On Love, Drag And Parenthood: Gothess Jasmine
From Fall 2022 to Summer 2023, we partnered with drag artist, performer, and multidisciplinary creative Gothess Jasmine to produce a series of family-friendly, all-ages drag shows across Austin, Texas.
From Fall 2022 to Summer 2023, we partnered with drag artist, performer, and multidisciplinary creative Gothess Jasmine to produce a series of family-friendly, all-ages drag shows across Austin, Texas.
In this interview, Gothess Jasmine shares notes on drag culture, their commitment to affirming creative queer expression at any age and navigating artist life as a parent. Enjoy!
Courtesy of @gothess.jasmine
ABOUT GOTHESS JASMINE
Jasmine Beaty AKA Gothess Jasmine (they/them) is a full-time makeup artist, drag performer, host and curator based in Austin, Texas.
Q — How did “Gothess Jasmine” come to be?
A — About ten years ago, I started using art as a way to express myself and cope with trauma and depression. I used my love for obscure art, spiritual expression and interdimensional studies to name the passion that fuels my artistry and give them a name—Gothess. And Gothess uses art as a form of radical self expression, promoting self love, awareness and healing for all.
Q — Any references or inspirations you look to within your work?
A — I am inspired by much and try to let the love I have in my life inspire all I create. I do constantly find myself turning to spiritual teachings, scientific discoveries, horror and spiritual artists.
Q — What advice do you have for other artists trying to find their voice?
A — I would tell any new artist to explore all the different parts of yourself! We’re all complex beings and it’s beautiful to discover what you can create when you embrace your interests, strengths and weaknesses as inspiration. I would also tell every person interested in creating to start by falling in love with yourself and your life. Every part of it is an important part of the romance that is life. To create in your life is proof of love.
Photo by Tess Leslie
Q — Any major takeaways from your journey in entertainment so far?
A — I’d say my greatest takeaway is the love and understanding I’ve built and grown in my community. I've been able to be vulnerable with my art and expression and find support and my chosen family in the most beautiful spaces! I've better recognized how sacred expression is and how amazing life is simply because art exists.
Q — We’ve been working with you over the last year to introduce family-friendly drag into our all-ages programs. Although that work started well before Texas’ new drag ban bills, what were some of your initial motivations in doing these kinds of series at Future Front events?
A — Yes! I love the events we've worked on together because my passions have always been celebrated and supported at Future Front.
One of my missions is to embrace all the parts of myself and grow my art from all the love I have. I am a parent to an amazing 13-year-old and when I started curating family-friendly events, the goal was to create and be a part of environments that inspire joy and creation in family dynamics.
I believe it’s important to allow people to see art in many different ways at an early age. I believe it invokes awareness, understanding and creativity which are vital qualities that improve our ability to communicate.
Q — How do you take care of yourself as a working artist?
A — REST! I’d say this is the second greatest takeaway from being a performer, I learned how to rest to better care for myself! I try to be mindful of having a balanced life so I don't have to experience burnout. I enjoy having a stream of creativity and can only keep it flowing with good self care.
Gothess Jasmine and their drag family captured at PRIDE PICNIC 2023.
Courtesy of @gothess.jasmine
Q — Right now, our theme is homegrown, i.e. celebrating DIY energy and reflecting on where we started. With that, what does nurturing your inner child mean to you? What do you think younger you would be proudest of?
A — I feel like younger me would be most proud of the joy and inspiration that I share by embracing myself by creating all the magical creatures I dreamt of. I have always dreamt of a magical life. And I feel like I pursue those dreams through the art of creation! I don’t think younger me expected I’d be living a magical life at all, so I’m happy to know I would literally be little Jasmine’s hero if they only knew.
Q — How do you bring a DIY spirit to your work and to your community? What does that look like to you?
A — Ever since I started being intentional with my art, I had to be adaptable and resourceful in order to execute my visions. I was a single parent to a young child, working endlessly to make ends meet. It didn’t feel as if art was even attainable for me. But I researched art forms I’ve always loved to discover affordable and effective ways to express myself through body art like henna and body paint.
