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4K Sunday Gazette-Mail, February 28, 2016 By Emma Fisher For the Gazette-Mail The Tamarack Foundation’s Rural to Urban Markets pro- gram is the nonprofit organiza- tion’s flagship venture. Born out of the expertise and understand- ing earned from more than 10 years invested in growing small creative enterprises in West Vir- ginia, Rural to Urban Markets positions craft and fine art busi- nesses to launch from local and regional customers into the na- tional marketplace. The pro- gram’s chief objective is to assist business owners who are at the edge of making it big with tak- ing the next leap necessary to further their careers. Creative business owners par- ticipating in the Rural to Urban Markets program are at a critical juncture — they have established companies, happy buyers and produce a range of well-crafted work. They are ready to move their businesses to the next lev- el by accessing larger markets, but see the financial commit- ment involved and understand that new types of business know-how may be required. While taking part in this three- year intensive program, partici- pants receive technical training, one-on-one advice from creative peers and financial support — assets offered to offset risk and allow these creative entrepre- neurs to take their businesses further while maintaining a sustainable growth rate. “We are providing the essen- tials needed to push these small businesses to the next level-tech- nical skills, a network of success- ful professionals to look to for advice, and financial backing,” said Tamarack Foundation exec- utive director Alissa Novoselick. “We are building the next Fi- esta’s and Blenko’s right in the backyards of West Virginians today. These business owners are some of West Virginia’s greatest cultural exports to the nation and to the world. They represent not only an opportuni- ty for improved fiscal health for our great state, but also the opening of a door to break down negative stereotypes about our culture.” The Rural to Urban Markets program was built on the suc- cesses of helping craft business- es grow by facilitating opportu- nities to attend national-level trade shows where wholesale and retail buyers as well as ma- jor media companies, like Mar- tha Stewart Living Omnimedia, scout for new talent. Much pressure is riding on positive achievements at presti- gious, national-level trade shows where small business owners have the potential to turn what is sometimes a secondary means of income into a full-time career. Success is defined by long hours of preparation and planning prior to the show including de- signing and building trade show booths, creating top-notch mar- keting and presentation materi- als, and practicing stand-out salesmanship skills. These well-established trade shows are located in major met- ropolitan areas. Rural to Urban participants have and will take part in shows like: American Made (Washington, DC); Amer- ican Craft Council Shows (Balti- more, MD; Atlanta, GA; and others); NY NOW (New York, NY); and American Craft Retail- ers Expo (Philadelphia, PA and Las Vegas, NV). Fifteen business owners are currently participating in the program and five have graduat- ed. For several, support received through this program has al- lowed them to shift or sustain their work to a full-time capacity as their primary source of in- come. Businesses such as Matthew Thomas’ woodworking company Thomas|Work are now West Virginia success stories that are known to a wide-ranging audi- ence. Thomas|Work products have been finalists and winners at the nationally-recognized Niche Awards for three years in a row, and his accelerated busi- ness growth is often cited as a model by leaders of the Wash- ington, DC-based American Made trade show. For artist Nellie Rose Davis of Nellie Rose Textiles, a Niche Award finalist this year, the pro- gram was more than an oppor- tunity to further her career goals. It represented the chance to re- turn home. Tamarack Founda- tion’s former executive director Sally Barton was scouting for talent in Virginia when she found the Elkins native and en- couraged her to return to West Virginia. Davis is now based in Thomas, W.Va., but sells her work in shops and galleries from coast to coast across the United States. “Three years ago I decided to dive in and attempt to become a full-time textile artist,” Davis said. “The Tamarack Foundation was and continues to be abso- lutely crucial in making this a reality. In the jump from hobby or interest to full-time artist, you have to learn how to run a small business that adheres to what you find valuable in this world. I am forever grateful that I get to live rurally, surrounded by natural beauty and an outstand- ing community, and that I get to create in small batches, further- ing my exploration of slow-fiber and slow-fashion.” Building on this positive mo- mentum, the foundation has added a new track for fine art businesses owners. Under this track, fine artists — such as photographers, painters, and