MAKER SPACE ARTIST FEATURE: SARAH WESTRUP

Interview by Maker Space  

Photo by Sarah Westrup 

Maker Space is excited to be teaming up with We Denton Do It each month to feature a maker from the community.  Our first interview is with Sarah Westrup, fiber artists and educator.  Sarah’s work is beautiful and tends to conjure up the peaceful feeling one might get while exploring a remote West Texas desert.  Read on to learn about her process and why a creative community is essential to her work.

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What kind of work do you make?

Primarily I work as a fibers artist, which means I utilize textile making and embellishment processes into my art work and combine them into sculptural objects. Currently, my favorite process is natural dyes. Natural dyeing is an interesting way to incorporate symbol and narrative into something as abstract as color.

What drew you to that form of art?

I was drawn to fibers because of the textures. I took up knitting, embroidery, and sewing at 16 and from them on I was hooked to the feel, look, and meditative qualities of fiber work.

Mini Alter  

Photo by Sarah Westrup

Santa Maria  

Photo by Sarah Westrup

From where do you draw inspiration for your creative process?

My inspiration comes from exploring the symbolic meanings of plants that are native to my South Texas heritage, environment, and diet such as black beans, avocado pits, prickly pear, and hibiscus flowers for color inspiration. My work strives to explore my own sentiments about the Rio Grande Valley region and my Mexican- American identity.

What brought you to Denton?

I came to Denton so I could go to school at the University of North Texas. I saw an undergrad’s artwork featured in Fiber Arts magazine and thought to myself that I should totally go to school here. UNT is also only one of two universities in the Texas that has a Fibers Department.

Has living in Denton influenced your work?

The folks of Denton are very supportive and nurturing to what I do. Many collaborations and workshops have came out of knowing other great artists that are living here. I don’t think my art work would be the same without living in Denton.

Religious Notions 

Photo by  Sarah Westrup

What is your studio space like?

Haha, my studio space looks like my living room. I utilize my small coffee table and the floor as my workspace as well as the kitchen for dyeing. Oil and Cotton also serves as my community studio space. I am able to recycle many of their donated fabrics and leathers for my own work. Oil and Cotton also was sweet to donate a small table loom to my home studio.

What are the most important tools that you use in your making process?

My most important tools are pots, strainers, plant materials, stoves, fabric, needles, thread, and hammers plus so many more things.

Photo by  Beth Wise 

Tell us about Sunbeam Operations.  What it is and what made you start that business?

Sunbeam Operations is my small business, which puts on workshops and demonstrations on natural dyes. I started the business because I saw a desire for natural dye education that wasn’t being fulfilled. I had only been experimenting with natural dyes for about a year, but I thought that at least I could share what I know with others and start from there. I have led demonstrations at the Dallas Museum of Art, the Perot, the Denton Community Market, Oil and Cotton, and Cardo’s Farm Project. My hope is that people are inspired by the colors they see and want to adopt the process for their own art and craft works. I always try to get other artists to think about leading their own workshops, because it’s important to share ideas and processes. It’s not about how much you know, it’s about being organized and generous about what you do know.   

What interests you about incorporating education into what you do creatively?

In 2009 I went to the Penland School of Crafts for my first time and since then have been fascinated with community workshop based learning. The type of environment where folks work together and share their art making experience really fosters creativity, collaboration, and artistic self-confidence. Incorporating education into my own art functions as a way for others to experience something new and take it into their own hands.

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Maker Space is a forthcoming collaborative creative space started by Heather Gregory and Tristan Bynum in the heart of Denton. Maker Space works to bring together artists and creatives from different backgrounds and mediums by providing access to the space, tools, resources and creative community they need in order to thrive in Denton.  

ARTIST INTERVIEW: MANDY HAMPTON

Mandy Hampton hard at work in her shop.  