I started volunteering with the community theater, volunteering for charity events and eventually my talent grew enough that I started working festivals and being contracted by the theater! I am proud that I was able to lean into my passions to actually grow a career.
Q — Future plans? What’s next for the Gothess agenda and world domination?
A — I’d love to keep traveling the world and being involved in creative and wellness oriented spaces and continue exploring all the ways to keep the magic of creation, self love and joy alive!
Want to stay involved with Future Front?
Keep up with what we’re up to—from virtual events to membership—here.
One, Big Pride Picnic In 43 Polaroids
A day of abundant sunshine, community vibes and a delightfully queer celebration of the summer solstice.
On Sunday, June 25, we partnered with Pease Park for its second-annual Pride Picnic—a day of abundant sunshine, community vibes and a delightfully queer celebration of the summer solstice.
This year, in partnership with Elijah Gray, we collected the picnic’s first yearbook. In these 43 polaroids, we hope to celebrate (and document) the presence of queer joy in Texas for future generations.
THE PRIDE PICNIC POLAROID YEARBOOK:
did you miss pride picnic?
You can learn more about all of the LGBTQ+ artists, makers, creatives and organizations who joined us in 2023 here. For details on future Pride Picnics, stay tuned on Future Front’s calendar.
Introducing 8 Women Makers Living And Working Right Here In Austin
Read for a delightful introduction to eight artists, designers and craftspeople in Texas from The Front Market's Spring 2023 Season.
As we wrap up The Front Market’s Spring 2023 Season, meet 8 women artists and creatives on our lineup based right here in Austin. Over the summer, you can catch their curated Pop-Up Shops in The LINE Austin lobby, as part of our EMERGE Program. Enjoy!
Meet the Makers:
No. 1 — Allegory Handmade
Iris Rylander (she/her) is a multimedia artist based in Austin, Texas. She draws inspiration from the line work of tattoo artists, pen and ink drawings, and other printmakers.
She believes the placement of a single line can define or destroy her work and is fascinated with the control and attention to detail that these works require. Iris often portrays elements of nature in her work. She has worked under several local artists based in Austin.
Her latest body of work is a series of linoleum prints under the name Allegory Handmade. She is part of Contracommon, an art collective and nonprofit organization that supports emerging artists.
@allegory.handmade
No. 2 — Terre Gaillarde
Run by Amanda Nwobu (she/her), Terre Gaillarde centers aromatic artists who are inspired by their sense of home, heritage, and lived experiences.
Through curation, they aspire to connect indie fragrances that broaden and reclaim olfactory narratives with people who use scent to enhance the joy, peace, and reverence in the spaces they occupy.
@terregaillarde
No. 3 — Chiquitas Clay
Founded by artist and designer Melissa Santos (she/her), Chiquita’s Clay is a Latina owned brand that specializes in handmade polymer Clay Accessories, apparel, and trendy home decor.
@chiquitasclay
No. 4 — Tak Tak Goods
Founded by multidisciplinary artist and glassblower Risa Recio (she/her), Tak Tak began over a Friendsgiving dinner in Chicago in 2018.
Their dream is to make glass more accessible for folks everywhere—and they hope these tabletop companions bring joy, humor and magic to your daily ritual.
@taktakgoods
No. 5 — MKLFRIED
Mikaela Friedman (she/her) AKA MKLFRIED is a multidisciplinary artist based in Austin, Texas.
Beyond creating hand-painted boots for customers and collaborations alike, Mikaela works on multiple creative community projects, including MUTINY MARKET and the Slow Fashion Fest.
@mklfried
No. 6 — Wavyroller Art
Victoria (she/her), creator behind Wavy Roller, is a self-taught artist residing in Austin, Texas. Her art explores both connection and lack of connection that is within self & her own traumas, others, and nature through her paintings.
