consumption. We often consume health care and culture without thinking about its wider context. We don’t ask why healthcare costs so much or why so many are left without it. We also don’t ask about the livelihoods and healthcare of the artists that are seen as culture providers.
The new job is really amazing. I’ve done things totally out of my box, and have had some wonderful experiences thus far.
This past weekend, I tagged Tiffany Kieran, and we headed down to brave the crowds at the Dallas Arts District’s open-house. We had wine. We had cheese. We had cameras.
Check it here. Also, the real KERA/Art&Seek professional videographer got some really lovely footage here.
Well kiddies, I’ve somehow managed to land a real job with my beloved KERA-Art&Seek. Lemme hip you to a few things. Fer one, they are fantastically dedicated to the arts/music/culture communities over there on Harry Hines Blvd. These here are some very very very good folks. They make it really simple to promote your events, but you gotta do a little bit of work yourselves…oh, wipe that look off’o'yo’ face. Just a teeny bit of work on your part.
I’m going to make this really easy on ya…go here and submit your “organization” (which can be your venue, your group, your church, your association, your store, your whatever). There it shall remain forever, unless you want to make changes and you just gotta let us know by clicking on the “Update Page” link on your profile page.
Next, and this is really the easy part, you go here to submit your events (like your shows or exhibits or concerts or acting gigs or whatever). That’s it. It’s my job to take care of the rest.
It’s all free of charge. And there are perks, too. Lots of those great events get featured on the site, and some of ‘em even get featured on Gini Mascorro’s radio feature on KERA Radio.
PS – this round of Track by Track is fantastic. Paul put together a sampler podcast this time and it’s brilliantly fabulous. It includes some Bosque Brown, Danny Balis, Doug Burr, Rhett Miller, Robert Gomez, Telegraph Canyon and Trey Johnson. It’s so freakin’ great, go listen. NOW!
The clouds shall part tomorrow, unveiling a gorgeous day in Oak Cliff. I think I’ll take the Vespa out for a spin ’round the Bishop Arts District and find me some artistic treasures…
The Urban Bazaar is DFWs answer to the alternative art & craft DIY movement sweeping the country. The demand for hip handmade product is answered with this local shopping experience, so be sure to join us and support these local makers and creators of everthing handcrafted. Whether you are looking for unique clothing, funky jewelry and accessories or that perfect art piece for your pad, this is the place to be, because this sure ain’t your Grandma’s craft bazaar.
Sounds like a plan, eh?
My bike done needs new tires, so I’ll have to sit this one out, as far as joining to peddlin’ crew, but I might stop over at the Kessler to shoot the shite with Liles….
BFOC member, Kenny Cotton, is leading a group ride starting at the Historic Kessler Theatre at 1230 West Davis for the Old Oak Cliff Conservation League’s Home Tour. Cyclists get 10% off of the regularly $20 tickets, and will see inside some of the most amazing and historic homes in the area, ranging from 1920’s large-porched prairie homes, to mid-century modern homes. All proceeds go back to the league, which is responsible for many of the incredible historic revitalization projects in the Cliff.
There’s gonna be a whole lotta bikin’ goin’ on…
This is going to be a blast! We’ve blocked off Seventh Street from Tyler to Polk. DART is bringing out a bus to show off the bike rack systems, BikeDenton is showing off their tall bikes and will hold competitions. The Oak Cliff Bicycle Company is holding Goldsprints competitions (register at the shop at 6PM), The Cube Creative will be holding an art bike gallery show and ride, Photopol.us is opening up the building at 421 Tyler with the bands Happy Bullets and Boom Boom Box performing from 8pm to 11pm, Mighty Fine Arts will host an art show, T-shirt silk screening will be taking place, and Matt and Rob’s BBQ will be on hand serving some delicious smoked confections. All in all, it’s going to be an evening full of bicycle events all at Tyler Street and only a few blocks west of Bishop Arts. Head that way after the Urban Bazaar for the after party!
You can find more bikin’ events and fun-filled Oak Cliff plans here.
Adorable spitfire Abbie Chesney has been putting together an amazing little business. She’s accepting guitar/bass string donations from local/regional musicians and turning them into divine jewelry. For one, it’s a green thing, and for two part of the proceeds go towards the Carter Albrecht Foundation. I bought a bracelet made from Eric Neal’s strings. I looooooove it.
So all you talented ones getcher strings to Abbie so they can become a fabulous fashion statement!
Up top is a video The Fine Line featuring Chelsea Callahan chatting with Abbie about this splendid project. (We had a gal-gathering at the Old Monk)
CLICK!
PAC-WHERE? 
