I have the opportunity to move into my own studio space at Art 634, and I am asking for the help of my community to make it happen.

The space is 180 square feet in a larger space shared with two other artists - with access to a large shared sink and other ammenities of the building.

$1500 would cover 5 months of rent - my loving and supportive father is helping me cover my first month, which would put me at 6 months with the help of my community.

6 months of grace to move and settle into the space.

6 months of working with intention on old and new techniques, collaborations, commissions, and finding my groove again with offering classes and product.

6 months of not worrying about how to cover my rent while I explore a balanced schedule of studio hours with my day job and daily life.

$300 a month really isn’t a lot, I know. It’s incredibly affordable - but it is something that is out of reach for me until I start bringing in income from my creative work again. If you’ve had a conversation with me about my art since I’ve moved back to Michigan a little over 3 years ago, you’ll know that I am not in the most fruitful position financially. When I moved out to Arizona in 2019, I had complex dreams of pursuing art full time with the support to back it up. I was on my way before Covid hit - which changed everything, drained me of any savings I had and slid me into credit card debt so I could survive. I eventually made my way back to Michigan, thankfully. I am still paying off student loans. My day job at the library - an incredible job that I am so grateful to have - is only part time and just barely covers my basic life expenses with just about all of disposable income going towards saving for a new vehicle and getting ahead with my debt. Any joyful experience you may see me having or traveling to, is more than often a gift or barter. Without diving too much into my own sob story, I made the decision a few years ago to focus more on my day job for consistent income. This practical move has pulled me away from pursuing art not just for monetary means, but also from teaching and joyful exploration of fiber arts in general.

A few opportunities that having my own studio space at Art 634 would open the doors for me to do:

Your support will help me settle back into a creative groove in a semi-public space without having the pressure of paying rent driving me. I would have the freedom of exploring different ways and dates to hosts classes, without the fear of no-one showing up. I could experiment with some more ideas that I would love to offer as product, without being set back if it doesn’t work out. Your support would help bring fabric dyeing and other fiber arts classes to our community as a way of exploring creative expression.

Your support would make it possible for me have grace with myself and work with curiosity and intention, instead of falling back into the pattern of performative money making.

I have nothing more to offer you than that if you give to my GoFundMe. No dicounts on classes, no gift cards, no t shirts for giving a certain amount - by giving to me, you are trusting in and supporting my vision to bring my light and love and art to the community of Jackson, and anyone who travels here to explore it.

Thank you for reading. And big blessings and gratitude to my community in Jackson, southern Michigan and beyond for supporting my creative endeavors over the past 15 years. My goal is to start giving that back to you all again soon! — Justine Nicole

Below are photos of the studio space!