On Co-Founding A Creative Space And Collaborative Mindsets: Ceramicist Corrie Pocta
Corrie Pocta shares her advice for small business owners starting out, as well as her thoughts on the arts community in Dallas.
This spring, we’re checking in with our members and friends on what it means to nurture.
For this interview, we touched base with Corrie Pocta, one of our vendors within The Front Market.
Corrie Pocta shares her advice for small business owners starting out, as well as her thoughts on the arts community in Dallas.
ABOUT CORRIE
“My name is Corrie Pocta and I am a ceramicist based out of Dallas, Texas. I spent the past seven years as a high school art teacher and this May marks one year of pursuing my art-based small business full-time. ”
GET TO KNOW CORRIE:
NO. 1 — What are you hoping to nurture through your work in 2022?
With a baby on the way this summer, I am hoping to nurture sustainability within my practice. I recently got molds made of some of my favorite vase designs and will be focusing on texture and experimental glazes with larger works rather than big batches of mugs and smaller pieces for the remainder of the year.
NO. 2— Who are your biggest inspirations in Texas?
I am most inspired by the arts community I come in contact with regularly here in Dallas. I co-founded an artist co-op and shop called Trade Oak Cliff with artist Brooke Chaney in 2020. Our members include Molly Sydnor, Charli Miranda, and Niki Dionne. These women and their work inspire me daily. In addition to our crew, I am greatly inspired by the work of Mylan Nguyen, Analise Minjarez, and Sarita Westrup. Each of these artists incorporated a rich knowledge of fibers and clay within their pieces. Outside of DFW, I really admire the work of Broad Studios in Austin and their educational efforts with the arts in their community.
NO. 3 — What does creative collaboration mean to you?
I believe our ideas are bettered when we share them with others and allow for their experiences and expertise to help develop them. I believe our communities are bettered by an increase in people connecting with their creative selves and each other through the arts and reject scarcity mindset that keep us in competition with people working within similar mediums.
NO. 4 — How do you approach building community around your work?
One of the ways I build community through my work is through monthly clay classes I teach out of my studio, TRADE. Throughout the pandemic I have helped multiple people get started with home clay studios and offer kiln firing services to make the medium accessible to local people working from home. In addition to classes, my co-op members and I host monthly artist markets in our space helping to connect our audience to additional local crafts beyond what we showcase regularly in our studio shop.
NO. 5 — What's the one recommendation you'd make to someone new starting out as an independent creative or small business owner?
A recommendation I make for someone starting a small business is to go see a tax consultant and a few fellow small business owners at the beginning of your first year of business to get tips for best book-keeping practices. Sometimes the process of taxes can be the most daunting part of starting a small business and it’s best to get a structure for logging things before you get in over your head with events and sales that have already taken place.
Want to stay involved with creators like Corrie through Future Front Texas?
Keep up with what we’re up to—from virtual events to membership—here.
An Earth Day Guide: How To Nurture Your Closet, Community And Creativity (All At Once)
Use this mini-guide to examine your own relationship to style, community and the clothing industry.
This Earth Month, we’re hosting another Spring showcase for The Front Market, exhibiting more than 160 creators and small business owners across Texas. Because, for us, supporting local is a crucial component of nurturing community—as well as your planet.
So, we’ve connected with our new friends at GOOD girls ATX for a few tips for nurturing more sustainable shopping habits and an earth-conscious closet year-round. Here, you’ll find a mini guide from GgATX’s founders Marcella Bechtel and Kara Wright on changing your relationship to consumption and reimagining your approach to style( for good)! Enjoy!
Spring has officially sprung in Texas—birds are chirping, flowers are blooming, and that pollen is flowing (hello, allergies!). Our planet is busy nurturing her babies, old and new growth.
Meanwhile we, susceptible shoppers of the Global North, are being bombarded with marketing messages about ‘spring cleaning.’ Originally a phrase used to describe cleaning the literal dust from our homes after a long winter, fashion brands have manipulated the tradition into a ‘spring closet cleanout’ in which you simply replace those items with new ones later on.
If springtime is the planet’s time to bloom, why are brands teaching us to purge and pollute? What if instead we decided to shift that tradition to one that nurtures the wardrobes we already have? By cherishing the items we already have, we avoid the environmental and social harm associated with the production and distribution of new fashion items.
In honor of Spring (and Earth Day), we invite you to nurture your wardrobe in a way that also nurtures the planet, your community and your creativity.
Below are three tips on how to get started.
1.) Nurture your Planet—and care for your clothes.
We’re big fans of re-homing items that are no longer serving you (might we suggest a seasonal clothing swap by GOOD girls ATX), but the absolute best action you can take for the planet is to wear and care for the items already in your closet
Wear what you have and only give up the things you know someone else will love more than you.
Sparingly wash items (especially jeans) using cold water settings and air drying whenever possible. This will preserve color & shape, prevent shrinkage & breakage and save energy!
Mend, repair, & hem. If you don’t know how, one of your friends might. And if you want to learn, we have workshops coming up to help you!
Stop shopping, first or second-hand. Consumers in the Global North buy five times more clothes than they did in 1980’s, but only wear those clothes 7 times on average.* Replace that void with other activities that could actually help yourself and/or the planet.
*The High Price of Fast Fashion, WSJ
2.) Nurture your community—and start local.
Living in the Global North, where the majority of clothes are sold but barely any are manufactured, we’ve become so removed from where and how the clothes we use are made. Building relationships with local vendors not only humanizes the industry, but ensures more ethical practices, supports the local creative community and improves economic vitality.
Avoid shopping from large online marketplaces and support local, independent shops. Buying directly from the makers or those who represent them maximizes the amount of value that stays within our communities. This even applies to second-hand marketplaces like Poshmark & DePop!
When purchasing new, invest in natural fibers (like cotton, linen & silk) that will last longer, can more easily be upcycled/downcycled, and are less likely to land in your local landfill.
Start budgeting for charitable donations. Transitioning to a more sustainable lifestyle often includes cost savings. Consider donating those costs directly to local charities that you know and love.
Studies show that materialism can be tied to depression, anxiety and other mental health issues. Center your time on nurturing community and your own life experiences.
3.) Nurture your Creativity—and change your relationship to style.
