Four or five years ago, the promising world of social media provided a place to be seen and appreciated for intricate work done by hand. My world was opened up to artists who chose slow and intentional construction. I'm thankful for a hashtag, or the rabbit hole of clicking through communities that follow like minded accounts. I'm thankful for the discovery of creatives that inspire and fashion new ideas beautifully.
Today I sense a shift. I don't know if you feel it too. It has become harder for me to find the gems amidst the oversaturation on these platforms. I sense the grind of trying to "be seen." This grind perhaps inhibits the creator's art. Putting a booth on the roadside forcing an authentic connection to community becomes a romantic ideal again. The roadside stand requires less mental noise than playing the game of social media marketing. I know we have to adjust, and those that do will continue to thrive.
I find myself drawn to intrinsic passion. Even in little squares on a very small screen you can feel this passion. The following women artisans inherently possess this. I'm thankful for their work and would like to play a small part in putting them out into the internet ether. The following are 5 woman artisans we think are worth knowing.
1) Jessica Pahakalani Ilalaole: Handmade Jeweler & Homesteader
Turquoise has a special place in my heart. I stumbled across Cobra Cult in search of white turquoise jewelry, and Jessica's detailed pieces immediately stood out against the rest. I began to follow her, and what kept my attention was not just her handcrafted jewelry, but a genuine, down to earth, authenticity. There is a connection to the natural world that radiates through her journey as an artist, mother, and homesteader. She has a keen eye for patterns found in natural materials and minerals.
Her unique story is one of hard work, perseverance, and grit. Her outlook on everyday life is full of gratitude. I appreciate her fluidity in creation. Whether it's painting horseshoes, baking pies, or making jewelry, I believe Jessica's whole heart is in it.
Today Jessica's life path has led her to Northern New Mexico. With a blank canvas of enchanted land and sage brush, she and her partner Cody have built and continue to build an incredible home and studio from the ground up. Her openness about the process has been uplifting to read. Read the following excerpt from an instagram post and you will understand what I mean.
"As I write this I hear the construction sounds coming from our cabin site. My honey is building our dream with his hands and sweat. He has the most calloused hands I’ve ever touched and he’s the strongest dude I know. Today marks four years together. Four years of growth and constant change. I found myself when I moved to the mountains of Northern California to be with him, and now we are finding ourselves again in the land of enchantment. I’d be lying if I said we have chosen an easy, honky dory life together. We are both passionate and hard headed dreamers. We don’t believe in complacency and wasting time living with a heart unfulfilled. If you know @cchodge69 then you know he is a wild man. I love him for this wildness. No dream or idea seems too impossible. We don’t know what boring feels like. We’re working our damn asses off and yes we feel tired often, but it’s worth it to achieve something great for ourselves."
If you would like to hear an awesome interview with Jessica, head over to one of my favorite podcasts, Mountain and Prairie with Ed Roberson. You can listen to their conversation here. If you are interested in product drops keep an eye on Cobra Cult's instagram.
2) Rhiannon Griego: Textile Artist
Preservation of traditional and ancient styles of weavings has been a part of my life the past 12 years. I have worked in both Guatemala and Patagonia documenting traditional weavers life stories. It is an art form that isn't practiced by many today, which is why I am enamored with Rhiannon Griego. Using ancient philosophies of Saori, Japanese Freeform Weaving, Rhiannon masterfully incorporates the shapes, colors, and pulse of the southwest landscape in every thread of her textiles. She is innovative in her designs, and I find myself in awe of every piece.
Her connectivity to dimensions found in the natural world create a spiritual aspect to her fine art and wearable pieces, such as tunics, dresses, and wall hangings. It is as if the they are born out of the earth itself. There is an "old wisdom" through her captions and feeds, and her method is equally as important as the final product. Utilizing warp and weft, Rhiannon's art is a stark contrast to modern fast paced speeds.
I have the following quote in my kitchen by Marcus Aurelius, one of the great stoics. "To love only what happens, what was destined. No greater harmony." The weaving process for Rhiannon is engrained in the philosophy of wabi-sabi, which I find has similarities to the stoics.
"What coaxed me into Saori so easily is one of its principles: There are no mistakes and everything that happens on the loom is intended to be...The Japanese philosophy of wabi-sabi is rooted in my being and I abide by it as a spiritual principle. I find beauty in the perfectly imperfect this life offers and that in essence is what allows me to be fluid, flexible, and open to the magic of this life. My spiritual and art practice are one and the same; they are not separate from one another so the process of creating beauty in this lifetime is hand in hand with walking in a beautiful way on this Earth, aware, mindful, respectful, and acknowledging each and every thread that connects to the web from a different direction is sacred."