@wavyroller.art
No. 7 — Sister-2-Sister Vintage
Sister-2-Sister Vintage is a second-hand vintage shop curated by sisters, celebrating sisterhood & creating a better world thru sustainable fashion.
”We offer a range of eclectic styles for every style of sister!”
@sis2sisvintage
No. 8 — Clayhouse Candles
Started by independent artist and designer Tai (she/her), Clay House Candles was born out of wanting to create candles that are truly one-of-a-kind.
“A lot of our creative process involves thinking "Why not?" and testing some of our most playful ideas, even when they seem impossible. All of our candles are hand-poured and packaged here in the U.S. as well as being vegan, Non-GMO, and Kosher friendly.”
@clayhousecandles
The Front Market's Spring 2023 Season: The Official Recap
On May 13 and 14, we took over Distribution Hall in Austin, Texas for one weekend—exhibiting 150+ creatives and welcoming 3,000+ visitors.
On May 13 and 14, we took over Distribution Hall in Austin, Texas for one weekend—exhibiting 150+ creatives and welcoming 3,000+ visitors. Keep reading for a full look at this season’s impact.
All photos by Yvonne Uwah
this season’s five highlights:
✰ No. 1 — 150+ Vendors Exhibited
We exhibited more than 150+ women and LGBTQ+ creatives and independent business owners across Texas.
✰ No. 2 — 3,000+ Visitors Welcomed
We welcomed 3,000+ visitors at Distribution Hall over the course of two days (3,500, if you include dogs).
✰ No. 3 — $1,500+ Fundraised
Thanks to donations at the door and our Cocktails For Good Bar by Tito’s Handmade Vodka, we fundraised $1,500+ for our community programs.
✰ No. 4 — $10,000 In Commissions & Contracts
The market’s production and programming generated more than $10,000 in commissions and contracts for women- & queer-owned creative teams in Austin, too.
✰ No. 5 — 100% Community-Led
It took two full-time team members, 25 volunteers and curators, 200+ collaborators and six months of planning to open The Front Market’s Spring 2023 Season.
THREE WAYS TO STAY INVOLVED:
✰ Head to thefrontmarket.com (click here) to tap into the Spring Season 2023 lineup at anytime.
✰ Remember why spaces like The Front Market matter.
We dive deeper into what supporting women and LGBTQ+ vendors, as well as our local creative and small businesses communities, means at thefrontmarket.com/mindset.
✰ Explore all we do at Future Front—and find what’s for you—at futurefronttexas.org/programming.
Thank you to our sponsors, partners and friends.
✰
Thank you to our sponsors, partners and friends. ✰
We would not be able to use the market as a space to nurture the creative communities we care about without support from our sponsors, members, staff, volunteers, friends and you. Thank you.
How To Approach Buying A Home In Texas: A Mindset Guide For Creative Types
Move through this journaling guide and mindset activity to consider some actionable steps that you can take toward homeownership—even within a creative career.
In this guide, real estate investors and creative home-buying specialists, Kristina Modares and Steph Douglass (co-founders of Open House Austin and supporters of Future Front!), take you through a journaling guide and mindset activity to consider some actionable steps that you can take toward homeownership—even within a creative career.
ABOUT OPEN HOUSE AUSTIN:
“Co-Founders Kristina and Steph here! We believe homeownership done well inspires community, income and creativity. That’s the driving force behind Open House Austin, our real estate brokerage and education company. We help people break through the barriers of traditional homeownership every day through creative house hacking strategies and one-on-one Realtor support.”
Below, FIND FOUR actionable steps you can take toward buying your first home.
STEP 1 — Identify your mindset.
What is currently holding you back from buying a home: finances, responsibility, time or something else? Feeling anxious about purchasing your first home is entirely normal. What’s not okay is slipping into analysis paralysis—and losing out purely due to fear. The first step forward in your home-buying journey is actually looking backward.
So, grab a pen and some paper or open up your notes app… then, answer the following questions about your history/relationship with real estate:
Growing up, did your family buy a house(s)?
