Today we’d like to introduce you to Charlotte Reed.
Hi Charlotte, thanks for joining us today. We’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
We started Art Equals during the lockdown, which may seem like a strange time to start a non-profit. In 2020, I had been working as an art therapist in a retirement community. Not being able to have adequate connection with my clients during this time prompted me to think about the work I had longed to do since starting graduate school. That of working directly in the community.
Our first workshop was an opportunity for the community to create personal shrines based on feelings of loss experienced during the lockdown. Through that workshop, we developed a community shrine with the help of a local artist, which allowed community members to offer pieces of handmade art tied to a large flower sculpture as a symbol of hope.
The next opportunity arose during tax season of our first year at the Hellmann Creative Center, where we are located. The center offers free tax preparation to the community, but because of COVID, they had to wait for hours in their car. Recognizing a captive audience for creating, Art Equals developed several art packets which offered materials, instructions, and some inspirations to people while they waited.
Over the past two years, Art Equals has continued to seek out opportunities for getting the community engaged in creativity including hosting an indigo dye parties at the local community garden, creating wishing webs at a Fall festival, and creating a giant community zine at the local night market. We look forward to find many more ways to overcome the barriers to creating for everyone.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way? Looking back, would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
Some of the biggest challenges along the way have actually been the little things. Running a non-profit with a staff of one means you have to wear a lot of hats. And not all of them are hats you know what to do with. There have been a lot of aspects to running Art Equals that I had to learn how to do, like managing social media, a website, marketing, and fundraising. When I started out, I could tell you three effective ways to engage a group in creating to relieve stress, but I didn’t know how to create a “reel” on Instagram. Luckily, I had some wonderful people, board members, and friends along the way who offered their knowledge and insights, and that really is what community work is all about. Working together to make it happen. I am really grateful for all those people and connections in the community that kept me going on those tough days.
Thanks – so, what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
As an artist, I have worked creating ceramic sculpture after graduating with my BFA from Northern Kentucky University. But I’ve always been one to explore as many avenues of creativity as I could get my hands on. From bookmaking to hand spun fiber, I really love to learn new techniques and explore different materials. This has really served me well as an art therapist, as I can offer a wider range of options to those I work with. My challenges as a visually impaired artist have also allowed me to tune into creating in different ways, which has opened my perceptions about what creating is and how different people create. I offer a lot of hands-on materials in my workshops and events so that people have a variety of ways to explore their materials beyond the visual arts. I also recognize that traditional painting, drawing, and sculpting can be intimating for some, and therefore offering something familiar like knitting or crochet may be less scary.
We’d love to hear about any fond memories you have from when you were growing up.
My favorite childhood memories often involve the natural world around my home in California. Whether on the Northern California Coast with my hands plunged into the sand creating mermaids and dragons on the beach or nestled in the thick shadows of a redwood forest exploring ferns and mosses, I loved being outside
Contact Info:
- Website: art-equals.org
- Instagram: art_equals
- Facebook: FB/artequals