Fashion is a huge component of self-expression. With the amount of clothing items in circulation, creating a unique style for yourself is more possible than ever. But with the amount of new items in production, it’s easy to be overwhelmed by choice or feel pressured to adopt trends. Finding new ways to wear & style clothes is a great way to consume less, build your personal style and exercise your creativity.
Upcycling (also known as creative reuse) is the process of transitioning unwanted or useless items into something with an increased perceived value! Naturally dye or accessorize that stained top (maybe even at our Earth Day Upcycling event on 4/22). Another option is to down-cycle old t-shirts or towels into rags (goodbye paper towels!), household accessories and so much more.
When in doubt, you don’t have to throw it out. Remember that trends come in and out and that inspiration can strike at any time. Just because a piece isn’t working for you this season, doesn’t mean you have no future together. We’ve all regretted getting rid of something later on—maybe as much as we’ve regretted buying something.
If an item in your closet isn't getting worn, style it a different way. Dresses can be shirts, shirts can be skirts. Still don’t get it? Seek professional help. There are sustainability-minded stylists all around who are willing to help you reinvent your wardrobe. (“Your style gets better the more that you know your stuff.” — Sam, @Lotte.V1)
Remind yourself that shopping is not the only way to spend your time or be creative. Corporations realize that they can exploit our need to express our identities. If you remove yourself from this constant cycle of consumption, you give yourself time to seek out other creative outlets, such as pottery lessons, gardening, volunteering, baking, etc.
Although Spring is traditionally a time to reimagine and reinvigorate, these tips for nurturing your wardrobe can be applied year round. Different seasons simply mean different conditions under which to grow… and we love growth, baby!
Don’t feel like doing it alone?
GOOD girls ATX is an inclusive community built for you and the planet. Check out their events page or Instagram for upcoming clothing swaps and skills workshops.
On Clothes-Swapping, Eco-Feminism And Normalizing Sustainability: GOOD girls ATX
Marcella and Kara of GOOD girls ATX speak to the mission and vision behind their clothes-swapping pop-up series, as well as their ideas for nurturing our communities (and our home planet) year-round.
This Spring, we’re touching base with our members and friends around this season’s theme: NURTURE.
Today, we’re talking with Marcella and Kara of GOOD girls ATX on the mission and vision behind their clothes-swapping pop-up series, as well as their ideas for nurturing our communities (and our home planet) year-round.
Marcella. Courtesy of GOOD girls ATX
Kara. Courtesy of GOOD girls ATX
MEET MARCELLA AND KARA OF GOOD GIRLS ATX:
1.) Who are you and how would you describe what you do in your own words?
Marcella Bechtel: We are Marcella Bechtel and Kara Wright, founders of GOOD girls ATX. We are a community-driven organization dedicated to helping individuals build wardrobes that are GOOD for the planet and its people.
Kara Wright: We’re here to normalize sustainable lifestyle practices beginning with how we interact with the fashion industry. Our bread and butter is clothing swaps, but we’ve been trying out new concepts like skills workshops and the upcoming Earth Day Upcycling Party. At every event, we promise to be radically transparent, intentionally inclusive and data-driven.
2.) What prompted the start of GOOD girls ATX? Paint a picture of the last two years for us.
MB: Literally the night we met, Kara and I identified a mutual passion for sustainable fashion and knew we wanted to work together on something big, but we didn’t know what that was. In 2019, we threw our first clothing swap with friends in our backyard called “Good girls Wear Hand Me Downs”. Everyone who came got amazing clothes, but the sense of community and positive energy that was felt by every swapper was even more powerful.
KW: So we continued to throw clothing swaps for the next year, but each one got bigger with the help of friends in the community. In order to expand our educational component, demonstrate event impacts and reach more people, we decided to build a brand, website and Instagram account. Playing off the name of our first swap and recognizing the elements of ecofeminism in our mission, we started officially calling ourselves GOOD girls ATX in March 2021.
MB: Anybody can be a GOOD girl! Our Fall 2021 swap included male-identifying participants for the first time, and they’ve been with us ever since. All are welcome at GOOD girls ATX.
3.) What is GgATX hoping to nurture? In the community? In terms of our habits?
MB: GOOD girls ATX is hoping to nurture wardrobes, community, and identity. We provide tools to sustain wardrobes, because the best thing that anyone can do for the planet and its people is wear what is already owned. We love that GOOD girls ATX has brought together a community of like-minded individuals (consumers & vendors) that are interested in fashion & sustainability. Our vision is to nurture consumption habits to be hyper-local & consciousness. Fashion is a way to express oneself but not the only way to create an identity.
KW: We’re also trying to nurture a more empowered, hands-on relationship with material possessions. We want everyone in our community to not only imagine what is possible with their garments, but to have the skills and tools to transform it into something they love wearing. We’re talking about styling, repair, tailoring, dyeing, printing- all that fun stuff!
4.) If GgATX were a physical space, what would your dream HQ look like? What could people find?
MB: Our dream HQ would probably be a tiny house that is completely made out of reclaimed items & completely zero-waste. It would probably be very minimalist and centered around a large outdoor collaborative space.
KW: You’d absolutely see a sewing machine in or two. Our HQ would be a place that anyone could come to with a clothing item and leave with a solution whether that’s coaching them through repairing the item or exploring avenues for re-homing it.
MB: One of the biggest issues that we’ve run into is having so many leftovers from clothing swaps, so you’d definitely see some swap leftovers that we’re in the process of re-homing.
5.) With Earth Day coming up, conversations about the climate and our communities will uptick. What do you wish people would practice year-round when it comes to Earth Day?
MB: We’ve been seeing a lot of marketing for ‘shopping sustainably on Earth Day’ or ‘$1 Earth Day sales’. These messages are examples of greenwashing, which is when brands use marketing to influence consumers to purchase items perceived as ‘sustainable’. No matter what materials you’re purchasing, consumption affects the Earth in some way. If we could inspire people to practice something year-round, it would be conscious consumerism and re-homing. Only 15% of items make it onto the floor at donation centers, so it’s also important to avoid getting rid of items too quickly.