We ran into Mandy Hampton at a UNT Art Gallery a few months back. She's been impressing us ever since. This Denton-loving artist not only possesses a myriad of talents, but she has shown the ability to go seamlessly from one medium to the next, spanning the world of fine art and craft. In her workshop, she showed us her favorite tools, and a few projects she's been working on, including a large piano she is about to disassemble to use as material for new work. Read on to see how she keeps her creative community close, deals with the challenges of working in a small space, and how she keeps all of those skills sharp. 

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Tell us a little bit about your history with Denton. 

I moved to Denton in January of 2010 to finish my bachelor’s degree. I’d spent the previous years going to community college and traveling over seas, and then decided to move here on a whim. Within my first week, I realized I loved this place. After 3.5 years, I still love the small-town feel, the liberal arts atmosphere, the ability to bike nearly anywhere I want to go, the beautiful historic houses on Oak Street, and a community of people who care about this city. The University of North Texas was also a wonderful environment for me, especially because of the people I met there. I actually started with a degree in English and a minor in Photography. While taking a 3D Design class my first semester, I fell in love with the art program and decided to switch my degree to Photography. After 3 semesters in Photography, I switched yet again to a degree in Sculpture. This time it stuck. In the middle there, I also met my husband, Josiah Hampton, and we’ve been married just over a year now.

Considering myself a world-traveler, I always kind of thought I’d move out of Texas for college - or at least after graduation, but after 3.5 years in Denton I have a difficult time imagining myself elsewhere.  Josiah and I both still have plans to move to another state or over seas for a time, but I think it’s likely we’ll eventually return to Denton even if we leave.

wood curls

You do just about everything when it comes to making art.  You’ve labeled yourself a photographer, painter, musician, sculptor, woodworker and furniture builder. How do you find time for it all?

Honestly, the answer is that I don’t find time for all of it ALL of the time. But I don’t see this as a bad thing. Some mediums come and go in phases, some lasting longer than others. When I learn something new, like when I began woodworking 2 years ago, that one focus takes all of my time, energy, and passion. You might call it obsession. And then, I just incorporate it into my main body of work. I have defined myself as a sculptor for the past 2 years, but once again I realize I can’t stick that kind of label on myself. All of my work flows from the same source. I anticipate seeing my work evolve and continue to flow in and out of various seasons.

Currently, I spend most of my time sculpture, furniture, and photography. Certainly, there is difficulty in dividing my time like this, but it’s working for me. I have learned to use my trusty planner religiously, and schedule my time effectively.

photo by Mandy Hampton

With so many tools in your belt, how do you keep them all sharp? Do you find that it takes time to get back into a medium after stepping away from it for a time?

I actually do easily jump in and out of various mediums. Each medium is kind of like the different tools in my workshop—I use whichever tool best fits the project. I think it also helps that my art is cohesive in concept. Broadly speaking, my work is about telling a story. When I photograph a wedding, I capture someone else’s story. When I build a piece of furniture, I think about space and living areas and about making a piece that creates conversation and interest. When I make a sculpture, I pour my own thoughts and personal story into the work.

Certainly, there is the danger that I'll end up the jack-of-all-trades and master-of-none, and I continue to think seriously about this. Sometimes I consider devoting my time to just one area of focus, but that doesn’t seem to work well for me. The variety keeps me interested, and I’ve found that these different forms of art strengthen each other and influence all areas of my life. One obvious way in which this strengthens my work is the ability to photograph my work. It’s surprisingly difficult to portray 3D sculpture in photographic form.

Do you have a group of friends or creatives to lean on, draw inspiration from, hash out ideas with?

Absolutely. After graduation, I kept my membership in the UNT sculpture collective in order to stay in touch with those folks, which is why I was able to be in a recent UNT On The Square exhibition. I also stay in touch with my friend/professor Jim Burton who has easily been the most influential person on my artist career so far. Jim facilitated an environment that worked well for my learning style, taught me how to critically think about art, and also taught me nearly everything I know about woodworking. I probably wouldn’t have majored in Sculpture without his prodding.

