the antidote to consumerism isn’t minimalism, it’s art

This is a guest post by Megan Auman.

chair by Margaret Taylor for Uncommon Goods - click for info

If you’re reading this, you probably have some conflicting views when it comes to stuff. If not now, you’ve probably had them at some point.

This conflict can be summed up pretty simply as a desire for beautiful objects (whether that’s to make them or own them) versus a disgust with the rampant consumerism that’s depleting our planet.

This disgust often leads to an inevitable conclusion: “The world doesn’t need more stuff.”

And it’s this conclusion that often leads one towards the minimalist movement, which argues that the solution is to get rid of as much of our stuff as possible.

There’s no denying that our current levels of consumerism are unhealthy. We have an unhealthy relationship to stuff.

But I’d like to argue that getting rid of all our stuff is unhealthy too.

It’s the equivalent of fixing your addiction to food by becoming anorexic. True, you might be eating less. But are you really healthier?

Most of us need stuff in our lives. (Since the word “stuff” might trip you up, we’ll use “objects” instead.) Objects help communicate meaning. Objects help connect us to people – family, friends, makers – alive and dead. And objects provide aesthetic and sensory experiences that can nourish us.

Our need for objects is both culturally and biologically embedded, and it isn’t going away any time soon.

So what is the solution to the problem of consumerism, pollution, and waste?

It’s not minimalsim. It’s art.

When I say art, I’m not just talking about painting or sculpture. Any object that’s made, regardless of its purpose or function, has the potential to be art. Art isn’t a category. It’s a state of mind.

Our current production system is about producing the most stuff possible. Art is about producing special stuff. Stuff that is imbued with meaning, connection, and experience. Stuff that nourishes our minds and our bodies.

Our current problem didn’t arise because we put too much value on stuff. It arose because we don’t value stuff enough.

The sheer volume of stuff has made us lose our appreciation for it. We’ve lost our sense of wonder and attachment to stuff. We’ve lost the ability to connect with stuff on a deeper level. To form a relationship with an object. To understand the small miracle that has to happen for a truly extraordinary object to come into being.

For some, minimalism may be a completely fulfilling life. But for those of us with a biological predisposition to objects (or what Howard Gardner would call a bodily-kinesthetic intelligence), minimalism is unsatisfactory and therefore not a sustainable solution.

Last month, I visited twelve different museums in three different countries. I cannot even imagine a world without stuff. And I don’t have to.

Because the solution to our problem isn’t pretending that stuff doesn’t have value. It’s creating, seeking out, and embracing the stuff that matters most.

- – -
Megan Auman is a designer, metalsmith, educator, and entrepreneur. Her eponymous jewelry line is sold in stores across the US and online. Megan is the founder and editor of Designing an MBA, where she provides business thinking and education for designers and makers. She is currently on a mission to repair our unhealthy relationship with stuff.

Makers are messengers, too.

Oh, that's just me making a statement with Megan Auman jewelry.

Makers are messengers, too, ya know.

Your job isn’t to write the next killer blog post, craft the next hard-hitting piece of journalism, or take the mic & rock the stage, but that doesn’t mean you’re off the hook from having a message.

Makers are messengers, too.

What you create with paper, pixel, wood, or metal is a manifestation of what you believe. What is birthed from your imagination & your own two hands isn’t just a “thing” but an idea bigger & more vibrant than the sum of its materials.

Yes, makers are messengers, too.

When Megan Auman designs a necklace, she’s really saying, “Be beautiful, be bold. Make a statement today & everyday with what you wear.”

When Sara Selepouchin sketches a new diagram, she’s really saying, “Fun and function can — and should — go hand-in-hand.”

When Janice Bear stitches a garter, she’s really saying, “You are not the uniform you have to wear. Keep your own unique spark alive.”

The message is in the act of making. It’s in the product that is made. And it’s certainly manifest in the use of the object.

So it’s good to know that the message you are speaking through what you create is exactly the message someone is waiting to hear. Your message is the point of connection.

In the book, Design-Driven Innovation, Roberto Verganti suggests that understanding the greater message & meaning of what you create allows for an entirely new form of innovation: the innovation of meaning.

An ordinary object – a necklace, for instance – can have many meanings. Most simply, it is a means to decorate your body. Other meanings are also quite common: signifying friendship or love and representing a personal interest. But can you take a necklace and make it mean something new? Deliver a new message?