Did your family rent all or part of the time?
Did they complain about the mortgage and costly repairs?
Did your parents live in one house for 30 years?
Imagine having the tools you need to not have the same problems that your family did. Would you still have the same fears or limiting beliefs as you do now?
Once you figure out what you’ve been trying to protect yourself from, you can think more critically. Your home-buying journey doesn’t have to look like your parents or other authority figures’. And it often shouldn’t.
STEP 2 — Consider your financial plans and potential options.
Once you’ve identified your mindset. It’s time to plan your strategy. Determine how much you’d need to save for a down payment and imagine what you may be able to do to offset your rent and moving costs. Once you’ve identified all of your potential costs, you’ll be able to craft a budget and start to set realistic goals toward home ownership. (Not sure where to start? Take Homeschool on YouTube—a completely free resource that’s already helping thousands of people learn about buying a house!)
At Open House Austin, we’re no strangers to budgeting—or getting creative. With our first homes, we each did something we call “house-hacking” to afford the investment costs. “House-hacking” is a real estate strategy where a property is bought to generate rental income while the homeowner resides in the same property. This helps to offset or eliminate mortgage payments, generate passive income and build equity.
Here are some house-hacking examples:
Bedroom For Rent — Fill your spare bedrooms with short- or long-term roommates. A long-term rental can be on a month-to-month basis or for one year. Either way, you have your tenant/roommate sign a lease agreement. This person pays you a set amount of money each month that you’ve agreed upon. A short-term rental through a hosting site, like Airbnb or Vrbo, allows you to rent out your space for a few days up to a month and sometimes longer (you can determine minimum and maximum days in your booking settings). Long-term rentals provide a steady stream of income with someone in your space for an extended period of time. Short-term rentals rates are higher, so you could get a larger return, but you’ll likely have a revolving door of new people coming and going.
Sneaky Duplex — Add an additional unit to your single family home. You can do this by converting a wing of your house, or even your garage, into a livable space.In any scenario, you will definitely need a bathroom added or available. For short-term rentals, you often don’t need a kitchen (maybe just a mini fridge). We’ve both used this house hacking strategy. Check out Kristina’s current space.
Accessory Dwelling Unit (ADU) / Tiny Home — An ADU is a smaller, independent residential dwelling unit located on the same lot as a detached single-family home. This is also known as a tiny home. You can choose to rent these out as long- or short- term rentals, regardless, you don’t have to share your physical home with other people which can be a huge perk. Many of our clients have turned sheds into tiny homes or used other existing structures to cut down on costs! Check out Steph’s DIY tiny house experience.
STEP 3 — Find a house you can add value to—now or eventually.
Once you’ve determined your budget and reached some of your financial goals, it’s time to find a house! To do so, and this is crucial, you’ll need an experienced agent by your side. We recommend finding a realtor that does more than just show you homes—they should be your biggest source of information and your advocate throughout the home-buying process. It will be up to you both to find a home that can gain a lot of value over—whether that’s due to an up-and-coming location or through updates/renovations you can do later.
As for your house search, think strategically about the future. Will the location attract renters if you need to house-hack? Are the homes in the area continuing to appreciate each year? Does the home need extensive repairs or can you take on small updates over time? Does the home meet your needs for daily life or offset costs for your creative practice? How long do you plan to live in the home? Are you buying a house you’d want to fix-up and sell later as an investment?
STEP 4 — Repeat as necessary!
After you purchase and settle into your first home, your options for creative home-buying don’t have to stop. Did you know that you can buy another house to live in with low money down within a year of buying your first house? You can also use your first home as leverage and take out a line of credit or do a cash out refinance to get funds for the next purchase. You could even pull in a friend or family member and invest in property together (check out our Buying A House With A Friend Mini-Course for more info on this!)
Want more information on Open House Austin? If you're looking for one-on-one support, reach out to our team. You can also sign up for our newsletter or follow us on TikTok and Instagram. For anything and everything else, visit our website at openhouseaustin.co.