Aside from these, I have several friends with whom I engage in art-centered conversation, but not with much consistency. This is by far the most difficult thing about leaving the university. I am still trying to figure out how to get artists to come share my studio space so that we can work together.  I thrive off of community and interaction with people, and I miss it. On that note, however, I have been talking with Tristan Bynum about Maker Space plans since January and am looking forward to that taking off. I think Maker Space will be an invaluable resource for me and other artists and I am looking most forward to a community of artists with a shared space.

How do you overcome the challenges of moving from the studio space at the school to creating a workshop out of your house? 

Josiah has been an invaluable asset to my artistic career. He relentlessly researches tool reviews and craigslist to find me what I need at a cost we can afford. At this stage, I actually have a nearly complete workshop of tools, including a table saw, a band saw, a thickness planer, a lathe, and a number of hand tools. My absolute favorite tool is my antique Stanley #5 hand plane.

Space however is a problem. Our 2-car garage is small, preventing me from making some of the larger pieces I was able to while at UNT. And the worst part – after I make it, where do I store it? You’re right, it isn’t easy. 

photo by Mandy Hampton

Anybody who has walked around the Square in over the past few months has probably seen one of your pieces in the windows at UNT on the Square.  Where else have you shown in Denton?

I was in several student shows on campus while attending there. After graduating in December, I’ve been in the “Art Show for the People” at Panhandle Studio, The Sculpture Collective Show at UNT on the Square, and a solo show at SCRAP Denton. I also was honored to get into the Spring juried show at 500x in Dallas. As far as finding places to show my work, at this point shows have fallen into my lap because of connections with other artists. I don’t expect this to always be the case though, so I am starting to research galleries in Dallas that might be interested in showing my work.

World of the World - photo by Mandy Hampton

Holiday - by Mand Hampton

Is there one direction of your artwork you’re really drawn to right now? Do you see a specific medium really driving your work as an artist in the future?

For the past 2 years, a common thread in my work has been the use of repurposed materials in the form of sculptures and furniture. I think this will continue to be a big part of my work for the near future. Some people know me for my piano sculptures, and yes, I am still taking apart pianos. I currently have a grand piano filling half of my studio, awaiting it’s impending destruction.

As for why I like to work with these materials, it’s mostly about process and meaning. My work right now usually expresses some kind of narrative that pulls from the object’s history, but also involves current experiences in my own life. “World of the World” and “Holiday” are two good examples of the kind of work I am currently making and most excited about. 

The history of objects and the stories behind them drive my creativity, and all of my best work at this point is inspired by the initial act of destroying something else. I’m still playing around with what that is exactly, but it’s working well and I am enjoying the process. I don’t sketch or plan much, I prefer to just make. I feel like these conceptual sculptures practically build themselves (with a lot of work on my part of course).

Mandy with the next piano she'll be deconstructing.

 Mandy on Etsy / Mandy's Photography Website 

INTERVIEW: SPIDERWEB SALON

Conor Wallace and Courtney Marie of Spiderweb Salon. 

You've probably heard the name Spiderweb Salon before. We say it a lot on the blog, whether it's on our Den10 or through sharing some of their literary work, but you might still be confused as to what it is. They sure as heck aren't gonna cut your hair. They're a "salon" as described by definition # 2 and they are everywhere. Spiderweb curates live shows and zines that feature all kinds of work from Denton artists - and they've been doing this for a year now. Within the span of that year, they got a lot accomplished. A gaggle of zines, a showcase during 35 Denton and plenty of recognition from art lovers. Conor Wallace and Courtney Marie are the two creative masterminds behind Spiderweb Salon. We hung out with them a bit in anticipation of their one year anniversary show (and pool party!) this weekend and asked them a couple questions, but never got to the bottom of why Courtney hates citrus so damned much. 

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WDDI: Who are you guys again? 

Conor: Well, I’ve lived in Denton my entire life. I work for Denton ISD transportation- during the day I drive youth from home to school. I am also a singer and a song writer and make music with my friends here in town, which is how I met Courtney Marie.