That’s exactly what Megan is trying to do when she creates a necklace. Beyond body decoration, beyond symbols of relationship or interest, Megan is saying: wear this necklace and make a statement of your truth.

This meaning is unexpected. And sure, for some undesired. But for a select few – Megan’s very best customers – it is exactly the message they’ve been waiting to hear.

Megan is the messenger.

Yes, makers are messengers, too.

Instead trying to tell the story of your work on its physical features, the length of time it took to get the finish just right, the esoteric technique you used on the underside, tell me your message. Shout it out. Say it soft. Just say it.

We’re waiting.

Maker, what’s your message?

***
I – along with my Reclaiming Wealth co-conspirator, Adam King – are coaching a cadre of messengers through creating a premium offer of their product or service. We want to help unleash a group of message-centered, value-driven products into the market later this year. You in?

Click here now to find out more about Make Your Mark.

{ photo by Regina Miller of Origin Photo, Philadelphia }

the joy of hanging out with your peeps

sara selepouchin girlscantell

broken plate pendant company

without supervision design collective

special announcement at the bottom of this post!

Last week, I ventured down to Baltimore to attend the Buyers Market of American Craft (click on each pic to find out more!). This was my third time going and it’s become something that I really look forward to. This market is unusual in that it’s a trade show – not open to the public, you can’t buy anything! Which means it’s all about talking to people.

Gah, I love talking to my people.

It is so easily for each of us, you and me, to sit in our studios or offices or living rooms, churning out things with our hands, fingers, and minds and forget that we’re a part of something greater. We’re a part of a community that breathes and swells – and eats tapas.

Walking around Buyers Market is a chance to talk to people who are the life blood of this community. It’s the chance to find out what makes them tick, see them in amongst their wares, laugh, rant, goof off, drink way to much coffee, and sample the occasional adult beverage.

It’s business and it’s a party. Just the way I like it.

In any gathering like this, with so much on the line, there’s room for negativity. It’s possible to get down on yourself for a lack or sales or because the buyers are stopping by your booth or there just aren’t enough buyers. But when you accept the collective breath of the community, you can enjoy the possibilities as much as the physical rewards.

And when you get home, you can turn possibilities into gold.

tasha mckelvey bird bowls

new new york etsy street team

want more community? exciting announcement!

Megan Auman, jewelry designer & founder of Crafting an MBA – and my buddy, and I have teamed up to create an exclusive membership community for creative entrepreneurs. The Creative Empire is about finding the passion, profit, and community in running a business in the postmodern age.

I am LOVING this community! I love being surrounded by other entrepreneurs. It can be a lonely, misunderstood world of creating, running and expanding a business. It is comforting to have a place to go where I know others “GET IT”.
– Holly, Accounting Spot

I like that this forum is not used for complaining, negativity, or blatant promotion. The other members are very honest and open to sharing what works and what doesn’t, critique, positive feedback, and the peace of mind that you’re not alone. It’s a great avenue to tackle the more pressing subjects when you’re ready to move from hobby to career.
Tina Jett

We Believe

We believe that we learn best as a group. We believe that sustainable businesses are built on passion. And we believe that businesses built on passion should be profitable. Very profitable.

Who We Are

The Creative Empire is a community of like-minded creative business owners. We are entrepreneurs who are looking to get ahead of the game, learn from each other, try new strategies. This is a place for serious action and frank discussion.

We are not all crafters or artists. Inside, you’ll find writers, designers, coders, numbers people, and more. We are all looking to find out of the box solutions for running our businesses.

What We Do

Monthly training activities, conference calls, freebies, and lots of discussion on the forums – there’s a lot! Click over to find out more.

If The Creative Empire sounds like something that could help you realize the dream of having a successful, sustainable, passion-driven, profit-creating business, click over to the site to find out more. If not, I’ll catch you here on Scoutie Girl soon!

(re)defining the craft movement

vintage thread fine art photograph

One of the goals of this site is to provide a platform for the spread & discussion of the handmade movement.

One such discussion I’ve tried to spark here, rather unsuccessfully, is what we actually think of when we think of “the handmade movement.” To me, this isn’t a semantic argument but rather one of great importance. How we define ourselves, our community, and our movement is how we will be judged by others. It is also how people will decide to identify with us or not. The way we define ourselves creates an opportunity for buy-in or opposition.