Want to stay involved with Future Front?
Keep up with what we’re up to—from virtual events to membership—here.
On Community Salons And Reimagining Hospitality: Krystal Frame
During SXSW 2023, we partnered with Sustain Frame to launch their first-ever Colloquy, a salon-style experience reimagining community conversation through experiential food. Now, we’d like to introduce you to Krystal Frame—a long-time collaborator of Future Front and the creative behind Sustain Frame.
All photos by John Leon Jansen, unless otherwise credited.
During SXSW 2023, we partnered with Sustain Frame to launch their first-ever Colloquy, a salon-style experience reimagining community conversation through experiential food.
Taking over eleMINT Skin in East Austin, Colloquy blended sex education with sensual exploration. From a communal plate installation to sex health educational tools and self-love rituals, the event served as a living altar to appreciate our bodies and the nuances of reproductive health.
Now, we’d like to introduce you to Krystal Frame—a long-time collaborator of Future Front and the creative behind Sustain Frame.
Portrait of Krystal Frame by MinkMade
ABOUT KRYSTAL & SUSTAIN FRAME
Krystal Frame (she/her) is the founder of Sustain Frame, an experiential series exploring environmentalism.
Now working in operations for creative nonprofit and community initiatives, her career started in the fashion and hospitality industries working in various positions. Krystal found herself lost in the mix, concerned by the ways her industries of work were negatively impacting the planet.
She decided to set her eyes on advocacy work in the environmental space with an awareness of the connections of social justice issues. Through Sustain Frame’s community offering, she hopes to offer windows into radical shifts toward sustainability and consciousness within the retail and hospitality industries.
Q — How did Sustain Frame come to be?
A — I started off in the Fashion Industry, but quickly found the shortcomings that came with it. (I realized early on that this field of work runs off of unhealthy habits and unsustainable practices.) In addition to these issues, the lack of inclusivity in the space led me to quickly burn out, as the work seemed to do more damage than good.
My background in the service industry helped kickstart Sustain, as I got curious about the lack of interest within creative experiences and events toward advocating for the greater good of the environment. I started Sustain officially during the pandemic, too, and my first few events simply explored ways to give back to the environment. Now that Sustain has grown into what it is today, I now curate and program experiences that explore sustainability, community and environmentalism from many angles—through dinner series, salon-style conversations and experiential summits.
Q — Walk us through how you started your salon-style series, Colloquy. What inspired you?
A — Colloquy came to be when I began to delve into the history of salons. Salons were once used for artists and creatives for communal communication and a space to grow. These casual spaces sprung up as moments to discuss societal issues of the times and act as a safe space for those who frequent them.
Using this as inspiration, I wanted to mirror that salon-style experience over food. And that’s how our first pop-up during SXSW came to be. For our first one, we chose sex education as our topic, because conversations surrounding sex health are often labeled as taboo, due to misinformation or a lack of reliable information.
So, incorporating fun and interactive activities for people to engage in, that first Colloquy was designed to challenge the negative connotations revolving around sex education and sex health. We worked with Future Front, eleMINT Skin, Plan C and individual creatives to make it all happen, too. And, to stay true to Sustain’s message, all food and materials were locally sourced. It’s important to me that all of our experiences uplift local voices.
Q — Having lived in Austin for some time, what does “homegrown” mean to you?
A — Although I’m now based in New York, I’ve made it a priority to connect with folks in Austin still. Austin holds a special place in my heart, and I hope that people can continue to foster new ways for incomers to come and explore what the city has to offer. I believe in the importance of making Austin welcoming, where people can feel at home within it, as I owe this town for giving me a safe space to develop and become the person that I am now.
Q — The world is your oyster. How do you want to expand this year?
Now that I’ve launched Colloquy, the salon series, I hope to continue creating conservations around sustainability and other societal issues. In regards to Sustain as a whole, my main priority is space. I hope to eventually obtain physical space in upstate New York to embody Sustain’s mission toward a revisioned hospitality experience.