Courtney: I have lived here five and a half years. I currently work as a barista at Jupiter House to pay the bills. My passions include books, writing, photography, music, cooking, poetry, art, and my friends.

What inspired you to start Spiderweb Salon?

Conor: I missed seeing my writer-friends doing readings, and I play music but not everything I write fits with a band, so I thought it would be neat to get everyone together to share what we are working on creatively, to talk about it and encourage one another. I used to be a part of a similar thing at Tex Gallery a few years ago, but it wasn’t as focused on local artists, it was more about something new for the audience, things other venues in town wouldn’t necessarily host. I enjoyed it, but I didn’t feel comfortable performing there myself because my stuff didn’t feel avant garde enough.

Courtney: I had lost my job just before the summer and was feeling pretty aimless and depressed. I thought I was going to move away from Denton, but instead, one thing led to another and we started Spiderweb Salon. Conor and I were trying to find something to do that would nurture our various creative interests, inspire and motivate us and our friends to keep creating, and also be fun. It was a great idea to me because as a writer, I have found there are few outlets for readings or workshops in town, especially not affiliated with the Universities.

The two of you started operating creatively together as {we, bees} before Spiderweb Salon was created. Do you operate differently within the context of your band and Spiderweb or are all of your creative interactions the same? 

Courtney: I first really got into music, singing specifically, with Conor and several other good friends when I joined their band Ella Minnow in 2010. The bands we play in together are very collaborative, there are lots of people involved and I usually don’t take the reins. {we, bees} is different, it’s just the two of us brainstorming and making art and putting ideas into action. Our collaborations have included poetry, music, various writings and art, and photography projects, but the biggest project is, of course, Spiderweb Salon. 

Conor practically vomits ideas- while I struggle to come up with even a single concept I like or something I’ve deemed worthy of working on, he’s already come up with a hundred different proposals. I am incredibly hard on myself as an artist, and one of the million things Conor has taught me is to accept imperfections, be myself, and let go of the things that keep me from doing what I want to do with my time and passion.

Conor: {we, bees} is anything creative that Courtney and I work on together. I feel like the longer we work together, the more we approach projects as a unit, as equal contributors. As far as Spiderweb is concerned, I don’t think I ever would have gotten it off the ground without Courtney Marie, and it definitely wouldn’t still be around right now. She has taken the idea and built a community out of it. I help a lot with brainstorming ideas and working out the logistics of what we do, but as far as passion and organization are concerned, Courtney is the queen bee.

Tell us the inspiration behind and the reasons for the Spiderweb mantra - ‘You are here, we support you.’ 

Courtney: Think of your creative life as a map. You could be doing a thousand different things, all over the place, but when you are at a Spiderweb show, all that matters is that you are there, expressing yourself and learning and growing. You are here, but you get to decide where you’re going, too. That’s what it means to me, at least, and I think it is a good mantra because it is open to interpretation. We support you is pretty simple. I think artists are not always effectively encouraged or nurtured by the community. A simple reminder such as this might do wonders for someone who is struggling.

Conor: To me, You Are Here means whoever you are, any fears or preconceptions about creating art or performing at a show are dropped and you can just give yourself to the creative project you’re working on and the people who are there to support you. You shouldn’t be afraid of where you are creatively. That’s how we get better.

To us, Spiderweb seems to push poetry above all else (at least recently). Is this a calculated choice? If so, why? 

Conor: I can see why you would think that, after National Poetry month just happening in April, and with the recent show we hosted for some traveling poets, but we are definitely a mixed-media, mixed-performance collective and don’t want to highlight any art form over anything else except for specific showcases. I will say there aren’t many venues for poets to perform, and we are glad to give them the opportunity.

