Making a Living: A Speaker Series on Creative/Arts Entrepreneurship
As part of our Summer Maker Market, we’re excited to be hosting a mini-series of talks on creative and arts entrepreneurship to share lessons learned, tips and practical tools for small business owners, inventors, or just folks with great ideas. Want to turn a hobby into a business? Learn how to price and negotiate your product? Or need to work with others to make your vision come true? Come to Phoenix Forge on August 1st at 6PM for a casual evening of conversation and learning with three local artists, designers, and small business owners who will be sharing their experiences and expertise with those in attendance. This event is free and open to the public.
Speakers
Reeves Studios: Pricing and Negotiations for Artists
In this talk, Reeves will go over best practices in entrepreneurship for Artists, learned the hard way through running a small business. The talk will go over introductory skills on pricing work, must have paperwork for artists, and creative contract negotiations.
Reeves Studios is an interdisciplinary Art and Design firm in Phoenix, Arizona. Founded by Lily Reeves in 2020, Reeves Studios enlivens public space with immersive lighting installations that explore the possibilities of light and materiality. Reeves’ work can be found in public and private collections across the world, including the Wiregrass Museum, Museum of Glass, and Artemisia Foundation. The roster of previous clients include Meta, Fenty Beauty, The X Company, Carvana, the City of Atlanta, the City of Glendale, Bonnaroo music festival, and countless small businesses and private collectors.
Ron Talley: The Do’s and Don’ts of Turning a Hobby Into a Business
Thinking about starting a small business as a maker? Learn from veteran designer and Phoenix Forge Member Ron Talley about things to consider, avoid, and embrace when turning a creative passion into a source of income.
Ron is a free-lance graphic and industrial designer. He attended Pacific Lutheran University and Cranbrook Academy where he received degrees in industrial design and graphic design. He worked for many years as a designer for Herman Miller, Inc., a recognized innovator in contemporary interior furnishings. He currently lives in Avondale, Arizona and at age 86 is still actively his arts. His clients include Los Angeles World Airports, Hasbro Toys, and IKEA among others.
SATURNHEX: Community & Collaboration: A Conversation
Working with others is not only essential for creating a small business or side hustle—it may be key to its success. In this moderated conversation, SATURNHEX co-owner Victoria Silva will speak with Phoenix Forge’s Lucas Anderson about the role of community in their own small business story, and the value it can bring to any idea.
SATURNHEX, run by the design duo of Victoria & Julian, is an independent art studio focused on exploring illustration, storytelling, & design through silkscreen and risograph printing, merch making, & apparel. Victoria is the primary artist, working on illustrations and 2D art, taking point on Risograph work. Julian is our designer and 3D artist, building much of our displays, including woodworking and metalworking, and taking point on Screenprinting, Between the two of them, their skills cover a number of disciplines, including 2D/3D art, design, fabrication, facilitation, and design thinking.