*Photos from Colloquy’s launch during SXSW 2023
This special edition of Colloquy is part of Future Front’s Texan Feminist Initiative.
At Future Front, our work is guided by a commitment to improving representation and resilience in our creative and small business communities. This has a distinct relationship to our understanding of social justice in Texas—which includes reproductive justice.
We envision a Texas that acknowledges and fights against the intersectional issues that affect our communities’ health, like access to reproductive cares, systemic racism, transphobia, abuse and violence, sexual miseducation and more. We envision a Texas without sexual stigma—a Texas that does not work to prevent all genders and sexes from receiving appropriate health services.
We envision a Texas where spaces that prioritize individual agency and the communication of truthful, responsible information thrive. We envision a Texas where abortion is decriminalized. We envision a Texas where we can speak for ourselves.
So, annually, we collaborate with women and LGBTQ+ creatives, small business owners, leaders and like-minded orgs to share resources and explore reproductive health equity in Texas—through everything from creative guides to cool parties, fundraising $25,000+ for community initiatives.
And you are always invited to join us. Share what you can, send us hot tips and tell your friends!
Channeling Your Inner Child: A Portrait Series by Dani Parsons & Katherine Lam
In this photo installation, Future Front’s 2023 Communications Fellow, Katherine Lam, collaborates with Austin-based photographer Dani Parsons to reimagine play, sparkle, glitter and fun through the compassionate eyes of community.
What does it look like to nurture your inner child?
To honor and love where you started—and how you’ve grown? In this photo series, Future Front’s 2023 Communications Fellow, Katherine Lam, collaborates with Austin-based photographer Dani Parsons to reimagine play, sparkle, glitter and fun through the compassionate eyes of Future Front’s creative community.
Katherine Lam, as photographed by Dani Parsons
“I’m a Fourth-Year Psychology student at the University of Texas at Austin. Through my fellowship with Future Front, I was given the opportunity to produce my own portfolio project.
This project is meant for me to wrap up what I’ve learned through these past months, as well as a pathway to explore my creativity in a safe space. I decided on ‘Channeling Your Inner Child’ as my portfolio project theme.
I wanted to revisit childhood, the simpler times when I had no responsibilities or real-world consequences. As much as society loves hustle culture and the overall busy-ness of life, I wanted this opportunity to be a way for people to take a break from life. Often, we have to act accordingly in our everyday lives, in which we’re expected to be ready for the world at an early age. I especially feel this way as I’m graduating this semester, and I know others can also relate.
I decided to collaborate with Dani Parsons, the photographer and the magician behind these photos, to capture Future Front community members in the spirit of their childhood selves. Dani and I were able to come together to work toward a collective image in order to hit home with these portraits—giving our subjects permission to be silly and escape from the formalities of living.
As we age, we begin to learn more about the realities of life, often acting as a barrier to whatever we’re doing. These portraits are a reminder to let loose. I’ll use these—and my time at Future Front—as a reminder to stay true to myself, to be curious and forever ask questions that may or may not have an answer.”
ALL PHOTOS BY DANI PARSONS (@THEDANICREATIVE)
Want to stay involved with Future Front?
Keep up with what we’re up to—from virtual events to membership—here.
The Work Conference Returns After Three Years in Shutdown!
For the first time since 2020, Future Front welcomed back its annual conference, WORK for a day of art tours, hands-on workshops, talks and sounding board sessions—all exploring community, entrepreneurship, storytelling and wellness in creative industries and the arts.
⭑ ✺ ✰ ✹ This is a space to explore your work. ⭑ ✺ ✰ ✹
On February 18, 2023 at Rowling Hall, Future Front welcomed back its annual WORK conference—for the first time since 2020.
More than 200 of y’all joined us in Austin for a day of art tours, hands-on workshops, talks and sounding board sessions, all exploring community, entrepreneurship, storytelling and wellness in creative industries and the arts.