Courtney: If there is a need for artists to be heard and respected in Denton, we’d like to be able to fill it. Recently, some poets from Chicago asked if we’d be willing to host their tour if it came through our town and we were delighted to be able to make it a variety show completely balanced with local acts as well. We’d never done anything like that before and we would definitely do it again! It’s fun that Spiderweb has become a flexible venue in this way. The focus is always shifting, but never about one specific artist or art form: rather, it is simply ideas, collaboration, and supporting others.

“Tragically, I think art in many forms has been dominated by men in the past, and seeing proof that this can change in the future is inspiring to me.”

— Conor Wallace

What’s been your favorite Spiderweb Salon performance so far? What did you enjoy about it? 

Conor: Maybe not a particular performance, but there have been at least three times I have said, “This is my favorite Spiderweb Salon show.” I love the idea of celebration without any precedent- a holiday or some long-term achievement -so when we had our masquerade last fall, where people were dressing up and painting their faces, and making art that reflected the event, I thought that was really great- the whole evening had a wild and unexpected tone.

I also really loved the first Ladies’ Night Showcase. Tragically, I think art in many forms has been dominated by men in the past, and seeing proof that this can change in the future is inspiring to me. Social change you can see.

Courtney: I have to agree with Conor, it would be impossible to single out a performance that has been my favorite! The great thing about Spiderweb is the collective experience. Each show as a whole is incredibly powerful, which is why we encourage attendees to come before the show begins and stay until all the acts are finished. Not only is this respectful to all the artists involved, but it promotes the idea of the show itself being the performance, with everyone working together. I sometimes compare this experience to attending the theatre- you wouldn’t show up halfway through a play and leave before it finished!

I have really loved the shows we’ve had at the house venue, but recently hosting events in a more public space has been really positive- it’s awesome to be able to reach more people and bring the artists involved in our collective a little more exposure.

The Ladies’ Night Showcase was also a favorite of mine, everyone worked so hard: the all-female lineup had everything from shadow puppets to a performance piece that connected everyone in the audience to each other with a rope, incredibly passionate readings and music and awesome paintings; it made my heart happy, and the fundraiser aspect let us give back to the community while we were doing it. We look forward to hosting a similar showcase soon, for sure.

Which area of the arts do you think Denton is the most under-appreciated for? 

Conor: People know us for our colleges, our college of music, our music festival, and a few national musical acts that have made it out of here. Music is highlighted above all else, but I think it could still be appreciated on a different level, both locally and nationally. We sometimes forget about our writers, poets, visual artists, and they’re everywhere, I think the architecture of the town has not yet found a way to showcase them properly. I’m not saying our artists should be legends held above the rest of the population, but it would be nice to see all of our creatives embraced and nurtured.

Courtney: Literature. There is an incredible number of talented writers and poets here. I don’t think we as a community are suffering from a lack of appreciation, but I definitely think we have a problem with how we go about promoting the literary events we already have, and cultivating the creativity of writers in our midst. There’s a huge push in Denton to support local music, which is great, but I envision a culture where all art can co-exist on the same stage.

Are there any collectives that influence the way you guys operate? 

Conor: I already mentioned Tex Gallery... Good Bad Art Collective, The Porch, Bolivar Art Collective, even the Denton Greater Art’s council. Hell, even the universities. We’ve tried to go and learn about events hosted by these people, and I guess we pay them tribute when we find something in them that works for us.

Why do you think that Spiderweb has caught on so quickly in Denton? 

Conor: We’ve made ourselves accessible and inclusive, and we have such a high population of people that are without a place to collaborate with others or showcase their creativity. Personally, I don’t think of this as an organization or a business, I think of this as a social group or family. I think that open, caring nature comes through in the things we do.

Courtney: The format of our shows is unique, and we put a lot of emphasis on respecting artists. I think that is something that is often neglected at other events in town, whether it’s an open mic or rock show, either people get distracted or they’re there to socialize. We operate under the idea that you come to our shows for a reason, to appreciate the art and learn something. I think the people who are involved in Spiderweb Salon appreciate that, and it makes them want to come back.

What are your future plans for Spiderweb Salon?