KW: And this is in no way limited to fashion… We use fashion as the basis to connect folks to the impacts of their behaviors, but shifting consumption habits universally is critical to restoring balance with the planet. We want communities to be mindful about how they consume everything—furniture, electronics, energy, buildings, food, data, content!
6.) What voices in sustainability, climate action and eco-culture, do you appreciate most? Why?
MB: Amanda McCarty, from @ClothesHorsePodcast. Her Austin-based podcast is fun but very educational and gives awesome insight into the fast fashion and cottage industries.
Sam Weir, lead stylist and founder of @Lotte.V1, has truly progressed our thinking when it comes to consumption habits. She used to be a celebrity stylist and now she’s using her skillset to help individuals get creative with their own closets. We’ve worked with her on a number of projects and anyone who was with us during our exploration of styling would definitely recognize her.
KW: I’m currently obsessed with @Clean_Creatives, a coalition of marketing, advertising and PR creatives who have taken a pledge to decline work from the fossil fuel industry and, in some cases, take a direct stand against it. They’re fighting the worst of the greenwashing Marcella was just talking about. One of my favorite things to remind people through GOOD girls ATX is that over 50% of the clothes produced globally are of synthetic materials aka FOSSIL FUELS.
7.) How do you nurture yourselves as creators? What does that look like on a daily or weekly basis?
MB: As creators, we’re constantly doing research on our own time to further our understanding of consumption psychology and textile innovation. Additionally, we’re both really into nurturing our own identities, whether that’s upcycling a wardrobe item, practicing yoga, riding bikes, hiking, camping, or just having conversation with like-minded individuals.
KW: We do spend a lot of time connecting to our bodies and nature. Entering a flow state lets our minds play and wander. It’s super normal for one of us to go on a solo bike ride and come back like “I just had the best idea for GOOD girls!”
8.) GOOD girls ATX in three emojis?
💚 green heart, 🤠 cowboy smiley, 💫 shooting stars
PS — You can also attend GOOD girls ATX’s Earth Day Upcycling Party at our headquarters.
On April 22, 2022, GOOD girls ATX is teaming up with Austin’s upcycling experts to throw an Earth Day Party that will nurture your creativity, your wardrobe, your community—and your home planet.
Hosted on the Future Front patio from 6:30 to 9 PM, drop by anytime to shop sustainably-made creations at the All Upcycled Pop-up Shop and help raise funds for others doing good in our community. With an advance ticket, you can also create one-of-a-kind pieces at the BYOGarment Upcycling Bar.
100% open-air and outdoors. Human-friendly. All are welcome. 👋
5 Wishes For Texas On Transgender Day Of Visibility
For Transgender Day of Visibility 2022, we took a moment to check in with some of Future Front’s creative collaborators in Austin, Texas.
For Transgender Day of Visibility 2022, we took a moment to check in with some of Future Front’s creative collaborators in Austin, Texas.
From musicians to writers to entrepreneurs, each of these creators have used their work to loudly and proudly show up themselves and trans folks in their communities.
Here are their five wishes for the future of Texas:
No. 1 — Ezra Edwards, DJ & Event Producer
Ezra (he/him) has been working as a DJ and an event producer in Austin, Texas since 2010. Currently, he spins under the monikers DJ Boyfriend and DJ Boi Orbison. Born and raised in Austin, he’s won the Austin Chronicle's Best DJ of Austin in 2017, 2018 and 2019.
No. 2 — La Morena, DJ & Hair Stylist
La Morena (she/her) makes her audience travel through a series of vibes in her eclectic DJ sets. Originally from Brownsville Texas, La Morena uses her heritage and personal experiences to educate her sets, always delivering a special mix between Cumbia, reggaetón, house, Latin hits and hip hop.
No. 3 — Eli and Ally, Entrepreneurs
Eli (he/him) and Ally (she/her) are the founders of Rise Market. Rise Market is a Queer-Trans POC and Woman Owned social commerce platform championing LGBTQIA2+ creators, entrepreneurs and advocates.
No. 4 — KB, Poet & Cultural Worker
KB Brookins (also known as KB) is a Black/queer/transmasculine poet, essayist, and cultural worker from Stop Six, Fort Worth, Texas. Their poems are published in American Poetry Review, Poetry Northwest, and elsewhere; their essays are published in Huffington Post, Teen Vogue, and other venues. KB is the author of How To Identify Yourself with a Wound (Kallisto Gaia Press, 2022), a chapbook selected by ire’ne laura silva as winner of the Saguaro Poetry Prize. They have received Best of the Net and Pushcart Prize nominations, along with fellowships from PEN America, Lambda Literary, and The Watering Hole among others.
KB’s cultural work spans six years. In that time, they founded and led two nonprofits (Interfaces and Embrace Austin). They have also contributed to many initiatives, such as Austin’s first LGBTQIA+ quality of life survey, inclusion of chosen names on the University of Texas at Austin diplomas, and serving as Project Lead for the Winter Storm Project.
KB’s debut full-length poetry collection, Freedom House (Deep Vellum Publishing, 2023) is forthcoming. Currently, they are an Artivism Fellow with Broadway Advocacy Coalition. KB is represented by Annie DeWitt at The Shipman Agency. They live in Austin, TX, where they are working on projects and trying their best. Follow them online at @earthtokb, and subscribe to their sporadic opinions/updates through Out of This World.
No. 5 — p1nkstar, Musician & Nightlife Curator
p1nkstar (she/her) creates a world far removed from this dimension's binaries through music and conceptual shows, merging hyperpop with neo-perreo and club. She has been described as “early Aughts Paris Hilton on Hello Kitty steroids” by The Austin Chronicle, who crowned her as their Pop Princess in 2020. Since 2016, p1nkstar has rapidly become an emblematic figure in the Texas arts and nightlife scenes by opening inclusive spaces that center the work of trans and queer artists. p1nkstar has received three Best of Austin awards for her space-making work in the city and most recently, became the first openly-trans person to receive an Austin Music Award in 2022.
What is Transgender Day of Visibility?
Celebrated globally, International Transgender Day of Visibility (also called TDOV, Transgender Day of Visibility) is an annual event occurring on March 31 dedicated to celebrating transgender people and raising awareness of discrimination faced by transgender people worldwide, as well as a celebration of their contributions to society.