I have no qualms about the fact we will never reach consensus on what does and what does not qualify as handmade – or craft – or art. But the act of discussion, of discourse, helps us to define ourselves and our interactions, thereby strengthening our cause.

As for myself, I come at this discussion as an outsider. I am not a pro crafter or artist – nor am I even a talented DIYer. I was brought up with a deep appreciation for craftsmanship and design. And while this may hinder my ability to relate directly to the artists featured here, it does give me a unique perspective on the creative community and the movement around it.

As I see it, there is no line in the sand.

Let me say it again, there is no place that we, as a movement, can say that’s not “handmade enough” without questioning our own integrity & vision. At each level of creation & craft, there is an opportunity for purity – at one point or another, we all fall off the wagon.

So here is my stab in the dark:

Craft is vision, purpose, and idea that has been beautifully executed.

Let me explain.

Megan’s cozy/cuff is an original design. Its conception is Megan’s and hers alone. Her company, from accounting to design to marketing is just her, along with her insatiable need to do things the smart way. The cozy/cuff is laser cut by a manufacturing company in the United States that specializes in working with designers.

Her craft (aside from amazing jewelry) is the design, the conception, the blood, sweat, & tears that goes into creating an object that screams self-expression and artistic voice.

Her craft is an idea, beautifully executed.

Geo Grand stack with mod vase

Jan’s fabrics are her conception and hers alone. Her fabric exudes the independent spirit that they are born from. No one I know more carefully sources every part of her production chain – ensuring that each decision makes smart business sense, is eco-friendly, and is of impeccable quality.

Her craft is an idea, beautifully executed.

cartolina & fin + roe

Fiona, of Cartolina (left above), and Lori, of Marzipan Inc (right above), create an amazing array of paper goods & gifts each in their own distinct style. Their goods are designed by them but brought into being by a printer.

Their craft is an idea, beautifully executed.

Clearly, a narrow definition of handmade does not apply to this kind of craft. Would you still buy it? Do you support it? Is it part of your handmade movement?

Let’s flip the coin over.

Many people take manufactured beads & findings and create jewelry pieces by hand. Wire is bent & snipped. Pieces are strung & tied. And one crafter’s piece may bear no discernible difference to the next crafter’s.

I am in no position to call this not handmade, clearly. But I do ask, where is the vision? Where is the independence in that craft?

As a movement, I believe we seek exactly what Grace said in her keynote to the IDSA conference:

To see the maker’s hand.

And, not only do I seek to see the hand of the maker, I seek to see their vision & their purpose. I want to consume goods that are conceived not out of marketing meetings but of needs, and beauty, and ideals, and purpose. For me, the maker may be a designer or an artist or a craftsman. For me, their personal mark – and unique vision – on the product is what confers the title of maker.

I seek to identify with the maker’s worldview.

I seek to support the maker’s independent ideas.

I seek to see a spark of the divine in the objects I buy, just as I see that spark in you.

Goods can be manufactured or wrought from flesh & bone and still have that spark of the divine. If you support the vision of artists, designers, and markers, you support our movement. If you are concerned with the purpose of what you consume and not the consumption, you are a part of this movement, if you support the independence of personal aesthetic and the inherent beauty of a marker’s touch, you support this movement.

This movement is a response to an evermore dull aesthetic of commercialism. Questioning that aesthetic and what it stands for – or doesn’t stand for – is the responsibility of this new Craft movement. Our response is one of steady progress towards our ideals, knowing that purity will not be reached in our lifetimes.

Art & Craft is an experience and an idea that cannot be held by narrow definitions. Art & Craft is where execution meets personal experience and where conception meets the divine spark of being.

{image credit: vintage thread fine art photograph by jessica torres}

the creative empire – a video from megan auman & tara gentile

Now, Scoutie Girl isn’t a business blog. But, when Megan and I get together we talk business. Well, business and bicycles. So we created this little video to tell you more about how we view our businesses, what our goals are for the future, and how our visions intertwine. This video also tells you a tiny bit about a project we have coming later this summer that has us just bursting at the seams.

Building a Creative Empire from tara gentile on Vimeo.









If you’re reading this on a feed reader or via email and you don’t see the video above, be sure to click through to the original post!