Keep reading for a look at the Work Conference’s 2023 debut.
All photos by Yvonne Uwah and Jessica Joseph
BASK IN THE VISUAL RECAP.
Meet our 2023 speakers.
Thank you to our sponsors, partners and friends.
✰
Thank you to our sponsors, partners and friends. ✰
Launched by Future Front in collaboration with TEXAS McCombs in January 2018,Work emerged from genuine conversations between women and LGBTQ+ leaders in creative industries, tech, nonprofit communities, small business & the arts.
Now, this one-day annual gathering serves as a moment to share stories, community-source inspiration and get real about the frameworks required to do big work. We would not be able to produce WORK without support from our sponsors, members, staff, volunteers, friends and you. Thank you.
Our First SXSW Showcase With Plan C Film
On March 12, 2023, Future Front curated our first-ever official showcase for SXSW, Day of A, featuring performances from Austin-based acts, Flora & Fawna, Chulita Vinyl Club and Nicole Cardoza (the Black Girl Magician).
On March 12, we curated SXSW official showcase, Day of A, featuring performances from Austin-based acts, Flora & Fawna, Chulita Vinyl Club and Nicole Cardoza (the Black Girl Magician).
In collaboration with grassroots nonprofit Plan C Pills, Day of A was designed to celebrate the SXSW premiere of Tracy Droz Tragos’ Plan C, a feature-length documentary chronicling the intersectional issues surrounding the abortion pill landscape.
Together, alongside partners like Fund Texas Choice, Jane’s Due Process, Wisp, It All Media, Texas Signal and SIECUS, we held space for abortion activists and grassroots organizations working toward reproductive rights and reproductive justice in Texas, despite the overturn of Roe v. Wade and Texas’ abortion ban.
BASK IN THE VISUAL RECAP.
All photos by @johnleonjansen
LEARN MORE ABOUT DAY OF A’S PARTNERS & FRIENDS:
✰ PLAN C FILM
To keep up with plans for the film as well as screenings and ways to watch, please follow along at @plancfilm on Instagram and/or on Plan C Pills’ website here! If you would like to host a screening at your home, church, school, company or otherwise, please reach out to hello@jessjacobs.com for more information.
✰ PLAN C PILLS
As a nonprofit organization, Plan C is on a mission to share safe, responsible information on abortion pill access in the United States. No matter where you are, Plan C has informational guides, including stickers (in English and Spanish), for whoever might need them. You can access guides for your area here and complimentary stickers shipped to your door here.
✰ IF/WHEN/HOW
If/When/How's Repro Legal Defense Fund is a fund supporting people who are investigated, arrested, or prosecuted for #SelfManagedAbortion or for helping someone else end their own pregnancy. If/When/How's Repro Legal Helpline provides information and a legal helpline for people who have been investigated, arrested, or are facing arrest for ending their own pregnancy, too.
✰ FUND TEXAS CHOICE
Due to recent wins in legislation, Fund Texas Choice is thrilled to be doing abortion travel for Texans again! Our hotline is OPEN, and we’re here to help Texans travel legally and out of state. It’s also Fund-a-thon season so we’re bringing back Furry-Friend-a-thon! Follow Fund Texas Choice on social media to learn how you and your furry friends can raise your paws in support of abortion access.
✰ WISP
Wisp (hellowisp.com) is the largest and most accessible provider of sexual and reproductive telehealth services in the country, including abortion. With Wisp, Americans can get same-day prescriptions in 3 hours or less for common vaginal infections like, BV, UTIs and yeast infections, plus birth control, emergency contraception and medication abortion services.
✰ IT ALL MEDIA
Join Wisp, IT ALL Media and SIECUS: Sex Ed for Social Change for virtual and IRL events convening experts, thought leaders, artists, and activists for conversations spanning everything from the patriarchy and perimenopause to better orgasms and bodily autonomy. This is the 'ah-ha, jaw-dropping, you've-got-to-be-kidding-me, oh-damn-you-too?" conversations we not only want, but deserve. You can enroll in "class" here.