For national resources around TDOV, head to Trans Week. For Texas-based resources, events and celebrations, plug into TENT (Transgender Education Network of Texas).
A Gaylentine's Day Playlist: Feelin' Myself On Red River
Listen to a collection of songs from 33 musicians, bands and acts in The Front Fest's 2017 to 2022 lineups.
In honor of Ga(y)lentine’s Day, we've curated a collection of songs from 33 musicians, bands and acts in The Front Fest's 2017 to 2022 lineups.
Listen for a more creative work day and clear skin.
On Sustainable Fashion And Pop-Up Boutiques: Lucid Voyage
Veronica Hood of Lucid Voyage talks balancing burnout, her childhood visions and her luckiest vintage finds.
Today, we’re chatting with our first resident creative of 2022, Lucid Voyage.
Veronica talks balancing burnout, childhood vision and her luckiest vintage finds.
As an Austin-based fashion boutique, Lucid Voyage offers unique clothing curation and custom designs. Last month, she took over our headquarters to explore her approach to sustainable fashion, upcycling and clothing waste reduction. If you missed the series, you can still get to know Veronica and her boutique below.
ABOUT VERONICA HOOD AND LUCID VOYAGE
“Hi! I’m Veronica, owner and operator of all things Lucid Voyage. Growing up, I was always involved in fashion. I began sketching and sewing at a young age, and when you asked me what I was going to be when I grew up, I would say the owner of a fashion boutique. As time went on, I lost a bit of that vision but still remained involved in the fashion industry as a stylist for photoshoots and working for Miu Miu in their NYC showroom. I moved to Austin 5 years ago, and as soon as I landed my energy felt renewed, and that childhood vision came back.
Lucid Voyage was established in fall of 2019. To be honest, at first, I just wanted to sell cute clothes, and vintage seemed the easiest to obtain when first starting out. As the business evolved, I dove deeper into the world of sustainable fashion and the importance of it, which eventually brought me to the decision that Lucid Voyage would be a sustainable fashion brand. As of right now, Lucid Voyage offers a selection of unique vintage, reworked pieces and custom designs made from vintage fabrics. I also offer styling advice, creative direction and love to work one on one with clients to help them reimagine/redesign a piece.”
GET TO KNOW VERONICA HOOD:
1. How do you want people to feel when wearing your pieces?
Fun, happy, confident, stylish, cool.
2. Describe your approach to clothing curation and upcycling — where do you find your pieces?
Most of the vintage clothes are sourced from estate sales as well as the vintage fabrics I use for customs. I’m very picky when it comes to sourcing. The clothing needs to be in good condition aka no holes or stains that can’t be fixed and must fit the Lucid Voyage aesthetic which tends to be fun, unique, colorful, on trend. I usually only upcycle pieces I feel could use an extra flare, and for those I always use secondhand trimmings. Austin Creative Reuse is a great resource for that.
3. How did you first become interested in sustainable fashion?
I first became interested in sustainable fashion in 2013. I took a sustainable fashion summer course at the Fashion Institute of Technology in NYC. Before that, I wasn’t familiar with the term or what it was. That summer, I learned a lot that really opened my eyes to the future of fashion.
4. Your style in three emojis?
🌈❤️🔥🌸
5. Tell us about your proudest find.
My favorite find has to be this gorgeous 1970’s tan suede penny lane coat with the most luxe fur trim cuffs and collar. I found it at an estate sale in West Texas tucked away at the back of closet. When I spotted it, I gasped, and then I gasped again when I realized it fit perfectly.
6. What trend should we leave behind in 2021?
Honestly, I can’t think of one. I love fashion and can see the beauty in all trends. It’s fun — the different ways we can express ourselves.
7. How do you balance burnout and running a creative business?
It’s hard. I used to get really down on myself for feeling burnt out and uninspired, but then I realized that just put me more into a rut. As my business and creativity has evolved, I’m now more aware of when burnout is coming on, and I embrace it and accept the invitation to recharge and come back better.
8. What are some of the biggest challenges you face in managing a sustainable fashion boutique?
Sourcing quality product. When it comes to sourcing vintage clothing and fabric in particular, it is all about the hunt and very often the hunt can end up being a waste of time and energy. Every so often you hit a jackpot, and it’s all worth it.
9. What are you most excited about for the new year?
I’m super excited to see what this year has in store for Lucid Voyage. I feel that every year I become more confident in the business I’m running, and because of that, more opportunities present themselves.
Want to stay involved with creators like Veronica through Future Front Texas?
Keep up with what we’re up to—from virtual events to membership—here.
How To Find Your Purpose This Week: A Guided Exercise
In partnership with The Hi How Are You Project, our Executive Director Jane Hervey walks you through three habits that we try to nurture at Future Front to support our mental health—and ground us in our values, community and creativity.
This week, our friends at The Hi, How Are You Project (HHAYP) are hosting their second-annual HAPPY HABIT-A-THON—a one-week virtual celebration honoring the legacy of the late, great Daniel Johnston and his surviving mural.
The Project, founded with the support of the Johnston family in 2018, creates thoughtful media, events, and peer-to-peer training programs that encourage open and ongoing dialogue on mental well-being. (Johnston was a world-renowned musician and visual artist despite his own struggles with mental illness.) The Happy-Habit-A-Thon is an extension of their mission—for one week, everyone is invite to share habits that support mental health.
For this year’s Habit-A-Thon, we’re releasing an 8-minuted guided exercise in partnership with HHAYP about finding your purpose.
How can we connect to ourselves, as well as the people, places and things we love, on a weekly basis? In this video, our Executive Director Jane Hervey walks you through three habits that we try to nurture at Future Front to support our mental health—and ground us in our values, community and creativity.
3 Weekly Habits Around Finding Your Purpose —
→ Map Your Values.
For 30 minutes, journal your five core values and how you can practice them daily.
→ Nurture Your Community.
Set aside 2 hours to connect with the people, places or things that remind you of who you are—whether that’s visiting a business you love or heading to the park.
→ Make Day-Dreaming A Habit.
Give yourself an hour to just think. Come up with creative ideas—without judgment,
without high-stakes and without shame.
LOOKING FOR MORE?