If you would like to learn more about Rhiannon Griego check out her website here. If you would like to follow her social account, follow her journey @rhiannonmgriego.
3) Chloé Marie Burk: Western Art and Barrel Racer
Through exploration and self-education, Chloé Marie Burk, brings vibrant color to the historical narrative of the West. There is an intricate folk quality to her pieces that I am in love with. Chloé intimately captures the atmosphere, patterns, dramatic light, and textures of the wild west in an inspirational fashion.
Drawing from the powerful drama of peoples during the pioneer days, her depictions of indigenous communities and cowboys are rich in imagination. Chloé graciously pays homage to a time of the past, and possesses an ever-evolving intimacy with her chosen subject matter. Chloé's pieces feel organic yet consciously constructed in patterns. Her background in fashion surely influences the unique designs and details within the garments presented. Chloé's work beautifully conveys the truth, feeling, and romance of the landscape and people.
Growing up in the countryside of France, Chloé expresses a comfortability living outside the confines of the city. Open scapes and scenes are not only a part of her work but have been a part of her life residing in New Mexico, Montana, and now Texas. You will find the theme of her iconic horses in movement throughout her works. You will also, from time to time, find pictures and videos of Chloé on horseback impressively barrel racing. She is not afraid to get her hands dirty, meet a challenge, or weather harsh climates.
Keep an eye on Chloe's instagram for updates on new pieces. They sell quickly! She is also currently featured at Parson's Gallery of the West in Taos New Mexico.
4) Nicole Morgenthau: Western & Portrait Photographer
Piercing, captivating, and honest are all words that come to the forefront of my mind when thinking about photographer Nicole Morgenthau. Her black and white portrait photography of the American West uniquely and invitingly captures raw human expression. The definition, angles, and environment of her subjects invite you into the sacredness of a personal story. Nicole captures intimacy, and at the same time guardedness, so incredibly well.
Nicole's journey as a photographer is one of fearlessness and courage. In an interview on Mountain and Prairie with Ed Roberson, Nicole shares her tenacity to progress as a photographer. Her approach includes a soft humility in willing to ask for help and an openness to learn from others. I don't think the phrase "fake it until you make it," applies to her work ethic. She holds a high standard of putting her absolute best work out there. She is willing to take criticism when something is "dog shit," as she exclaimed, which is a strength in character in my book. In a post Nicole defines the word optimist as,
"Someone who realizes that taking a step backward after taking a step forward is not a disaster, it's more like a dance!"
Photos can be a powerful tool to share the human story amidst the wild environment. Not all photography/photographers accomplish this. Nicole's work truly communicates the important untold stories. She captures the subtle fine lines that frame expression. It takes incredible skill to invite a subject to be vulnerable and willing to share. It also takes incredible skill to draw attention to the importance of that particular story. Nicole possesses these skills.
If you would like to listen to a delightful interview with Nicole Morgenthau check her out on Mountain and Prairie with Ed Roberson here. If you would like to see more of her personal work check her out on her social @nicolemorgenthau.
5) Alina Welch: Artist & Painter
Alina Welch's paintings have a deep rooted softness about them. They possess a simplistic minimalism that grants space for the observer to slow down inner dialogue and the mind. Natural earth pigments on linen and raw canvas create an inviting quality which encourages inner reflection of the observer.
Alina's calming backdrop of subtle colors introduce choreographies of shapes that dance within the paintings. I find a strong allure to nature within them as well, as she utilizes meditation and nature to influence and reveal the base color of a piece . In her artist bio she states,
"Balance and simplicity are the utmost objective. The slightest nuance of spirit while working can offset the fluidity of motion and awareness necessary to achieve it. Therefore, the work is a very personal spiritual journey through color and gesture to reach elusive dimensions and restore harmony within myself...Subtle moods and vague forms arch through to communicate the fundamental uncontrollability of nature. It is through this method of letting go of control yet moving with deliberate action that I encounter nature as the ultimate guide and grace as the ultimate teacher."
With titles such as Hold This River to Your Ear and Slice it With a Tear, her work is a form of poetry. It gives me the same sense as when I read a Mary Oliver poem where at the end you arrive with some sort of understanding you didn't realize you were trying to understand. Yes, that was sliced with a tear. The river did in fact have something to say.
Alina's authenticity and willingness to explore dualities present in one's life through her oil and acrylic paintings is refreshing to say the least. If you would like to see more current work head on over to @alina_welch_ You will not be disappointed.