il- lustrators — are offered a unique set of services to help push their work into the national market- place. Three business owners are currently in the pilot year of this new initiative. For photographer John Ryan Brubaker, the foun- dation offered assistance with purchasing professional, custom framing for a new series of art- work. These works were de- buted this past fall at Carnegie Hall in Lewisburg, and Brubaker is currently applying to galleries to travel the photographs outside of the region. Spotlight on participants in the rural to urban markets program n Ceramicist Norma Acord uses a unique double glazing process to produce elegant, organic forms on functional pieces such as cups, bowls, and vases (normaacordceramics. com). n Photographer John Ryan Brubaker has created a series of artworks featuring the North Fork Blackwater River in Thom- as, W.Va, using a newly-adapted, early film developing process that employs the chemical ele- ments of the acid-mine drainage in the river. “On Confluence” will be on view at the White Room Art Gallery in Thomas in May 2016 (jrbrubaker.com). n Furniture-maker and wood- worker Joseph Elbert leverages inspiration from architectural greats such as Frank Lloyd Wright to create functional fur- niture with an Art Deco twist. He is best known for his signa- ture lamps (josephelbert.com). n Potter Lisa Kovatch’s min- imal designs of leaves, birds and fish are amplified through the use of vibrant color in folksy, earthenware mugs, plates, bowls and more (lkpot- tery.com). n Illustrator Brenda Pinnell (affectionately known as the “can opener”) produces humor- ous greeting cards and orna- ments centered on the adven- tures of rising cat star Mr. Fluffy Butt and a rotating cast of irrev- erent felines (hepcatzdesign. com). n Furniture-maker and woodworker Daniel Riffle applies newly imaginative de- sign approaches to traditional pieces such as desks, candle- sticks, lamps and decorative boxes. Leather artist Kimberly Trathen produces bags, wallets and other items from repur- posed leather goods such as coats and jackets. The artist then takes the scraps from this work and uses traditional quilting techniques to create inventive wall hangings (back- stitched.com). The next application round for the Rural to Urban Markets program will open in the sum- mer of 2016. Interested busi- ness owners are encouraged to sign up for the Tamarack Foundation email list as an “Artist” to be notified when the application process opens. Visit the Tamarack Foundation at www.tamarackfoundation.org to join the email list and see a complete list of program participants. Tamarack’s creative wonderland makes opportunity for artists WANT TO GO? Tamarack Foundation Celebration Happy Hour Learn about the refreshed pro- grams and services of the foundation and meet the orga- nization’s leaders. WHEN: March 4, 4:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. WHERE: Apartment Earth Gallery, 221 Hale Street, Charleston TAMARACK FOUNDATION | Courtesy photos Furniture-maker and woodworker Daniel Riffle uses a modern approach to create traditional pieces such as desks, candlesticks, lamps and decorative boxes. Illustrator Brenda Pinnell with some of her original creations centered on the adventures of a rising cat star and a rotating cast of irreverent felines. Photographer John Ryan Brubaker creates unusual images with an early film developing process that relies on the chemical makeup found in the North Fork Blackwater River. Two of the decorative boxes made by woodworker Daniel Riffle. Leather bags, wallets and other items created by Kimberly Trathen from re-purposed leather goods. Hansford Center St. Albans 304.727.3015 Certiied Teacher Starts Soon Limited Enrollment WATERCOLOR CLASS 2016 2017 THE LAST FIVE YEARS APRIL 8, 9, 10 & 15, 16, 17 THE IMPORTANCE OF BEING EARNEST FEBRUARY 10, 11, 12, 17, 18, 19 HEDDA GABLER MARCH 24, 25, 26, 31 &APRIL 1, 2 CAT ON A HOT TIN ROOF JUNE 2, 3, 4, 9, 10, 11 THE FLICK JUNE 3, 4, 5 & 10, 11, 12 DISNEY’S ALADDIN JR. AUGUST 26, 27, 28 SEPTEMBER 3, 4, 5 MOTHER HICKS OCTOBER 21, 22, 23, 28, 29, 30 ON THE WORST DAY OF CHRISTMAS DECEMBER 9, 10, 11, 16, 17, 18 65 Olde Main• St. Albans, WV 25177 SCAN THIS QR CODE FOR TICKETS CHARLESTON LIGHT OPERA GUILD WWW.CHARLESTONLIGHTOPERAGUILD.ORG SPAMALOT The Monty Python Musical CIVIC CENTER LITTLE THEATRE May 6, 7, 13, 14, 15, 20 & 21 Online tickets: charlestonlightoperaguild.org THE WIZ African-American Musical that Retells The Wizard of Oz CIVIC CENTER LITTLE THEATRE June 17, 18, 19, 24, 25 & 26 Auditions: April 5, 7 & 12 Disney’s BEAUTY AND THE BEAST CLAY CENTER July 29, 30, 31 August 5, 6, 7, 12 & 14 Auditions: June 2, 4 & 5 TICKETS 304-561-3570 www.theclaycenter.org Visit the Guild on CELEBRATION OF 20 YEARS IN THE CHARLESTON LIGHT OPERA GUILD THEATRE Saturday, August 13, 2016 All Auditions and the 20-year Celebration are held at the Guild Theatre, 411 Tennessee Ave. • 304-342-9312 For more information: 304-545-6945
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