ABOUT THE AUTHOR, Jane Hervey: Jane Claire Hervey is a community and brand development director, award-winning curator, creative producer and accidental nonprofit founder. Over the last decade, she has led teams and programs for 25+ creative companies and start-ups, arts and entertainment organizations and public spaces across the US. Currently, she directs Future Front, a 501c3 cultural space she founded in 2015, alongside her own creative consultancy, group work. This pioneering work in public and private creative programming, design and brand strategy has been recognized by ADWEEK, Texas Monthly, the City of Austin’s Women’s Hall of Fame and the National Endowment for the Arts. She's been a guest speaker and curator for organizations like SXSW, Austin FC, The Contemporary Austin Museum and Soho House. Using her background in strategic planning, design-thinking, adaptive operations and facilitation, Jane volunteers her time toward grassroots initiatives that support stronger communities through local creative advocacy, folk schools, health justice and arts healing. Jane has also composed records & music as an independent recording artist for global projects since 2012, pulling influences from the likes of Björk and Frank Ocean. Originally from the South Texas border, Hervey now lives and works in Austin, Texas. You can learn more at janeclairehervey.com.
ABOUT THE PARTNER, The Hi, How Are You Project (HHAYP): HHAYP is an Austin, TX based 501c3 non-profit organization with the mission to remove the stigma around mental health, one conversation at a time. We aim to educate people worldwide about the importance of mental health and well-being while promoting a culture of inclusion. You can learn more and join the Happy Habit-A-Thon here.
The 2021 Impact Report: A Year Of Rebirth
We said goodbye to Boss Babes ATX—and welcomed in a new era for our organization as Future Front. To our surprise, our impact has nearly doubled. (!!!)
We had no idea what that change would mean for our work. To our surprise, our impact nearly doubled. (!!!) It’s pretty dreamy.
Continue reading for some of this year’s highlights, and set aside a minute to celebrate.
Our 3 big wins:
Our TOP 10 growth moments:
We released our new name, Future Front, as well as our manifesto, which details our vision for a Texas where women and LGBTQ+ creatives are supported, celebrated and represented at the front.
We re-opened the org with The Front Market and Festival, which saw 4,500+ guests over the course of the weekend. (Shout out to our 15-person production and volunteer team, a 150+ vendor lineup and a 20+ artist lineup!)
We launched our membership and now have more than 200 incredible members.
We wrapped up our first-ever Creative Future of Texas Fund season, awarding $9000 to 10 different creative founders in Texas. Those founders included:
SAGE Studio — A Creative Space Supporting Artists With Disabilities
All the Sudden — A New Woodshop In East Austin + DIY Arts Space
Culture in Mind — A Latinx, Queer Psychotherapy Practice Supporting BIPOC Clients
Embrace Austin — A New Community Organizations Supporting LGBTQIA2+ Collectives in Austin
Mama Mangos Care — A Woman-Owned, Black-Owned Apothecary In Austin
Very Good Dance Theatre — A Queer-Led Theatre In Dallas
Torch Literary Arts — A Creative Writing Nonprofit For Black Women and Girls in Round Rock
Texas Latina Project — A Texas-Wide Film Collective Producing Their First Film
Golden Girl Productions — An Emerging, Black-Owned Documentary Film Studio in Austin
Harmonic Speech Therapy — A Speech Therapy Practice Offering Gender-Affirming Services in Austin
We debuted our new headquarters to the public and hosted 20+ workshops and gatherings, supporting creative learning, community-building and professional resilience.
In collaboration with Colors of Austin Counseling, we funded $7,000+ in pro-bono counseling sessions for 15 leaders working toward racial justice.
We collaborated on our first-ever fiscally sponsored project in collaboration with For The Gworls, a community resource facilitating creative opportunities and safe spaces for Black trans women experiencing displacement.
Our board and leadership staff distributed 2,000+ gallons of water and 1,000+ meals with the Austin EMS Association during Storm Uri to Austin Area Urban League, The Mutual Aid Complex Care Clinic, IDEA Rundberg’s warming shelter, 10,000 Fearless First Responders and Austin Community Advancement Brigade. We also hosted a restorative stretch and meditation for the community at-large, following the storm.
We celebrated new fundraising partnerships with Austin FC and AppSumo—raising over $20,000 through our collaborations with each company.
We planned, produced and presented our first-ever holiday season of The Front Market, showcasing more than 190 creative and small business vendors in Texas.
Editor’s Note: You can read our quarterly impact reports in more detail here.
your attention maDE THIS POSSIBLE.
We would like to thank our 2021 staff, board, friends and members for their support. We are also grateful to our partners and friends—particularly Tito’s Handmade Vodka, Giant Noise, Austin FC, AppSumo and The Line Hotel—for their continued collaboration.
Together, we are nurturing vibrant spaces, resources and opportunities for women and LGBTQ+ creatives, founders and leaders in Texas.
Do you want to get involved in 2022?
Become a member or donate to our end-of-year fundraiser. You can also explore all of the other ways to join us here.
Introducing Our 2021 Creative Future of Texas Fund Recipients
Every year, Future Front awards micro-grants to women and LGBTQ+ creatives, small business owners, leaders and entrepreneurs in central Texas. Since 2016, we’ve raised and distributed over $30,000 to celebrate and invest in important work. Meet this year’s recipients.
Today, we are proud to introduce you to this season’s Creative Future of Texas Fund micro-grant recipients.
Based in different cities around Texas, each recipient has received a $1000 micro-grant and a year of educational support from FFTX, so they can continue to nurture creativity and community-building in their own work as women and LGBTQ+ founders.
Get to know all seven recipients below:
1. TORCH LITERARY ARTS BY AMANDA JOHNSTON, POET AND WRITER
About Torch Literary Arts:
Torch Literary Arts is a nonprofit organization established to support and promote creative writing by Black women. They publish contemporary writing by experienced and emerging writers alike. TORCH has featured work by Colleen J. McElroy, Tayari Jones, Sharon Bridgforth, Crystal Wilkinson, Patricia Smith, Natasha Trethewey, and others. Programs include the Wildfire Reading Series that features Black women authors and allies, workshops, and retreats. Learn more online at www.TorchLiteraryArts.org.
