GUEST ARTIST: ANN MORTON

Ann is a Phoenix area artist and designer who founded the program, Street Gems, a jewelry-making program that aids homeless people.

Caution Tape Crocheted Bead Earrings

"Street Gems is a social enterprise that transforms discarded items from the street — plastic bottles and cups, plastic bags, and caution tape — into jewelry that is wearable art. But that is only one transformation this venture will create, because the individuals crafting these gems are experiencing homelessness — the possibility of their personal transformation is the real treasure this effort can uncover."



A while back, I contacted Ann through the StreetGems shop on Etsy to learn more about this innovative and inspirational program she spearheaded.

Where did the inspiration for starting Street Gems come from?
I had just completed my MFA thesis at Arizona State University and part of my thesis work involved paying homeless makers to crochet parts of a huge project that then one homeless fellow put together to appear in my thesis show. Before that project, I'd been working with the homeless population here in Phoenix for about 1 1/2 years. So as a result, I wanted to see if I could start a small enterprise by designing the items and then training homeless participants to make and sell.



Plastic Bottle Bead and Seed Bead Necklace

Can you tell me a bit about the program's logistics? Do you work out of a homeless shelter? Do you get any monetary assistance for your program or help from volunteers?
Yes, we work out of the Loadstar Day Resource Center (LDRC for short) which operates on the Human Services Campus in downtown Phoenix.   This effort is a partnership with LodestarDRC and they provided start up funds for initial supplies, packaging etc. We sell everything through them as they are a 501c3, and then the funds are distributed to our small group of permanent makers. We often have drop-ins that will work for a day, but it is only after a maker makes a commitment to come on a regular basis that they reap the benefits of the sales. I have one regular volunteer and sometimes there is one staff member from the LDRC that attends our sessions. We meet once a week for 3 hours.




How has the program been received in your community?

We started training in June of 2012 to be ready for the holiday season. We are currently in five design oriented retail locations here in the Phoenix metro area (Scottsdale and Chandler). We also sell at a regular event called First Fridays in downtown Phoenix. The items are also online at Lodestar's Just B B Just. This is another enterprise at Lodestar that makes soaps, lotions, etc.

 

The products are not exactly flying off the shelf, but just this past weekend, we got a big article in the newspaper here and a spot on an associated TV news station. We hope that will spur interest.



Plastic Bottle Bead and Seed Bead Necklace

What are the results you have seen from this program in terms of what it has done to assist the homeless people you work with?

I think that more than the monetary value, this has given our makers a sense of accomplishment - especially those that have come repeated times. This is a very transient group, so we've had regulars come and go.

 

" It is no coincidence that we have named this enterprise Street Gems. For, not only do these products uncover the beauty of commonly discarded objects, but, this holistic program uncovers the abilities and the talents of the homeless artisans who make them."



 



 



Click on the links throughout this interview to learn more about Ann's program and visit the shop on Etsy or the Just B B Just site to purchase the unique hand-crafted jewelry items.

 

StreetGemsArizona on Etsy                        Street Gems on Just B B Just

 



GUEST ARTIST: ERICA SIMPSON

I recently interviewed Erica via email to ask her about her wonderful hand bound journals made from rescued old books, record covers and beer boxes.  Here is what she had to say:

 

 How and when did you become interested in book binding?

I have always been a lover of art, but was never the most artistic person out there. My college had an Arts and Crafts department, and on a whim I signed up for bookbinding my freshman year. It was taught by an incredibly talented Studio Art major and I ended up being the only person in the class. I was surprised by how well the medium suited me. The girl who taught it and I would discuss different materials that could be used as book covers. After she graduated, I took over as the teacher of the course for the remainder of my college years. I loved making books for people in my life. Most of my friends and family, and everyone I have ever dated has been given these as a gift over the years.                                                                                                                    

In addition to the book binding course, I was an Art History minor to accompany my Literature major, and in the process took a few drawing courses. As a young kid, I was a precocious aesthete, spending hours on a family vacation to Europe as an 8 year old glued to the Monet’s, Picasso’s, and Van Gough’s in the museums as my sister was consumed with boredom. But I have never been much of an artist myself, just an admirer of those who posses the talents.

Have you always worked with recycled materials?

I have always striven to use all recycled materials in my books. The paper I use is recycled Canson sketch paper as well.


What qualities do you think recycled materials bring to your journals?

As I mentioned, I majored in Literature, and long before I started creating blank journals out of old book covers I was perusing the books section of thrift shops and spending hours in used book stores. I would find my self getting lost in the stacks of books, amongst the pages, looking for hidden gems, and in awe of the vastness of human creation. I love the smell of an old book, and the care and craftsmanship that went into creating images both on the covers and pages within. I love stories and would get wrapped up in the stories the authors had created and the stories left behind by the people who had handled the books. The notes to the recipient of a gift, the underlines, highlights, and marginal comments, the bookmarks, recipes, pictures, and postcards that would tumble from the pages, long forgotten. It was archeology, and I loved collecting.

 In this world where everything is digital and we are so quick to consume and move on, the art of journaling and sketching is falling to the wayside, as is the love we have for books. Why buy a book when you can load thousands onto your kindle? Why journal when you can blog? In combining old books and creating a new space for the written word, I am hoping to retain some of that which we are beginning to lose.

I have recently started making more and more record cover, wine box, and beer box books in addition to my book journals. Part of this was driven by the fact that in the production of some of my journals, I am left with the byproduct of extra paper. Instead of recycling these scraps, I have begun to look for other recycled objects to use as covers. Old record covers that are being thrown away because the records have disappeared, and boxes on their way to the landfill or recycling plant have been given a new life as pocket sized notebooks.

In all these things (old books, record covers, and booze boxes) there is something for the user to attach to: a favorite old book, a whimsical image, an interesting title, a beloved musician, a retro picture, a travel destination, or a beverage of choice. That is why I love this medium so much, there is something for everyone, old and young, male and female, artist, writer, list maker, doodler, traveler, creative or not. In the book cover journal there are pockets in the back for those scraps the we collect as we move through the world. Old photographs, postcards, notes, letters, stamps, pressed flowers, maps, ticket stubs, and whatever else you want to hold onto.

Do you have other creative pursuits besides your recycled journals?              

I do a lot of creating. Currently I am building a bike powered blender, so look for me peddling around Denver and making delicious treats.

 

Find out more about Erica's smoothie enterprise and visit her Etsy shop to see more of her journals.

 

OffTheChainSmoothies

 

ReBoundBooks