Day of A is part of Future Front’s Texan Feminist Initiative.
At Future Front, our work is guided by a commitment to improving representation and resilience in our creative and small business communities. This has a distinct relationship to our understanding of social justice in Texas—which includes reproductive justice.
We envision a Texas that acknowledges and fights against the intersectional issues that affect our communities’ health, like access to reproductive cares, systemic racism, transphobia, abuse and violence, sexual miseducation and more. We envision a Texas without sexual stigma—a Texas that does not work to prevent all genders and sexes from receiving appropriate health services.
We envision a Texas where spaces that prioritize individual agency and the communication of truthful, responsible information thrive. We envision a Texas where abortion is decriminalized. We envision a Texas where we can speak for ourselves.
So, annually, we collaborate with women and LGBTQ+ creatives, small business owners, leaders and like-minded orgs to share resources and explore reproductive health equity in Texas—through everything from creative guides to cool parties, fundraising $25,000+ for community initiatives.
And you are always invited to join us. Share what you can, send us hot tips and tell your friends!
How To Ice-Dye And Up-Cycle With Cindy Popp
What’s one thing Texas heat is good for? Ice-dyeing. Throughout 2023, we partnered with artist and Future Front collaborator Cindy Popp to produce a number of community ice-dye experiences.
What’s one thing Texas heat is good for? Ice-dyeing. Throughout 2023, we partnered with artist and Future Front collaborator Cindy Popp to produce a number of community ice-dye experiences.
In this how-to guide, Cindy Popp (@cindy.popp) walks you through how to ice-dye your own tees, totes, socks and clothes at home—and on your own.
ABOUT CINDY POPP
Photo by Dani Parsons
Cynthia Muñoz (she/her) is based in Austin, Texas. She has a passion for community engagement and creative collaboration. AKA Cindy Popp, she creates art inspired by fashion, cinema, and clowns. She lives with her partner and cat and tries to watch a movie every day.
WHAT IS ICE-DYEING?
About Ice-Dyeing & Upcycling:
With a couple bags of ice, some powder dye and soda ash, you can transform old pieces of clothing into refreshed and unique garments.
In this how-to, multidisciplinary artist Cindy Popp will walk you through how to ice-dye clothing and other items in your closet to give them another life.
Things You’ll Need:
The item you intend to dye
Drip buckets
Wire drying racks
Soda ash
Powder dye
Plastic bags
Gloves
Cool and warm water
HOW TO ICE-DYE IN 11 STEPS:
1.) Soak pre-washed items in a mixture of soda ash and warm water within a plastic bucket or tub for 20 minutes using gloves.
2.) Squeeze/wring out excess solution by hand. Do not rinse.
3.) Identify a tub or vessel as your item’s drip bucket. Place the vessel on a protected floor or outdoor area.
4.) Scrunch up the item you’re dyeing into a small flat ball and place it on a wire cooling rack or other permeable surface on top of the drip bucket.
5.) Cover the item in ice cubes.
6.) Sprinkle small amounts of powder dye over the ice. Be mindful of how the colors interact.
7.) Once the ice is fully melted, place the item in a plastic bag. Clean your dyeing area and other tools.
8.) Either leave the item in the plastic bag for at least 24 hours (preferably in the sun or heat) or place the bag on a paper towel in your microwave for two minutes. (The plastic will puff up, creating a heat chamber trhat helps bond the dye with the fabric.)
9.) Once you have dried or heated your item, remove the fabric from the plastic bag and let it cool down.
10.) Rinse the fabric / dyed item in cool water until the water runs clear. This is important to prevent unabsorbed dye from bleeding into other areas of the item or on other pieces of clothing. For the best results, lay the dyed item flat while you rinse.
11.) Wash the dyed item in cold water with a mild detergent, rinse and dry!
12.) Enjoy your new ice-dyed gem!
Photos by Tess Leslie
Photos by Tess Leslie
Photos by Tess Leslie