About Amanda Johnston:
Amanda Johnston (she/her) was born in Illinois, grew up in Austin, but found her passion for poetry in Kentucky. With a Master of Fine Arts in Creative Writing from the University of Southern Maine, Amanda has authored two chapbooks (GUAP and Lock & Key) and the full-length collection Another Way to Say Enter.
Named one of Blavity’s "13 Black Poets You Should Know," Amanda’s work has been featured on Bill Moyers, the Poetry Society of America’s series In Their Own Words, and the Academy of American Poets Poem-a-Day series. She was commissioned to curate a collection of poems for the Poetry Coalition on the theme Where My Dreaming and My Loving Live: Poetry & the Body.
Amanda also has facilitated creative writing workshops at numerous universities and literary venues across the country. Furthermore, she holds honors like the Christina Sergeyevna Award from the Austin International Poetry Festival; a joint finalist for the Freedom Plow Award for Poetry & Activism from Split This Rock; and multiple Artist Enrichment grants from Kentucky Foundation for Women.
Outside of writing, Amanda is a member of the Affrilachian Poets and has received fellowships from Cave Canem Foundation and the Austin Project at the University of Texas. She’s a Stonecoast MFA faculty member, a co-founder of Black Poets Speak Out, and founder/executive director of Torch Literary Arts. Her writing and announcements can be found online at AmandaJohnston.com.
2. VERY GOOD DANCE THEATRE BY COLBY CALHOUN, CHOREOGRAPHER AND PERFORMANCE ARTIST
About Very Good Dance Theater:
Very Good Dance Theater is a queer-led, BIPOC-centered, collective of professional performance artists. They work collaboratively to create work somewhere between the scope of dance and theatre. They seek to explore, experiment with, and expand what performance art can be and do while questioning what gives it value and why. Their work seeks to reflect the gray areas and/or the intersectionality of the human experience, and they magnify this by working in and out of multiple disciplines of performance.
Additionally, VGDT sees art as a catalyst for change, and works at the intersection of art and activism. Their work features artists from different ethnic and cultural backgrounds, artists of varying races, artists of varying sexual orientations, and artists of varying genders to highlight injustice and inequity in a way that is honest and genuine. They make work that shows the world as it is, as uncomfortable as that may be, while imagining the world as it could be in the hopes that these dreams one day become our realities.
About Colby Calhoun:
Colby Calhoun (they/them) is a performance artist, choreographer, and teaching artist based in Dallas, TX. They hold a BA in Dance Studies with related studies in Theatre Production from Texas Woman’s University, where they focused on performance and choreography and, upon graduating, received the Darell Cleaveland Excellence in Choreography Award. Colby has been grateful to perform across the disciplines of music, theatre, and dance professionally all across the state of Texas.
Colby creates work with collaborative artist collective: Very Good Dance Theatre. VGDT was formed by Calhoun in the summer of 2018 in a desire to work collaboratively with creators that were often sidelined in theatre, dance, media in general, and society at large. Very Good Dance Theatre had its mainstage debut at the Festival of Independent Theatres in Dallas, TX with “The 1st Annual Gay Show" (F.A.G.S.). This show was a hit success at the Festival of Independent Theatres being awarded Best Physical Theatre of 2019 by TheaterJones. VGDT continues to make work as an independent theatre group through festivals, residencies, and other opportunities like this.
As a nonbinary biracial beauty, Colby’s work experiments with understanding the complicated intersections of identity and playing with, and exploring, the social “norms” that impose Oppression instead of Expression. Colby continues to collaborate with often marginalized artists to give a platform to important stories and perspectives, and to continue to build relationships across diverse communities.
3. EMBRACE AUSTIN BY MAGGIE DI SANZA, ORGANIZER and STUDENT
About Embrace Austin:
Embrace Austin is projects where the queer and trans Austin community gather to celebrate, share knowledge, and encourage folks to take action in supporting queer and trans people of Central Texas. Each month, starting in October, Embrace Austin will partner with another grassroots, community organization specifically geared towards serving historically marginalized queer and trans folks in Austin, in putting together a one to two-hour virtual performance of local activists, artists, writers, poets, and changemakers to share their work, experiences, and calls to action.
About Maggie Di Sanza:
Maggie Di Sanza (she/her) is a femme, queer organizer, and student at the University of Texas at Austin. They're originally from Madison, Wisconsin, where they worked with organizations like Bleed Shamelessly, the Sexual & Reproductive Health Alliance of Dane County, the Rape Crisis Center, and the Youth Climate Action Team. They recently moved to Austin, Texas to pursue a degree in English, Gender & LGBTQ+ Studies, and Human Rights & Social Justice at the University of Texas at Austin. Maggie is thrilled to be working with Embrace Austin as the Development Coordinator. Their role on the Embrace Austin team is to establish budgets for events, manage fundraising efforts, assist in writing grant proposals, research prospective donors, and initiate sponsorships to continue to strive towards Embrace Austin’s mission of fostering connections between LGBTQIA2+ Texans to make an accessible queer community.
4. SAGE STUDIO BY KATIE STAHL & LUCY GROSS, ARTISTS AND ACTIVISTS
About sage studio:
SAGE Studio is a non-profit studio and gallery space in east Austin that provides artists with intellectual and developmental disabilities the materials, space, and support to produce, exhibit, and sell their artwork. SAGE (Supporting Artistic Growth and Entrepreneurship) Studio serves artists with disabilities through two programs: their Studio Program and Exhibition Program.
Through the Studio Program, artists create work in the SAGE studio space at east Austin's Canopy arts community with the guidance of practicing artist facilitators. The goal for participating artists is to explore new mediums, strengthen their artistic voice, and build a cohesive portfolio of work for exhibition. Through their Exhibition Program, SAGE puts on bimonthly art exhibitions in their gallery to showcase the work of our studio artists, alongside the work of exhibiting artists who create their work outside our studio. Though they started as a space for exclusively Texas-based artists, they now represent gallery artists from across the country. The goal of the Exhibition Program is to provide opportunities for their artists to earn a wage and to seriously pursue a career in the arts, and to carve out a place in the contemporary art conversation and wider artistic marketplace for these talented voices.