Courtney: We’re going to keep doing what we’re doing, and let it continue to evolve the way it has this last year. Someday we would like our own space where we can host shows, workshops, and have a permanent gallery. Until then we want to continue to collaborate with local organizations, print zines and host showcases and workshops from our home and at local businesses, support as many artists we can, give back to the community, and have fun.

Conor: I would like to see interest grow and more contribution, from artists and from our town as a whole. We would like to be a cultural influence on Denton and help shift the focus to our artists and our people, rather than mainstream media. I believe we should try to support people we know, that we can see and touch, more than nameless celebrities we will never meet.

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If you want to celebrate Spiderweb's 1 year anniversary, go RSVP on their event page. 

AUSTERE INTERVIEW

Words by ​Courtney Marie ​​

​Image by Austere

Austere Magazine is everything but simple; it is a publication inspired by design itself. We had the honor of talking to Nikki Crouse and Natasha Brito, the energetically enterprising owners of Austere, about what makes their project special and their ideas about print, art, music, networking, and their huge event taking place in Denton this weekend: a neo-woodstock themed extravaganza.

Rebelling against the traditional appearance of modern magazines, each issue of Austere is in landscape format. The cover often features an eye-catching image but few words. Natasha said that they work hard with their main designer, Victoria Andres, to make sure every page of the publication is its own, unique work of art. The girls make new friends all the time who are constantly helping shape the project and inspire content. “It’s been a huge collective effort...we have new resident artists that want to send us artwork for every issue- we love it so much,” said Crouse, “...and photographers, models... it’s really catching on.”

Along with an edgy blend of photography, fashion, product reviews and interviews, every issue of Austere includes what they call “The Ten,” a visual and written showcase of ten artists or projects the Austere gals find captivating. Future issues will include poetry and even more original artwork by a variety of artists. Every copy from now on will have a unique “take-away” print or art piece tucked inside the pages that ties in to a feature of the magazine. All they would say about the print featured in the upcoming issue was to, "Think spaghetti face."

Besides that, the girls describe Issue E, the fifth issue since their launch last September, as “dark, alluring, and kind of sexy.” The July issue will be a pleasant contrast when it hits the shelves later this summer, with it's more upbeat, timely patriotic theme.

by Fey Sandoval

We asked Crouse and Brito what they thought about the future of printed magazines. Brito replied, “All of the badly designed print is going out and going digital. It’s making our market a lot smaller and it’s giving us a chance to grow more.”

Crouse added, “People don’t want to see print unless it’s beautiful. To them, it is collectible. Worthy. So our goal is to continue gaining value in our magazine, making it more beautiful, keeping it a tangible product...” Crouse loves books and argues that reading online or on a screen is boring. It’s better to have an awesome copy of your favorite book or magazine and proudly say to yourself, “This is going on the shelf after I read it.” We certainly agree. Each issue of Austere magazine is a work of art, something we will want to keep forever.

All this success in such a short time and these girls are still busy wrapping up their degrees at UNT. Brito and Crouse recently decided to stay in Denton post-graduation, regardless of the commute it will mean for Brito's new job. They rave about the interconnected community and creative support Denton has to offer.

Austere seeks people who embrace fresh new approaches to fashion, photography, entrepreneurship, and creativity. They recognize that Denton is one of the best places to be.

Join in the fun with Austere Magazine’s neo-woodstock themed event on Saturday. The huge outdoor party will include music, food trucks, local venders, live art, printmaking, a photo-booth, and of course, plenty of booze. There will be a collection of poetry readings organized and hosted by local literary and performance collective Spiderweb Salon. Bands that will be rocking the event include She Banshees, The Buffalo Parade, Biographies, Terrestrials, and many more. Sixties-inspired attire (read: hippie) is encouraged, but not necessary. BYOHH (bring your own hula hoop) and be sure to RSVP on the official Facebook event page or e-mail the magazine to add your name to the guest list or you will not be allowed on the grounds per city ordinance.