It is SAGE Studio's mission to amplify the voices of artists with disabilities, enabling them to become meaningful contributors to the social, economic, and creative life of the community. SAGE Studio has been featured in Austin Monthly and ForbesWomen, recognized by the Austin Chronicle as Austin's "Best Outsider Art Advocate," and facilitated artist collaborations with the Biden presidential campaign, Vans, and Whataburger.
about the founders:
Katie Stahl (she/her) is a practicing artist with over ten years of experience working with adults with disabilities in an art setting. She earned a BA in psychology from Dartmouth College and an MA in art education from The University of Texas at Austin, where she completed her master's thesis on Creativity Explored, one of the oldest progressive art studios in the country. In her own art practice, Katie paints under the name Houndoggle Art.
Lucy Gross (she/her) is a practicing social worker with over eleven years of experience working with adults with disabilities. In addition to her work at SAGE, she currently works at AISD’s Go Project, a transitional program for special education students ages 18–22, and The University of Texas in their inclusion program for adults with disabilities. She earned her undergraduate degree at Emerson College and her master's of social work at Texas State University.
Lucy and Katie met as art instructors at The Arc of the Arts, an art-based day habilitation center for adults with disabilities. Together, they founded SAGE Studio in 2016. They have represented SAGE as speakers at SXSW EDU in 2019 and co-curated exhibitions at the Outsider Art Fair in New York City in 2019 and 2020. They are passionate about integrating artists with disabilities into the contemporary art scene in Austin.
5. CULTURE IN MIND BY SAMANTHA BENN, HEALER
ABOUT CULTURE IN MIND:
Culture in Mind is a psychotherapy practice in Austin, TX providing therapeutic services that draw on culture for self-healing and self-discovery. Culture in Mind honors the intersectionality of each individual's experience and specializes in helping marginalized communities, queer, trans, black, indigenous, and people of color heal from white supremacy and redefine what healing/wellness looks like for them. Culture in Mind provides evidence-based practice, ancestral healing, and holistic mental health treatment that is specific to each individual's needs and experiences. Learn more at cultureinmind.com.
ABOUT SAMANTHA BENN:
Samantha Benn is an Indigenous psychotherapist in Austin, Texas that specializes in helping BIPOC individuals heal from trauma and step into their power so that they can grow into their highest selves. She is a Hood Feminist informed by Mikki Kendall's book "Hood Feminism" that spells out how mainstream feminism has left women of color behind by not first ensuring that all women have their basic needs met: safety, access to nutritious foods, quality medical care, education etc. Samantha co-facilitates monthly discussions about health disparities negatively impacting people of color in mental health care and how to create change. She also co-founded Latinx/e Libertad, a free mentorship space for Latinx/e individuals to receive support. Her work was inspired by the challenges of because it's often very challenging to finding a Latinx/e mentor and the few that are around are often overworked.
Samantha graduated from The University of Texas at Austin in 2014 with her Master's in Social Work and has since provided therapeutic services to the most vulnerable people in Austin--those experiencing homelessness and trimorbid health concerns. She founded her private practice, Culture in Mind, this year with the intention of delivering psychotherapy in a culturally-affirming way that draws on culture for self-healing and self-discovery. Social justice, racial equity, and destigmatization of mental illness are a few of Samantha's priorities in life. Samantha values creating space and deepening connection with others--animals and humans alike.
6. ALL THE SUDDEN BY EMILY E. LEE, ARTIST
ABOUT ALL THE SUDDEN:
All the Sudden is a DIY experimental project space in Austin, Texas, founded at the height of the pandemic. A sculpture studio by day and an exhibition space and venue by night, ATS aims to benefit the art community through a wide array of informal public programming. Opportunities will include a short-term artist residency, an exhibition platform, live music events, a year-long book club, an interdisciplinary critique club, a workshop series, and a garden. Thus far, ATS has hosted four music events and one art event. With support from Future Front, we’ll have the opportunity to organize many more.
ABOUT EMILY E. LEE
Emily E. Lee is an artist and arts organizer based in Austin, Texas. She experiments with the social possibilities of form through a variety of creative iterations including site-specific sculptural installations, outdoor and ephemeral curatorial projects, writings, performances, and community work. Through her work, she wonders what gives form to experience. Lee is currently an artist-in-residence at Sweet Pass Sculpture Park’s Sculpture School in Dallas. She is the co-founder of All the Sudden.
Emily E. Lee studied at the Marchutz School of Fine Arts and received a BA with Honors in Art History, BFA in Studio art, and a BDP Certificate in Museum Studies at the University of Texas at Austin. Lee also attended Penland School of Craft and Ox-Bow School of Art.
7. MAMA MANGOS BY TAYLOR HUNTLEY, HERBALIST
ABOUT MAMA MANGOS CARE:
Founded in 2020 by a community herbalist and birthworker, Mama Mangos Care curated herbal goods for the body and soul. Their product experiences assist you with creating rituals surrounding spiritual wellness, self preservation, and ancestral reverence. Mama Mangos Care takes pride in sourcing natural ingredients, participating in minimal waste business practices and contributing a portion of our sales to our Black Herbalist Fund. Their intention is to provide a physical tool to aid in connecting to your highest self. Their product offerings include body care, tinctures, herbal syrups, magical oils and whatever else they are led to conjure up!
ABOUT TAYLOR HUNTLEY:
Taylor Huntley is a multi-hyphenate creative with a passion for community care. Born and raised in Fort Worth, TX, Taylor is a Black millennial mother, spiritualist, creative space facilitator, birthworker, and an herbalist. Her passions include uplifting community wellness, deep conversations about plant medicine and the universe, and strolls through the local crystal shops. Her lifework centers on supporting families of color, holistically and intentionally. In her past life, Taylor spent years as a luxury hospitality professional so customer service and creating experiences has always been a passion.
Taylor is the creative founder of Mama Mangos Care, a line of hand-crafted herbal goods for the body and soul. Their products support the creation of sustainable spiritual self care practices. Their handcrafted goods are affordable, accessible, and rooted in culture. Their products are handmade, crystal infused and spirit led with ingredients that are natural, organic and intentionally sourced. Finally, their values are rooted in authenticity, community and self preservation
Behind The Creative Future of Texas Fund.
Every year, Future Front awards micro-grants to women and LGBTQ+ creatives, small business owners, leaders and entrepreneurs in central Texas. Since 2016, we’ve raised and distributed over $30,000 to celebrate and invest in important work. Our applications will reopen next summer.
On Shared Memories, Nostalgia And The Power Of Good Food: Gan Bei Gals
Gabby, Michelle and Jackie talk their favorite Asian snacks, dream collaborations and most memorable events.
In light of our own rebirth, we’ve been catching up with Future Front Texas members and friends to explore vision.
Today, we’re chatting with our September studio mates, Gan Bei Gals. Gabby, Michelle and Jackie talk their favorite Asian snacks, dream collaborations and most memorable events.
As a Texas-based collective, they celebrate shared cultural experiences and Asian American nostalgia through food, stories and art. Last month, they took over our headquarters to highlight a few creatives and small business owners they’ve been working with this year.
If you missed the series, you can get to know them (and their work) below.
Photo courtesy of Gan Bei Gals.
ABOUT GAN BEI GALS
Gan Bei Gals is a celebration of shared cultural experiences and Asian American nostalgia told through food, stories and art. We are comprised of three women who grew up in the strong multicultural scene in Houston, Texas and are heavily influenced by our own explorations of dual Asian and American identity.
For us, food is how we connect not only with our culture, but also with friends, family and even strangers. We draw a lot of inspiration from our own nostalgia— foods we grew up eating and the memories, smells and feelings we remember. Our primary medium for celebrating this shared culture is events, but we also utilize art and design via digital and print graphics. (Keep a lookout for our upcoming zine!)
GET TO KNOW GAN BEI GALS:
1. What’s your day-to-day mantra?
Life is short and random—create fun when you can. Gan Bei!
2. Gan Bei Gals in 3 emojis?
Power puff girls (lol). JK. It’s 🍻🧧✨.
3. What is your vision for GBG?
As we grow and get busier, we’d like to scale in a way that doesn’t make us insanely busy in operations and management and leaves us free time to work on food and design. As for our events, we hope they only get more immersive and interactive!
4. Something you treasure?
Our shared childhood memories and our past food experiences that we are so grateful to have had. These inform much of who we are individually and many of our event ideas.
5. Something new you’re trying?
Both Gabby and Jackie are taking ceramics classes! Gabby is also taking a Vietnamese class to brush up, and Michelle is thinking about learning 3D illustration.
6. No. 1 muse?
Honestly our cats! They inspire us to enjoy life more and live in the moment.
7. Who’s your dream collaborator?
Ananas Ananas (@__ananasananas)! We set out to create interactive experiences and stories with our dinners and the experiential design of Ananas Ananas' dinners is the most immersive and thought-provoking that we've seen. Other dream collaborators whose food we go back for time and again include Nicolai of @penangshack, Abi of @theduskykitchen, and Fil n Viet (@fil_n_viet).
Photo by Jessica Joseph.
Photo by Jessica Joseph.
8. What was your childhood dream job?
We all had claimed something in healthcare or other socially acceptable job for Asian Americans, but our true dream jobs revolved around creativity and food. Between the three of us, our dream jobs included food taster/writer, chef and architect.
9. Currently snacking on…
Yuzu and black pepper shrimp chips which we had in our trailer and Cookie Wookie Kitchen's seasonal flavors.
10. You want the future of Texas to look like...
One in which BIPOC, women and queer folks have equitable rights and access to resources within a community and system that supports their growth, health and personal happiness.
11. How would you describe your creative and production process?
Our processes are extremely collaborative. We all work in creative jobs but in different fields, so we are fortunate to leverage each of our various skills and experience.
One of us might remember a fun childhood moment or get nostalgic for a certain dish, which ends up sparking an event idea. Gabby and Michelle will then work on the food component while Jackie and Michelle work on design collateral. Gabby also works on most of our PR, communications and marketing needs.
12. Go-to restaurants in Austin?
Suerte, Fil n Viet, Sazan Ramen, Koriente, Neighborhood Sushi
13. What does a day in your life consist of?
Since GBG is none of our full-time jobs, we spend the majority of our time at work. After-hours and on weekends, we explore our respective cities for new food spots and hang out at museums, bookstores and parks. Gabby and Michelle also spend quite a bit of time on recipe development and critique.
14. Proudest personal or career milestone?
This happened for all of us at different times, but our proudest career milestone is realizing that we are not tied to our parents' expectations or what we originally studied in school.
Photo by Jessica Joseph.
Photo by Jessica Joseph.
15. Favorite Asian cuisine?
So hard to pick! We all love food and aren't that picky taste-wise. For Gabby, it's probably Japanese cuisine for the simplicity, balance of flavors and quality of food preparation. For Michelle, it's Southeast Asian cuisines for the punchy mix of salty, sweet and spicy flavors. For Jackie, it's probably Vietnamese cuisine—its dietary restriction-friendly, fresh and healthy.
16. Least favorite Asian cuisine?
None! We love all of them.
17. Most memorable event you’ve produced so far?
Our inaugural Lunar New Year Hot Pot dinners at the top of 2020 just before the pandemic hit. We didn't know at the time that it would be our last live event with all three of us in Texas at the time (at least for a while), which probably makes this event even more sweet and memorable. We sold out the first dinner so fast that we opened ticket sales for a second date. Over the course of two hours, 18 people became closer friends over a spicy, steamy dinner.
18. What would you love to see more of from small businesses like yours?
More crossover collaborations with other small businesses!
19. How do you want people to feel when they attend a GBG Event?
Exultant, celebratory and curious. We want people to come as strangers, and over the course of eating or making something together, leave together as friends.
20. What are the best ways to get involved with GBG?
Get on our volunteer list! We definitely need some help for our remaining events this year, and are working on a long-term volunteer/intern program for the future.
21. What's coming up next for you?
A big, big zine launch party. Last winter, we reach out to our community and asked for family recipes and were able to select a handful of amazing recipes to feature. We've been working on the design and illustration on and off throughout 2021 and will be finishing that up soon. We'll have copies of the zine and a celebratory, Kamayan-style feast!
Want to stay involved with creators like GBG through Future Front Texas?
Keep up with what we’re up to—from virtual events to membership—here.